Improving wheat irrigation productivity in Iran (Part two: from the viewpoint of mechanization and farm management)

Document Type : Technical Article

Authors

1 Senior Expert/ Department of Irrigation and Drainage, Yekom Consulting Engineers Company, Tehran, Iran

2 Ph.D. Candidate/ Department of Irrigation and Reclamation Engineering, College of Agriculture and Natural Resources, University of Tehran, Karaj, Iran

3 Manager of Agricultural, Social and Economic Affairs/ Yekom Consulting Engineers Company, Tehran, Iran

4 MS.c. Student/ Department of Soil Science, College of Agriculture and Natural Resources, University of Tehran, Karaj, Iran

5 Former M.Sc. Student/Department of Irrigation and Reclamation Engineering, College of Agriculture and Natural Resources, University of Tehran, Karaj, Iran

Abstract

Introduction
The lack of proper water productivity and the increase of water per capita over time have led to the drying up of rivers and lakes as well as the drop in the level of underground water. Currently, many countries are facing a great challenge in producing food from limited water resources. Lack of water along with improper exploitation of resources does not meet the growing demand of the current population for food. The lack of water resources for the production of various agricultural products, including wheat, is one of Iran’s main challenges and concerns and the primary solution is to improve and promote water productivity. In this regard, consuming less water should produce the most production. One of the biggest problems for wheat production is the lack of water resources and the fragmentation of different water management methods, fields, and irrigation systems. On the other hand, for water and farm management to have the greatest effect in increasing the yield, efficiency, and productivity of water consumption, it must have various inputs such as hybrid and modified seeds, chemical fertilizers and pesticides, the use of advanced tools and machinery, and appropriate planting operations, and harvesting should be done optimally, correctly, and at the right time-place.
 
Materials and Methods
The current study has targeted the main areas of wheat production in Iran. Due to its high nutritional value and strategic importance, wheat is cultivated in almost all areas of the country. According to the Pareto principle, the areas where 80% of wheat cultivation and production (irrigated and rainfed) are carried out are the main wheat production areas. Since in Iran, the statistics of the agricultural situation are mainly presented based on political divisions, therefore, the major regions will be the set of provinces in which the above hypothesis is true. Accordingly, 13 provinces of Golestan, Kermanshah, West Azarbaijan, East Azarbaijan, Hamedan, Ardabil, Lorestan, Central, Khuzestan, Fars, Razavi Khorasan, Kurdistan, and Zanjan have been identified as the main wheat production areas in Iran and in this study also, the main focus was on these areas. Since the vast country of Iran has a diverse climate, to ensure that all the country's climate groups are represented in the selected regions, an adaptation of these regions to the country's climate groups was also done.
 
Results and Discussion
The results showed that with the data of the 2020-2021 crop year, the reduction of agricultural water consumption by developing the method of irrigation the Raised Bed Planting Systems (RBPS) in the main areas of wheat production will lead to a reduction of 154.2 million m3 of water. The implementation cost of this solution based on the average implementation of each hectare is 50 million Rials in 2021, equal to 5059 billion Rials. Among the limitations in the stages of planting, planting, and harvesting wheat with the irrigation method of the raised bed planting systems, we can point out the need for cultivators equipped with furrows, but in the operation of planting, this method is facilitated. Regardless of the results of the research, limiting the movement of the wheels of agricultural machines to the furrows (traffic control), facilitating the operation, and the smoother movement of water in the furrows are some of the strengths of the raised bed planting systems. The advantages of this method can be mentioned as follows: increasing the yield of wheat per hectare, Improvement in soil ventilation and more growth of roots, Increasing the germination percentage of seeds and reducing seed consumption, reducing seed suffocation, reducing soil erosion, Reducing the amount of herbicides used, increasing the efficiency of using poisons and fertilizers, Reducing the risk of flooding and fungal diseases, and planting wheat on raised beds due to the elimination of irrigation borders as a combine-friendly method.
 
Conclusion
As a result, using the new method of cultivation the raised bed planting systems can lead to the improvement of water productivity of wheat in the country as a management tool. The raised bed planting system is the most modern method implemented in developed countries. In this method, the seed is planted on long and wide beds, which increases the economic efficiency of the raised bed planting systems. It is expected that the yield of wheat fields will increase by 15% compared to the traditional method. In the cultivation system on raised beds, both the raised bed and the irrigation furrows are prepared at the same time. Also, fertilizer and seeds are distributed on the beds at the same time.

Keywords

Main Subjects

References

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Water and Soil Management and Modelling
Volume 4, Issue 1
January 2024
Pages 194-213

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History

  • Receive Date: 17 December 2022
  • Revise Date: 14 February 2023
  • Accept Date: 17 February 2023

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