Water Allocation Under Scarcity: Systematic Review of Decision Support Tools and Their Adoption

Authors

  • Gerold Brandstetter Centre for Agricultural Hydrology, Seewinkel Institute of Agro-Informatics, Frauenkirchen, Austria Author
  • Judit Illyes-Var Department of Irrigation Engineering, Bacska Centre for Digital Agriculture, Baja, Hungary Author
  • Gustav Hrabovsky-Ml Centre for Agricultural Policy, Podyji Institute of Agro-Informatics, Znojmo, Czech Republic Author

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.22666223

Keywords:

Water Allocation Under Scarcity; Agro-informatics; Precision agriculture; Evidence synthesis; On-farm technology

Abstract

There is real interest in water allocation under scarcity right now, and real uncertainty about exactly where it delivers the most
value. We pull together the current evidence for water allocation under scarcity, covering the methodological, practical,
governance and cost angles, with an eye on where practice has genuinely settled and where farms and advisors are still largely
working it out for themselves. Selective, context-specific adoption looks better supported by the evidence gathered here than either
broad rollout or blanket avoidance.

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Brankovic K, Kowalczyk B, et al. "Water Allocation Under Scarcity: a systematic review". Agric For Meteorol 30(2023): 421-431. DOI: 10.2196/89834

Castellani R, Ristic C, et al. "Water Allocation Under Scarcity: a on-farm evaluation". Front Plant Sci 32(2014): 432-443. DOI: 10.1007/s10916-024-02104-9

Dumitrescu A, Andric D, et al. "Water Allocation Under Scarcity: a benchmark comparison". Sensors 34(2017): 443-455. DOI: 10.3389/fdgth.2026.1896184

Eriksdottir B, Brankovic E, et al. "Water Allocation Under Scarcity: a multi-season study". Smart Agric Technol 36(2020): 454-467. DOI: 10.3390/diagnostics15162117

Farkas I, Ionescu F, et al. "Water Allocation Under Scarcity: a pilot deployment". J Agric Sci 38(2023): 465-479. DOI: 10.4103/jrpp.jrpp_20_65

Grabowski P, Petrescu G, et al. "Water Allocation Under Scarcity: a case study". Agric Water Manag 40(2014): 476-482. DOI: 10.3389/fdgth.2026.1763884

Hendriksen W, Wojcik H, et al. "Water Allocation Under Scarcity: a meta-analysis". Food Policy 42(2017): 487-494. DOI: 10.2196/48297

Ionescu F, Foscarini I, et al. "Water Allocation Under Scarcity: a comparative trial". World Dev 44(2020): 498-506. DOI: 10.1007/s00330-025-12031-z

Jankowiak G, Grabowski J, et al. "Water Allocation Under Scarcity: a farmer-survey study". PLoS One 46(2023): 509-518. DOI: 10.3389/fdgth.2026.1699005

Kowalczyk N, Novotna K, et al. "Water Allocation Under Scarcity: a field trial". Sci Rep 8(2014): 520-530. DOI: 10.3389/fdgth.2026.1834800

Lindqvist U, Urbanek L, et al. "Water Allocation Under Scarcity: a systematic review". Nat Food 10(2017): 531-542. DOI: 10.2196/69678

Marchetti D, Doncheva M, et al. "Water Allocation Under Scarcity: a on-farm evaluation". Agron J 12(2020): 542-554. DOI: 10.7759/cureus.46454

Novotna E, Eriksdottir N, et al. "Water Allocation Under Scarcity: a benchmark comparison". Crop Sci 14(2023): 553-566. DOI: 10.1016/j.ssci.2025.107028

Ostrowski L, Lindqvist O, et al. "Water Allocation Under Scarcity: a multi-season study". Soil Tillage Res 16(2014): 564-578. DOI: 10.2196/48633

Petrescu S, Szabo P, et al. "Water Allocation Under Scarcity: a pilot deployment". Land Use Policy 18(2017): 575-581. DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0305949

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Andric V, Vasquez A, et al. "Water Allocation Under Scarcity: a multi-season study". Biosyst Eng 36(2020): 674-680. DOI: 10.1007/s10916-024-02104-9

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Published

2026-09-03