Assessing crop pattern and pressurized irrigation systems development scenarios on groundwater level in Mehran plain using system dynamics modeling

Mehran Plain has been accompanied by a drop in groundwater levels in recent decades.The aim of this effort was to study the level of groundwater in Mehran plain using the system dynamics method under different scenarios of crop pattern and pressurized irrigation systems development. the conceptual model was designed, dynamic hypotheses were explained and simulation was performed. After verifying the model, the research purpose was evaluated in terms of applying 12 scenarios consisting of three scenarios for crop pattern and four scenarios of pressurized irrigation systems development. Among the crop patterns scenarios, the replacement of canola instead of alfalfa in crop pattern showed the best result in groundwater level in Mehran Plain. Also, the results of this effort showed that the development pressurized irrigation systems in condition current efficiency not only does not improve the groundwater level, but also has a negative effect on the groundwater level of the plain.