Low Water Use Crops

Agave

UC ANR Agave Resources/Recursos
Guidelines for Agave Selection and Production in California
Blog Post: UC Scientists Share Techniques to Sustainably Grow Agave in California
Join CaliAgave Network

Yessica Fernández is a PhD student in agricultural economics at the Universidad Autónoma Chapingo in Texcoco, Mexico, and is member of the Water Resources Management Group led by Dr. Sam Sandoval Solis. 
She shared that in Mexico, agave needs around 300 mm (~12 inches) of rainfall per year and is typically not irrigated. The soil needs to be moist only when planting. In California studies, she said most agave systems have irrigation which can be helpful. After the agave roots are established, one irrigation event per month is enough. This crop has a lot of potential as a low-water use crop with cultural significance.