Water use efficiency (WUE): how much yield per cubic metre

Full article available in Uzbek and Russian.

Water Use Efficiency (WUE) measures how much yield a farm gets per cubic metre of irrigation water applied — the metric a farmer can actually control, unlike broader "crop water productivity" figures that also fold in rainfall and evapotranspiration.

Formula:

WUE (kg/m³) = Yield (kg/ha) ÷ Water applied (m³/ha)

Example: cotton yield 3 t/ha with 6,000 m³/ha applied → WUE = 3000 ÷ 6000 = 0.5 kg/m³.

Illustrative ranges for Uzbekistan: cotton ~0.3–0.6 kg/m³, wheat ~0.9–1.4 kg/m³, tomato/vegetables ~8–14 kg/m³ (comparisons only meaningful within the same crop).

Ways to improve WUE: sensor-based scheduling instead of fixed calendars, reducing canal conveyance losses via lining and better flow measurement, deficit irrigation during less water-sensitive growth stages, soil organic matter and mulching to retain moisture, and avoiding irrigation past field capacity — extra water beyond saturation adds no yield, only cost and drainage problems.

Raising WUE by even 10–15% cuts pumping and water-fee costs per ton and eases pressure on a scarce national resource — often cheaper than developing new land or wells.

Figures are general, illustrative estimates; actual values vary by field, season, and practice — compare against local agronomic service data.