Iranian Water Research Journal

Iranian Water Research Journal

Influence of irrigation management and agricultural technologies on water use, economic efficiency, and carbon footprints in farms surrounding the Tashk and Bakhtegan wetlands

Document Type : Original Article

Authors
Mohammad Ali Shahrokhnia 1
Mohammad Ali Beaien 1
Hossein Dehghanisanij 2
Ali Mokhtaran 3
Afrouz TaghiZadeh Ghasab 4
1 Agricultural Engineering Research Department, Fars Agricultural and Natural Resources Research and Education Center, Agricultural Research, Education and Extension Organization (AREEO), Shiraz, Iran
2 Agricultural Research, Education and Extension Organization (AREEO), Karaj
3 Agricultural Engineering Research Department, Khuzestan Agricultural and Natural Resources Research and Education Center, (AREEO), Ahwaz, Iran.
4 Soil Science Department, Isfahan University of Technology
10.22034/iwrj.2025.15199.2681
Abstract
Introduction:
Natural lakes and wetlands are vital ecosystems that play a crucial role in maintaining biodiversity and regulating the water cycle. The rising demand for water in agriculture and irrigation has significantly impacted these ecosystems. To address this global challenge, water-saving irrigation technologies have been proposed as one of the key solutions. In the present study, with the assumption that reducing water consumption in farms around wetlands can help restore wetlands, existing technologies were employed to reduce irrigation water consumption on some farms around Tashk and Bakhtegan wetlands in Fars province.
Methods:
To achieve this objective, 17 farms and orchards were selected in the counties of Arsenjan, Estahban, and Abadeh Tashak. The selected orchards included pomegranate, pistachio, and apple, while the chosen farms comprised cotton, forage corn, and grain corn. Appropriate technologies were identified and implemented for each farm and orchard, based on field visits. The technologies applied regarding modifications to the irrigation system, determination of irrigation scheduling, and the enhancement of tree watering basins. Each farm or orchard was divided into two plots: one was managed under the farmer's conventional practices (control), and the other with water-saving technologies (treatment). Over a period of one year, the farms were managed with these technologies were compared with those under traditional management. Factors such as crop yield, volume of irrigation water used, and water productivity were measured and analyzed using paired t-tests. Additionally, the carbon footprint of the selected farms was assessed. An economic analysis was conducted, considering all costs and revenues generated on the farms and orchards. Land preparation for planting cotton and corn in experimental treatments was done using a compound tiller. Cotton was planted with Bakhtegan variety seeds at a rate of 25 kg/ha and corn with 704 variety seeds at a rate of 25 kg/ha with pneumatic row tiller. Cotton weeds were controlled chemically (trifluralin herbicide, 2.5 liters/ha) and mechanically with a hoe cultivator in the sixth and eighth weeks after planting. In the case of corn, weeding was done with Tufordi herbicide at a rate of 1.5 liters/ha at the 5-7 leaf stage of corn and using a hoe cultivator 25 days after corn emergence. Cotton was harvested by workers, grain corn by a combine and forage corn with a chopper. A rotary plow (at least with two discs and rollers) was used for the control treatment, Non-delinted cotton seeds (hairy seeds) were sown at a rate of 250 kg/ha with a centrifugal seeder. By modifying the land preparation operations with a compound tiller and sowing with a pneumatic row-cutter, 25 kg/ha less seed was used in addition to reducing the traffic of tractors and agricultural machinery.
Results:
The results indicated that the yield levels in the treated farms increased between 7% and 55%. The the lowest and highest increases observed in forage corn and cotton fields, respectively. Irrigation water decreased by 20% to 31% in apple orchards and grain corn fields, respectively. Consequently, the water productivity improved by 43% to 113% in forage corn and cotton farms. Statistically, the differences in yield, irrigation water, and water productivity between the control and treated farms were significant at the 1% level. The effectiveness of the employed technologies led to a reduction in carbon footprint by 12% to 26%, particularly in pistachio orchards and cotton fields. Economic analyses revealed that under current conditions and without considering the true value of water, the implementation of water-saving technologies increased economic profit by 14% to 70%, specifically for forage corn and pomegranate orchards. However, when accounting for the true value of water, although the percentage of economic profit increased, the actual profit decreased compared to the scenario that did not consider the true value of water. This resulted in negative economic profit for pomegranate orchards under conventional farmer management (control). Thus, while pomegranate orchards may provide significant profits for local farmers, they are not economically viable in terms of water usage. This highlights the importance of considering water economics in agricultural practices.
Concussion:
Although technologies such as drip irrigation and deficit irrigation improve crop water productivity, a balance must be struck between expanding these systems, increasing the area under cultivation by farmers, and ensuring water availability for natural ecosystems. Limited access to advanced water-saving technologies limits efforts to protect wetlands and lakes. More research is also needed on how to divert excess irrigation water to help adjacent wetlands. Few studies have been conducted to assess the long-term water-saving effects of modern irrigation systems on aquatic ecosystems. Future research on water governance frameworks that address both irrigation efficiency and ecosystem sustainability is critical. Policies that encourage farmers to adopt water-saving technologies while preserving natural wetlands are essential. Water-saving irrigation technologies are a promising approach to balancing agricultural productivity and the conservation of natural lakes and wetlands. However, addressing existing challenges through integrated frameworks, long-term monitoring, and policy reforms can help achieve sustainable water resource management while protecting critical ecosystems.
Keywords
Economic benefit
Reduced tillage
Water productivity
Water requirements
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  • Receive Date 06 May 2025
  • Accept Date 03 July 2025
  • Publish Date 23 October 2025