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Spatial modeling of the biophysical potential for supplemental irrigation: a case study in Syria

This study describes a modeling methodology for using Geographic Information Systems (GIS) tools to identify potential areas for the introduction of supplemental irrigation. In their most simple concept, such areas would be characterized by the presence of arable soils, non-constraining slopes, agricultural land use, and would be within proximity of existing irrigation schemes, so that water conveyance or pumping costs are not uneconomical. The method is based on the combination of a simple model to calculate the possible water savings