Deficit irrigation as an on-farm strategy to maximize crop water productivity in dry areas

Deficit irrigation (DI) has been widely investigated as a valuable and sustainable production strategy in dry regions. By limiting water applications to drought-sensitive growth stages, this practice aims to maximize water productivity and to stabilize – rather than maximize – yields. We review selected research from around the world and we summarize the advantages and disadvantages of deficit irrigation. Research results confirm that DI is successful in increasing water productivity for various crops without causing severe yield reductions. Nevertheless, a certain minimum amount of seasonal moisture must be guaranteed. DI requires precise knowledge of crop response to drought stress, as drought tolerance varies considerably by genotype and phenological stage. In developing and optimizing DI strategies, field research should therefore be combined with crop water productivity modeling.