Evaluation of Water Productivity Improvement Strategies in Upstream and Downstream Regions of Qazvin Irrigation Network

Adaptation to water shortage requires systematic planning for water productivity improvement. In this research, some solutions were presented and were prioritized to increase water productivity in the eastern and western regions of the Qazvin irrigation network. The gross biomass water productivity and the net biomass water productivity was obtained 0.8-3 and 1.7-4 Kg/m3, respectively. The provided solutions were considered in four categories of technical, management, organizational and agricultural solutions. Data were analyzed using the average and the standard deviation indices and independent t-test. The importance and impact of solutions to improve productivity in the upstream and downstream of the network were obtained 4.08±0.8 and 4.26±0.75 (out of 5 points), respectively which shows that the impact of these solutions in improving the productivity of the downstream area of the network is more than the upstream area of the network. T-test showed that some of these factors have significant differences in the east and west of the network and Solutions can be provided separately upstream and downstream of the network to improve productivity. By analyzing the results obtained from the independent T-test, A2, A3, A6, A13 and A17 are effective factors in improving the water productivity in the downstream of the network, and by using these factors in the upstream. The results of this study and the downstream and upstream productivity analysis approach can be used by researchers and managers in planning to improve water productivity in the agricultural sector.