Research finds avoided land conversion far outweighs irrigation emissions
FORT COLLINS, Colo. — Agricultural irrigation in the United States produces greenhouse gas emissions, but its ability to increase crop yields and prevent additional land from being converted to agriculture creates a much larger climate benefit, according to new research from Colorado State University.
The study found that if U.S. irrigation were eliminated, additional agricultural land would be needed to compensate for lost crop production. Researchers estimated the greenhouse gas emissions associated with that land-use change would be 363 times greater than current annual emissions from U.S. irrigation…