Rodríguez-Álvarez et al. (2026) Remote sensing-based assessment of long-term evapotranspiration and irrigation performance following modernization of Andalusian irrigation districts

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Identification

• Journal: Irrigation Science
• Year: 2026
• Date: 2026-06-26
• Authors: José A. Rodríguez-Álvarez, Luciano Mateos, Gregorio Egea
• DOI: 10.1007/s00271-026-01142-0

Research Groups

• Department of Agricultural Engineering, University of Cordoba
• Institute for Sustainable Agriculture (IASA), CSIC

Short Summary

This study uses Google Earth Engine to assess evapotranspiration and irrigation performance across 49 irrigation districts in Andalusia, Spain, from 2004–2019. The results reveal a divergence between actual and unstressed crop evapotranspiration trends.

Objective

• Investigate the evolution of evapotranspiration and irrigation performance in representative irrigation districts of Andalusia (southern Spain) over the period 2004–2019.

Study Configuration

• Spatial Scale: Regional scale, covering 49 irrigation districts across Andalusia, Spain.
• Temporal Scale: Long-term study from 2004 to 2019.

Methodology and Data

• Models used: SSEBop energy balance model for actual evapotranspiration (ETa) estimation; vegetation-index-based crop coefficients for unstressed crop evapotranspiration (ETus).
• Data sources: Satellite data (optical and thermal) from Google Earth Engine.

Main Results

• A clear divergence between ETus and ETa trends was observed, with ETus increasing significantly across all irrigation typologies.
• The increase in ETus is attributed to the replacement of low-water-demand herbaceous crops with woody perennials and improved irrigation uniformity.
• In contrast, ETa declined in inland irrigation systems and remained stable in subtropical districts.

Contributions

• This study provides new insights into the long-term dynamics of evapotranspiration and irrigation performance at a regional scale.
• The findings highlight the importance of considering both actual and unstressed crop water demand when evaluating irrigation strategies.

Funding

• This research was funded by the Spanish Ministry of Science, Innovation and Universities (Project RTI2018-096149-B-I00) and the European Regional Development Fund.

Citation

@article{RodríguezÁlvarez2026Remote,
  author = {Rodríguez-Álvarez, José A. and Mateos, Luciano and Egea, Gregorio},
  title = {Remote sensing-based assessment of long-term evapotranspiration and irrigation performance following modernization of Andalusian irrigation districts},
  journal = {Irrigation Science},
  year = {2026},
  doi = {10.1007/s00271-026-01142-0},
  url = {https://doi.org/10.1007/s00271-026-01142-0}
}