Iranian Water Research Journal

Economic Evaluation of Surface and Subsurface Drip Irrigation Systems for Cotton Crops (Case Study: Orzoueyeh County)

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

mahdiyeh saei 1
nader koohi 2
Hamid Najafinezhad 3

1 Assistant professor, Faculty of Economic, Social and Extension Research Department, Kerman Agricultural and Natural Resources Research and Education Center, AREEO, Kerman, Iran

2 Assistant professor, Faculty of Agricultural Engineering Research Department, Kerman Agricultural and Natural Resources Research and Education Center, AREEO, Kerman, Iran

3 Associate Professor of Agricultural and Horticultural Research Department, Kerman Agricultural and Natural Resources Research and Education Center, Agricultural Research, Education and Extension Organization (AREEO), Kerman, Iran

https://doi.org/10.22034/iwrj.2026.14976.2640
Abstract
Introduction:
Given the increasing population, the decreasing of annual precipitation, and the scarticy of water supply resources, optimal use of existing water resources is one of the best options for achieving sustainable agriculture. Maximizing irrigation water productivity has been a centeral policy of managers and planners of the agricultural sector in recent years. Among the appropriate techniques for improving productivity and efficiency of water use are modern irrigation systems and the application of management scenarios such as deficit irrigation. In the field of modern irrigation, the invention of the subsurface drip irrigation system represents a major advance in the drip irrigation technology. Cotton is one of the most important agricultural products that, in addition to providing raw materials for the textile and oil industries, plays a significant role in jobs creation across the agricultural, industrial, and commercial sectors. Regarding continuous and severe droughts in Kerman province, especially in the Orzoueyeh agricultural region, and the lack of comprehensive studies on this issue—which challenges the economic justification for implementing modern irrigation systems—it is necessary to evaluate both surface and subsurface drip irrigation systems from technical and economic perspectives, particularly for cotton crops in Orzoueyeh County.

Materials and Methods:
The present study was conducted at the Orzoueyeh Research Farm, affiliated with the Kerman Agricultural and Natural Resources Research and Education Center, Orzoueyeh County, Kerman, Iran, during 2024-2025. To evaluate surface and subsurface drip irrigation systems on cotton yield, an experiment was conducted using split strip plots in a randomized complete block design with three replications. This experiment consisted of 12 treatments, three irrigation levels (I1=125, I2=100, and I3=75 percent of water requirement), and two irrigation systems including surface drip irrigation (S1) and subsurface drip irrigation (S2), as well as two lateral placement patterns (all rows=L1 and alternate-row =L2). The factors I and S were applied in strip and cross arrangements, respectively. In each replication, factor I was arranged vertically, and factor S horizontally. Factor L was assigned to the plots resulting from the intersection of the two factors I and S. To measure and calculate the studied traits after removing the margins, two middle lines of each plot were used. Finally, the yield of the plant per hectare, the number of bolls per plant, and the water use efficiency (WUE) were measured and calculated as the amount of product per volume of water used. The studied traits were subjected to a combined analysis of variance for two years using SAS 9.2 software, and the least significant difference (LSD) test was applied at a probability level of 5% to compare the means. After collecting field data to economically select the best treatment, the results were examined using the partial budgeting method and investment priority analysis. Since determining the investment priority among the treatments under study was essential, an analysis of the final rate of return on investment was conducted.

Results and Discussions:
Based on the results, the crop yield at the irrigation level of 100 percent of water requirement was obtained as 2292 and 2555 kg/ha, and the lateral placement pattern in all rows and alternate rows at this irrigation level yielded 2565 and 2282 kg/ha, in surface and subsurface drip irrigation systems, respectively. The study of various indicators of crop yield, water consumption, water use efficiency, number of bolls per plant, boll weight, and the results of economic analysis of the treatments indicated the superiority of the subsurface drip irrigation over the surface irrigation system, and the superiority of the lateral placement pattern in all rows over the alternate-row, during cotton cultivation for the following reasons. The cotton crop yield in the subsurface drip irrigation system treatment was 234 kg/ha higher than that in the surface drip irrigation system. The number of bolls per plant and boll weight in the subsurface drip irrigation system were 16 and 3 percent higher, respectively, compare with the surface irrigation system. The cotton yield in the all-row irrigation pattern was 254 kg/ha higher than in the alternate-row lateral pattern. Despite the same amount of water consumption, the water use efficiency in the all-row irrigation pattern was about 8 percent higher than in the alternate-row lateral pattern. The number of bolls per plant and boll weight in the all-row irrigation pattern were 12 and 3 percent higher, respectively, than in alternate-row lateral pattern. From an economic point of view, investing in the I2S2L1 treatment (subsurface drip irrigation at 100 percent of water requirement and with planting pattern in all rows) was preferable to investing in other treatments.

Conclusion:
Investment in the I2S2L1 treatment (subsurface drip irrigation at 100 percent water requirement and in the in all rows lateral palcement) was preferable to investment in other treatments. The results of the technical analysis of the project also showed that the I2S2L1 treatment had the best statistical position. Considering that cotton is a water-intensive crop and the amount of irrigation has a great impact on yield, all the studied traits showed better results in the 100 percent water requirement treatment compared with the other two treatments. Therefore, it can be conducted that this treatment is more economically justifiable. In addition, the full irrigation treatment was made based on economic evaluation and profitability for the farmer. Although deficit irrigation is beneficial for water conservation in the field, it is seldom adopted by farmers who primarily prioritize maximizing financial returns.

Keywords

Drip Irrigation Systems
Economic Analysis
Final Rate of Return Analysis
Minimum Acceptable Rate of Return
Partial Budgeting
Subjects
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Iranian Water Research Journal
Volume 20, Issue 3 - Serial Number 62
Is completing ....
Summer 2026
Pages 75-90

  • Receive Date 30 March 2026
  • Revise Date 08 July 2026
  • Accept Date 11 July 2026
  • Publish Date 23 September 2026

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