Physical and Economic Productivity of Irrigation Water and Profitability of Some Crop Products in Different Irrigation Systems in Alborz Province of Iran

Due to the limited water resources in Iran, the optimal use of resources and increasing the physical and economic productivity of water in the production of products to achieve economic growth in the agricultural sector is absolutely necessary. Thus, the objectives of this study were to determine water productivity and profitability of irrigated wheat and forage corn production in different irrigation systems in Alborz province during 2016-2017. The indicators of physical efficiency and economic efficiency were used to estimate the efficiency of water consumption as well as the indices of net profit, product sales yield and percentage of return on investment were used to determine profitability. According to the results, water savings in irrigated wheat production in the drip irrigation compared to the center pivot and fixed classical sprinkler irrigation systems were estimated 6.3 and 22.8 percent and in irrigated forage corn production were estimated 15.2 and 27.6 percent, respectively. Net benefits of crops production in wheat-forage corn rotation in the drip irrigation, center pivot and fixed classical sprinkler irrigation systems were estimated 204.7, 174.2 and 153.2 Iranian million rials/ha, respectively. Economic productivity of per unit of water consumed in crops production in rotation in the drip irrigation, center pivot and fixed classical sprinkler irrigation systems were estimated 16.5, 12.3 and 9.1 Iranian thousand rials/ha, respectively, so that the net benefits and economic productivity of per unit of water consumed in crops production in rotation in the drip irrigation system was more than center pivot and fixed classical sprinkler irrigation systems. Thus, the drip irrigation system was recommended as an economically better irrigation system in the crop production rotation in Karaj.