A comprehensive review of traditional irrigation systems: Sustainability and future prospects

IF 6.1 1区农林科学 Q1 AGRICULTURE, MULTIDISCIPLINARY

Agricultural Systems Pub Date : 2025-09-02 DOI:10.1016/j.agsy.2025.104481

Carla da-Silva-Branco , António Guerreiro de Brito , Paulo Castro Seixas

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引用次数: 0

Abstract

Context

Traditional Irrigation Systems (TIS) are ancient, complex hydro-social systems that entangle a network of socio-technical-ecological relationships, having endured for centuries. TIS faces threats from rural desertification, climate change, and poor maintenance, among others. These systems rely on knowledge transmitted across generations and practices tailored to local environmental, social, and economic conditions.

Objective

The aim is to review and analyse the current state of TIS-related research, the evolution of publications, research themes, methodologies, findings, and research gaps. Additionally, by examining different dimensions of sustainability, it seeks to identify how TIS have preserved and managed water resources sustainably over extended periods.

Methods

A systematic literature review (SLR) of peer-reviewed journal articles was conducted, using a combined scientometric and content analysis techniques based on data extracted from selected studies.

Results and conclusions

This review demonstrates that TIS are not just historical or cultural artefacts, but active, multifunctional systems reflecting sustainability principles. Using a four-pillar framework, evidence shows that TIS play a crucial role in environmental stewardship through biodiversity conservation, water and energy efficiency, and landscape protection; their economic sustainability relies on low-cost practices, resource sharing, and ecosystem services that benefit rural communities; inclusion, traditional rights, and cultural identities are supported; governance contributes to their success by aiding community coordination, conflict resolution, and planning.

Findings emphasise that 1) sustainability strategies should be tailored to local contexts to be effective, equitable, and ensure long-term preservation; 2) it is important to integrate traditional knowledge with modern practices to enhance TIS's sustainability, especially in the face of climate change; 3) TIS should be incorporated into broader conservation, rural development, and climate change strategies, policies, and plans, with inclusive solutions aligned with local capacities; 4) policy implications include the need for integrated policy coordination and participatory community planning, as well as recognising TIS as cultural heritage; 5) cost-effective strategies should prioritise local governance, affordable infrastructure maintenance, and technical support.

Signicance

This review provides a comprehensive roadmap for revitalising TIS as a crucial asset for sustainable water governance and rural resilience, based on evidence across the four pillars of sustainability: environmental stewardship, economic viability, social equity, and governance.

Abstract Image

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传统灌溉系统的综合综述：可持续性和未来前景

传统灌溉系统（TIS）是一个古老而复杂的水-社会系统，它纠缠着一个社会-技术-生态关系网络，已经持续了几个世纪。TIS面临着农村荒漠化、气候变化和维护不善等威胁。这些系统依赖于代代相传的知识和适合当地环境、社会和经济条件的实践。目的是回顾和分析信息系统相关研究的现状、出版物的演变、研究主题、方法、发现和研究差距。此外，通过研究可持续性的不同维度，它试图确定TIS如何长期可持续地保护和管理水资源。方法采用科学计量学和内容分析相结合的方法，对经同行评议的期刊文章进行系统文献综述（SLR）。结果与结论：这篇综述表明，TIS不仅仅是历史或文化文物，而是反映可持续性原则的活跃的多功能系统。利用四支柱框架，证据表明，通过生物多样性保护、水和能源效率以及景观保护，交通运输在环境管理方面发挥着至关重要的作用；它们的经济可持续性依赖于有利于农村社区的低成本做法、资源共享和生态系统服务；支持包容、传统权利和文化认同；治理通过帮助社区协调、解决冲突和规划，有助于他们的成功。研究结果强调：1)可持续发展战略应因地制宜，以确保有效、公平和长期保护；2)将传统知识与现代实践相结合，提高交通运输系统的可持续性，特别是在气候变化的背景下；3)应将TIS纳入更广泛的保护、农村发展和气候变化战略、政策和计划，并制定符合当地能力的包容性解决方案；4)政策影响包括需要综合政策协调和参与式社区规划，以及将TIS视为文化遗产；5)具有成本效益的策略应优先考虑地方治理、可负担的基础设施维护和技术支持。本综述基于环境管理、经济可行性、社会公平和治理这四大可持续性支柱的证据，提供了一个全面的路线图，将TIS作为可持续水治理和农村复原力的关键资产加以振兴。

本文章由计算机程序翻译，如有差异，请以英文原文为准。

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来源期刊

Agricultural Systems 农林科学-农业综合

CiteScore

13.30

自引率

7.60%

发文量

174

审稿时长

30 days

期刊介绍： Agricultural Systems is an international journal that deals with interactions - among the components of agricultural systems, among hierarchical levels of agricultural systems, between agricultural and other land use systems, and between agricultural systems and their natural, social and economic environments. The scope includes the development and application of systems analysis methodologies in the following areas: Systems approaches in the sustainable intensification of agriculture; pathways for sustainable intensification; crop-livestock integration; farm-level resource allocation; quantification of benefits and trade-offs at farm to landscape levels; integrative, participatory and dynamic modelling approaches for qualitative and quantitative assessments of agricultural systems and decision making; The interactions between agricultural and non-agricultural landscapes; the multiple services of agricultural systems; food security and the environment; Global change and adaptation science; transformational adaptations as driven by changes in climate, policy, values and attitudes influencing the design of farming systems; Development and application of farming systems design tools and methods for impact, scenario and case study analysis; managing the complexities of dynamic agricultural systems; innovation systems and multi stakeholder arrangements that support or promote change and (or) inform policy decisions.