Dynamique et incertitude dans la gestion de l'irrigation

Dynamics and uncertainty in irrigation management . Water supply for irrigation is limited in the southwestern France as in many regions of the world. Many conflicts between users highlight the fact that efficient irrigation scheduling is needed. The aims of this study are twofold. First we identify optimal irrigation strategies under stochastic weather conditions. Second we evaluate the economic losses due to uncertainty and risk aversion. The agronomic crop growth model, EPIC-Phase, generates yield data which are incorporated into a dynamic programming model for the determination of optimal irrigation scheduling under risk and limited water supply, in the southwest of France. The results indicate that optimal dynamic irrigation strategies produce higher profits, and utilities, and require less irrigation water than the optimal agronomic irrigation strategies.