This project aims to implement a comprehensive strategy for efficient water resource management on farms dedicated to intensive apple cultivation in the Alto Valle of the Negro and Neuquén rivers, one of the most important fruit-growing regions in Argentina. The proposal is based on a combination of technological and agronomic measures that reduce consumptive water use without compromising yields, while simultaneously improving the resilience of the production system to climate change.
From a technical standpoint, the project includes the installation of pressurized drip irrigation systems with pulse control and soil moisture sensors, allowing for precise water delivery according to crop demand. Automatic weather stations will also be incorporated to feed reference evapotranspiration (ET₀) models and determine in real-time the effective crop water requirement (ETc). These variables will be integrated into a parcel-level digital management platform that enables producers to optimize water use by production block.
The approach is complemented by regenerative agriculture practices, such as the use of permanent vegetative cover to reduce direct evaporation, improve infiltration, and reduce runoff. This strategy, combined with a continuous monitoring system of the water balance per parcel, aligns with the Volumetric Water Benefit Accounting (VWBA 2.0) methodological framework, using Method A-2 to quantify volumetric benefits.
The Alto Valle of the Negro and Neuquén rivers is facing increasing water stress resulting from a combination of structural and climatic factors. On one hand, the predominant agricultural model in the region is based on intensive fruit crops, such as apples, which have high levels of consumptive use due to elevated evapotranspiration (ETc), especially in summer months when water demand peaks.
Additionally, significant inefficiencies persist in the irrigation systems used, many of which still operate with traditional furrow or flood irrigation methods, characterized by low application efficiency and losses due to percolation and runoff. This situation is exacerbated by a progressive reduction in the flows of the Negro River, attributed both to lower water availability in the upper basin (due to changes in the Andean snow regime caused by climate change), and increasing competition for water among agricultural, urban, and industrial sectors.
Finally, the lack of modern monitoring infrastructure hinders efficient and real-time irrigation planning at the farm level. The absence of field sensors, localized weather stations, and digital management platforms prevents adaptive water management that takes into account climatic variability and the specific characteristics of each production plot.
The main mitigation component consists of the full modernization of irrigation systems in apple farms, replacing traditional flood irrigation with pressurized and sectorized drip irrigation technology equipped with soil moisture sensors and automatic valves. This system will allow water application to be adapted according to the crop’s actual demand, optimizing use efficiency and reducing losses due to percolation and runoff.
Additionally, automatic weather stations with satellite connectivity will be installed to record real-time data on temperature, relative humidity, wind speed, solar radiation, and precipitation. This information will feed agroclimatic models to estimate reference evapotranspiration (ET₀) and precisely calculate the crop’s water requirement (ETc), adjusted to each phenological stage of apple development.
At the same time, the implementation of live vegetative cover between rows will be promoted to reduce direct soil evaporation, protect the soil surface structure, improve water infiltration, and contribute to carbon sequestration. These regenerative practices also reduce compaction and promote soil biodiversity.
The project includes the use of high-resolution satellite remote sensing (Sentinel-2, Landsat 8) and tools such as the NDVI index to monitor vegetative status and model actual evapotranspiration per plot. This analysis will be integrated with field data to calculate adjusted water balances and identify improvement opportunities.
Finally, technical training sessions and producer support will be developed to strengthen their capacities in efficient water use, interpretation of climate data, and adoption of digital monitoring technologies. This comprehensive approach seeks to generate a paradigm shift in water management in the Alto Valle, with sustainable and verifiable long-term impacts.
Stage 1 (months 0–3): This initial phase focuses on establishing a detailed baseline of water consumption on each participating farm. Pressure sensors are installed in the irrigation distribution networks and digital flow meters at strategic points of water intake and application, enabling accurate recording of water volume used per day and per production block. At the same time, information is gathered on existing infrastructure, current irrigation practices, soil conditions, and topographical characteristics, which will help identify improvement opportunities and establish the “without project” condition (baseline) for VWB calculations.
Stage 2 (months 4–6): With the data obtained in the previous phase, parcel-level planning is conducted to define homogeneous management zones within each farm. A detailed technical intervention plan is designed for each plot, including the selection of irrigation emitters (drip, micro-sprinklers), pulse irrigation programming, and soil moisture sensor placement. In this phase, automatic weather stations with remote transmission capability are also installed, measuring key climatic variables (temperature, relative humidity, solar radiation, wind speed, and precipitation) to estimate reference evapotranspiration (ET₀).
Stage 3 (months 6–12): Planned works are executed and technologies are installed: pressurized irrigation, automatic controllers, sector valves, moisture sensors, and vegetative cover between rows. Active use of the Aqua Positive platform begins, where baseline data is uploaded and real-time operation and monitoring information is recorded. This platform integrates field, sensor, and satellite data to evaluate the impact of interventions on water use and facilitate traceability of generated benefits.
Stage 4 (years 2–3): This stage focuses on continuous monitoring of the defined indicators. Satellite remote sensing (Sentinel-2, Landsat 8) is used to estimate actual evapotranspiration through vegetative index analysis. These data are compared to baseline values to calculate the Volumetric Water Benefit (VWB). Cross-validation is also conducted with data from soil sensors and measured water consumption. Finally, an external audit validates the results through field visits, analysis of historical records, and verification of the permanence of achieved benefits.
The “Sustainable Water Management in Apple Orchards – Río Negro and Neuquén Rivers Valley” project arises as a response to increasing water pressure affecting one of Argentina’s leading fruit-producing regions. Its objective is to implement a set of technological solutions and regenerative practices to optimize water use in farms dedicated to intensive apple cultivation, under an efficiency, traceability, and climate resilience framework aligned with the VWBA 2.0 methodology.
The project includes four main phases. The first, diagnostic phase (months 0–3), focuses on installing pressure sensors and flow meters in selected farms to establish an accurate baseline of water consumption, identify inefficiencies in current irrigation systems, and characterize the edaphoclimatic conditions of each plot.
During the second phase (months 4–6), parcel-level planning is carried out through the establishment of homogeneous management zones (HMZ). This stage includes the selection and installation of pressurized drip irrigation technologies with pulse control, soil moisture sensors, and automatic weather stations with remote transmission. These devices enable accurate estimation of the crop’s water requirement based on reference evapotranspiration (ET₀), considering crop phenology and real-time weather conditions.
The third phase (months 6–12) involves the physical implementation of technologies: irrigation network modernization, installation of sector valves, permanent vegetative cover between rows, and connection to the Aqua Positive platform. This digital system integrates satellite data (NDVI, Sentinel-2 images), sensor records, and climatic variables to continuously monitor consumption trends and water efficiency.
Finally, the monitoring and verification phase (years 2–3) establishes a robust technical protocol to measure the project’s volumetric benefits. Through comparative analysis of “with” and “without” project conditions, reductions in consumptive use (ETc), river withdrawal volume, area with live cover, among other indicators, are evaluated. External audits and field validations ensure traceability and permanence of the generated benefits.
The project encompasses multiple dimensions: consumption reduction, efficiency improvement, soil restoration, producer training, and climate resilience. Results are expected to be scalable and replicable in other agricultural areas of the country.
Through this initiative, the project directly contributes to the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs 2, 6, 9, 12, 13, 15 and 17), promoting more efficient, sustainable, and innovative agriculture in a key watershed of Argentine Patagonia.
