Watershed-scale drip modernization in the Upper Yellow River irrigation districts of Ningxia

¹ Nanjing University, Nanjing, China
² Bukhara State Medical Institute, Bukhara, Uzbekistan

^* Corresponding author: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Abstract

This article assesses the transition from surface and furrow methods to pressurized drip irrigation in the Upper Yellow River irrigation districts of Ningxia, China. The objective is to quantify changes in seasonal diversion per hectare, conveyance and application efficiency, crop water productivity, and energy intensity at watershed scale, and to examine distributional outcomes among districts. Using open operational records, official statistics, and transparent computations, the study combines matched before-after panels with a modernization index reflecting conveyance rehabilitation, pressurization, metering, and scheduling. The analysis shows lower diversion per hectare and higher efficiency and productivity after drip rollout, while energy intensity per unit volume increases modestly but falls per unit of production. Interpretation relates these shifts to seepage control, improved uniformity, and demand-oriented delivery. The findings support prioritizing drip irrigation as a basin instrument for demand management, food security, and climate adaptation, and underscore the importance of calibration and reporting.