نوع مقاله : مقاله پژوهشی
نویسندگان
1 گروه مهندسی آبیاری و آبادانی، دانشکده کشاورزی، دانشگاه تهران، کرج، ایران
2 گروه مهندسی انرژیهای نو و منابع پایدار، دانشکدگان علوم و فناوری های میان رشته ای، دانشگاه تهران، تهران، ایران
3 گروه علوم و مهندسی آب، دانشکده کشاورزی، دانشگاه فردوسی مشهد، مشهد، ایران
چکیده
کلیدواژهها
عنوان مقاله [English]
نویسندگان [English]
It is necessary to use the correct methods of water economic valuation. Proper use of the virtual water concept and the crop pattern can play a significant role in increasing water productivity and sustainable development.
In this paper, the economic value of agricultural water, once without considering virtual water and once again with virtual water for four crops including wheat, barley, alfalfa and fodder maize was calculated, using a native-exclusive mathematical model, in Isfahan province, counties of Shahinshahr-Meymeh and Borkhar, Iran. Three weighting methods based on cultivated area, volume of net water consumption and product income were considered for water valuation. The input data for the mathematical model includes crop parameters, meteorological data, the amount of water consumed for each plant and the amount of expenses and incomes from each product for the crop year 2020-2021.
The obtained results showed that by all the three weighting methods and in the both studied areas, the economic value of agricultural water increased by considering the virtual water of crops and changing the crop pattern accordingly; the water economic value by three weighting methods based on cultivated area, the amount of water consumed, and crop income increased by 22%, 44%, and 23% in Shahinshahr-Meymeh county and by 17%, 15%, and 15% in Borkhar county, respectively. This research showed that considering virtual water and changing the crop pattern accordingly can increase the economic value of water, reduce water consumption and help achieve sustainable development.
کلیدواژهها [English]
Extended Abstract
Objective
Considering the water scarcity in Iran and the fact that two-third of Iran’s climate is arid and semi-arid, it seems to be necessary to use the correct methods of water economic valuation. Proper use of the virtual water concept—the total amount of water used in produce a product from the beginning to the end of the production process—and the crop pattern can play a significant role in increasing water productivity and sustainable development. This paper investigates one of the economic value calculation method for agricultural water in two Isfahan counties and examines if there’s a way to increase the profitability and use agricultural water more efficiently in the studied regions.
Materials and methods
In this article, the economic value of agricultural water, once without considering virtual water and once again with considering virtual water for four crops, i.e., wheat, barley, alfalfa and fodder maize was calculated using a native-exclusive mathematical model in Isfahan counties of Shahinshahr-Meymeh and Borkhar, Iran. Three weighting methods based on cultivated area, volume of net water consumption and product income were considered for water valuation. The input data for the mathematical model includes crop parameters (irrigation water requirement, yield and growth season), meteorological data (air temperature, precipitation, solar radiation, wind speed and relative humidity), the amount of water consumed for each plant and the amount of expenses and incomes from each product for the crop year 2020-2021.
Results
The obtained results showed that by all the three weighting methods and in the both studied areas, the economic value of agricultural water increased by considering the virtual water of crops and changing the crop pattern accordingly. Sparing Wheat and barley for their strategic nature, alfalfa had the lowest profitability in both Shahinshahr-Meymeh and Borkhar counties (0.29 and 0.25, respectively). Fodder maize was the most profitable crop in both Shahinshahr-Meymeh and Borkhar counties, with the profitability being 1.75 and 1.68, respectively. The water economic value by three weighting methods based on cultivated area, the amount of water consumed, and crop income increased by 22%, 44%, and 23% in Shahinshahr-Meymeh county and by 17%, 15%, and 15% in Borkhar county, respectively.
Conclusion
There are multiple methods for economic value calculation. In this paper, the economic value of agricultural water was calculated using the crop price, crop yield and the crop water sensitivity. This concept yielded negative profitability for 3 out of 4 crop in both regions. This research showed that by removing the least profitable crop (alfalfa) and planting the most profitable crop (fodder maize) in the freed area, i.e., changing the crop pattern using the virtual water concept. the economic value of water increases significantly (> 5%). The results of this study can be employed in agricultural planning in Shahinshahr-Meymeh and Borkhar counties and eventually increase water productivity in the studied regions.