Water Crisis Management Strategy through Investigation of Virtual Water Using CROPWAT Software

Water is one of the most important components of sustainable life. However, the excessive use of this vital element has caused irreparable damage to the limited water resources, and the agricultural industry assumed as the largest amount of consumed water. In recent years, the significant reduction of water resources as well as the growing trend of drought necessitates a review and change in the agricultural induster. In this research the water requirement of agricultural plants of Mazandaran province including rice, wheat, barley and citrus is estimated in order to investigate the volume of green and blue virtual water, exported and imported water by these crops across the province. Meteorological data such as rainfall, maximum and minimum temperature, relative humidity, sundial of the area and information such as cultivation area, crops yield rate, exported and imported water volume collected from relevant agencies over the last ten years. FAO Penman-Monteith and USDA methods in CROPWAT software used to estimate virtual water and water needs. Results showed that rice, wheat, barley and citrus consumption accounted for the largest water requirement. Also, rice water requirement is blue water and wheat, barley and citrus plants consume green water sources which is not relocated and is not suitable for other purposes or storage. Consequently, due to the climatic potential of Mazandaran province, the pattern of cultivation alter to plants with low water requirements that are able to absorb their required water from green water sources, such as wheat, barley and citrus as well as lower plant area with abundant water requirement such as rice can save more water resources and the water crisis could be effectively in control.