Irrigated croplands with substantial human populations
The Residential irrigated croplands anthrome refers to areas of land where residential areas (10≤ population per square kilometer < 100) coexist with irrigated crop production (≥20% irrigated land and ≥20% cropland). This anthrome is characterized by the dominance of human-made surfaces such as buildings, roads, and irrigation canals, intermixed with agricultural fields. The crop types cultivated in these areas often include fruits, vegetables, and other high-value cash crops. The irrigation of these crops is typically achieved via the use of groundwater extraction or surface water diversion from rivers or other nearby sources. The residential irrigated croplands anthrome supports a much lower population percentage than residential rainfed croplands or the village anthrome classes. It also produces much lower caloric contributions than these same anthromes, aside from pastoral villages. However, this anthrome occupies the second lowest percentage of land area globally, further represented by its low inclusion in protected and key biodiversity areas. Residential Irrigated Croplands store very little carbon, ranking second to last in carbon storage percentage out of all anthrome classes.
Irrigated Residential anthromes near Crows Landing, California, USA. An aerial view looking north over the California Aqueduct and agricultural fields just east of Interstate 5 in Stanislaus County, near Crows Landing, California. The aqueduct is a critical part of the State Water Project that carries water from the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta to the San Joaquin Valley and Southern California. Photo taken April 16, 1998. Dale Kolke / California Department of Water Resources Source: https://flic.kr/p/2dCDJTC