An integrated framework for agroclimatic, salinity, and groundwater assessment in the Jizzakh Region, Uzbekistan

Abstract

Climate change, salinization, and water scarcity increasingly threaten irrigated agricultural landscapes in arid regions. This study developed an integrated framework combining hydro-climatic, soil, and groundwater indicators to assess agricultural landscapes in the Jizzakh Region, Uzbekistan. The framework integrated fourteen agroclimatic, soil-quality, and groundwater indicators into a unified scoring system. Results revealed persistent agroclimatic constraints during 2021–2024, with vegetation-period vapor pressure deficit (VPD) ranging from 1.91–1.37 kPa and hydrothermal coefficient (HTC) from 0.40–1.09, indicating high atmospheric water demand and semi-arid conditions. Groundwater mineralization remained predominantly within 1–3 g L−1, while salinity risks persisted in the areas affected by shallow groundwater and elevated mineralization. Integrated assessment scores ranged from 11 to 16 points, classifying most districts as unsatisfactory in 2021 and satisfactory during 2022–2024. Zafarabad and, occasionally, Sh. Rashidov exhibited the lowest overall scores. The framework provides a practical tool for monitoring landscape vulnerability and supporting irrigation, reclamation, and salinity-management decisions.

English abstract from the publisher’s record of the article. The authors’ abstract, reproduced under CC BY 4.0.

Keywords

• groundwater mineralization
• salinity
• Jizzakh
• irrigation
• Uzbekistan

In plain English

The study builds a scoring system that combines fourteen climate, soil-quality and groundwater indicators to assess the irrigated farmland of Jizzakh region. It covers 2021–2024.

Climate set persistent limits: in the growing season the vapour pressure deficit ranged from 1.91 to 1.37 kPa and the hydrothermal coefficient from 0.40 to 1.09, pointing to high atmospheric demand for water and semi-arid conditions. Groundwater mineralization stayed mostly within 1–3 g/L, and the risk of salinity remained where groundwater is shallow and more mineralized.

Overall scores ranged from 11 to 16 points. Most districts rated unsatisfactory in 2021 and satisfactory in 2022–2024; Zafarabad, and at times Sharof Rashidov district, scored lowest. The authors offer the framework as a tool for monitoring vulnerable farmland and for decisions on irrigation, land reclamation and salinity.

How to cite

B. Amanov, A. Ghirardelli, A. Sherov, A. Gafarova, D. Gulomov and P. Tarolli (2026). An integrated framework for agroclimatic, salinity, and groundwater assessment in the Jizzakh Region, Uzbekistan. iScience, vol. 29, 117582 (November 2026). https://doi.org/10.1016/j.isci.2026.117582