Improving irrigation water quality through implementation of nature-based solutions

Nature-Based Solutions (NbS) offer a promising framework for addressing the growing challenges of water pollution, climate variability, and sustainability of agricultural production. The quality of irrigation water plays a critical role in crop productivity, soil health, and ecosystem stability, yet conventional management approaches remain limited in scope and resilience. Although international standards such as the IUCN Global Standard provide criteria for NbS design and assessment, their application to irrigation water quality remains underexplored. Empirical studies across European agroecosystems, ranging from vegetative buffers and constructed wetlands to agroforestry and forested recharge zones, demonstrate the potential of NbS to reduce nutrient and sediment loads, improve hydrological dynamics, and enhance resilience under climate stress. This review synthesizes existing scientific knowledge, typologies, and mechanisms of NbS relevant to irrigation, while also evaluating indicators of effectiveness and alignment with European and national policy frameworks. Identifying key functional processes and summarize case-based evidence of water quality improvement across local, regional, and transboundary scales. Findings highlight that while NbS provide multifunctional benefits, their integration into irrigation governance is constrained by fragmented responsibilities, limited data, and a lack of irrigation-specific standards. Moreover, trade-offs such as land competition and delayed effectiveness must be carefully managed. This review emphasizes the importance of bridging scientific evidence with policy instruments and participatory implementation is essential for mainstreaming NbS in irrigation systems. Future research should prioritize the development of tailored evaluation metrics, integration into agri-environmental schemes, and adaptive, stakeholder-inclusive governance to support sustainable water management in agriculture.