Prioritizing Application of Irrigation Systems Using Analytical Network Process Method (ANP) in Ajichay River Basin

For proper use of available water resources in agricultural sector, selection of suitable irrigation system is necessary to provide the crop water requirements. Correct choosing of irrigation system is an important step in optimal application of water and soil resources. Involvement of several influential factors in selection of appropriate irrigation system has made this a relatively complex issue. In this study, application of different irrigation systems were prioritized by climate, water, soil, field, irrigation efficiency, cultural, social and economic information using analytical network process method (ANP) in the Ajichay river basin. Based on the results of the selected criteria, water quantitative and qualitative, irrigation efficiency, and soil had the most effect on the best irrigation system selection with relative weights of 0.222, 0.221, and 0.1539, respectively. Also, the results of the sub-criteria scores showed that the sum of water sub-criteria was the highest, with final score of 0.26815, among the other sub-criteria scores. Finally, the results showed that, among surface irrigation systems, the basin system with a score of 0.15544, among sprinkler systems, the classic system with score of 0.10432, and among localized systems, trickle system with a score of 0.12754 had priority over other systems.