Arroyo 2018: Water and Irrigated Agriculture in Arizona

Why is so much of Arizona’s water used to irrigate crops in the desert? A partial answer to this question is that Arizona provides at least two of the three prerequisites for producing crops: ample sunshine, high-quality soils, and adequate water. Although the desert lacks sufficient rainfall to grow most crops, Arizona’s rivers have supported agriculture for thousands of years, and aquifers in Arizona’s desert valleys hold vast quantities of groundwater.