We are pleased to announce that our new study on agricultural water use in Central Asia has been published in Journal of Hydrology: Regional Studies. By disaggregating ("unraveling") agricultural water use, this study offers practical insights into the role of reservoirs, groundwater, and river water in sustaining irrigation in three of Uzbekistan’s major oases (Bukhara, Samarkand and Kashkadarya). Using satellite data, the study develops new approaches to independently monitor water use and reservoir storage without relying on ground-based data, providing valuable tools for improving agricultural water management in data-scarce regions.
Read more about satellite-based monitoring of water in reservoirs in our latest Case Study article.
Our remote sensing estimates show that cotton accounts for the largest share of irrigation water use among the three studied oases. The unique hydrological conditions in Central Asia, particularly the peak in river flow during the summer months due to snow and glacier melt, align well with the peak irrigation needs of cotton during late summer. This synchronicity has made cotton a viable and common crop in the region, as it requires substantial water input during its critical growth stages. However, current cotton irrigation exceeds the available river water supply. Although water from reservoirs helps to partly bridge the gap, it cannot fully compensate for the high demand, leading to a heavy reliance on energy-intensive pumped irrigation and a significant groundwater overdraft.
The detailed breakdown of water sources and irrigation use can support better planning of water distribution across the region. Our approach offers a tool for better water accounting in the region, and therefore improving the balance between water supply and demand.
