Water productivity and economic analysis of potato production under sprinkler and furrow irrigation in Bahar plain of Hamedan Province

This project was conducted to evaluate irrigation water productivity and economic analysis of potato crop production in Hamedan- Bahar plain. In order to 61 potato farms which had sprinkler and furrow irrigation were selected and evaluated. Water consumption was calculated by measuring the water discharge (using WSC flume or Jet methods) for furrow irrigation and sprinkler discharge, irrigation hours per irrigation and total number of irrigation for sprinkler irrigation in the studied farms. Economic analysis of the potato production was carried out with consideration of government grants and regardless of government assistance for the sprinkler irrigation system. The average amount of water consumption and water productivity in furrow and sprinkler irrigation were estimated 14194 and 8233.23 m3/ha and 3.1 and 6.5 kg/m3, respectively. In this way, the sprinkler irrigation system with a 42% reduction in water consumption has increased the water productivity by 100%. The results of economic analysis showed that the present value of the net benefits of potato cultivation in sprinkler irrigation system relative furrow irrigation is more than about 304262 and 369941 thousand rials with or without government assistance grants, respectively. The benefit-cost ratio in sprinkler irrigation systems is 3.1 and 2.9 with or without government subsidies, respectively. This index on farms that have used furrow irrigation system was determined about 2.8. Gross income and net income were Calculated in sprinkler and Furrow irrigation about 360500, 304150 and 243355, 199992 thousand rials respectively.