Increases in water-use efficiency are commonly cited as a response mechanism of plants to moderate to severe soil water deficits and have been the focus of many programs that seek to increase crop tolerance to drought. The measure of a cropping system's capacity to convert water into plant biomass or grain. It includes both the use of water stored in the soil and rainfall during the growing season. Conserving water saves energy. Energy is needed to filter, heat and pump water to your home, so reducing your water use also reduces your carbon footprint. Using less water keeps more in our ecosystems and helps to keep wetland habitats topped up for animals like otters, water voles, herons and fish. A higher value of this efficiency above 60% is an indication of efficient irrigation system. variables affecting agricultural water use efficiency from five angles, drawing on previous research: the level of water-saving irrigation, the agricultural economic status, the planting structure, environmental factors, and the structure of the water supply.
Improving water use efficiency in agriculture is crucial to enhancing soil and water efficiency, especially in arid and semi-arid regions facing water scarcity challenges. Strategies such as sustainable irrigation practices, crop-specific agronomic techniques, and innovative technologies highlighted in the reviewed literature significantly optimize water-use efficiency. By implementing advanced practices like micro-irrigation, mulching, and crop residue management, farmers can reduce water losses, conserve soil moisture, and enhance crop productivity while mitigating the adverse effects of water scarcity and climate change. Additionally, using soil water sensors for real-time irrigation scheduling further improves water use productivity, ensuring that crops receive the precise amount of water needed for optimal growth, thus maximizing soil and water efficiency in agricultural systems.
High consumption use of water is considered as one of the effect of improving water use efficiency on soil/water efficiency in agricultur. During irrigation, water some of the irrigated water is returned to groundwater via percolation, consumption through plant growth and evapotranspiration is typically significant and approximately 70 % of water abstracted does not return to the water body.
Water-Use Efficiency (WUE) helps with saving the soil from negative effects such as Waterlogging, leaching of nutrients, soil erosion (due to aggressive irrigation practices such as flooding) and high input (irrigation water) costs as a result.