Determination of the volume of applied water and water productivity indices in cucumber production fields in Iran

The constraints of water resources and the imperative to enhance water efficiency in the production of vegetables and summer crops, on one hand, along with the economic importance of cucumber production in the country, on the other hand, reveal the necessity of investigating management indicators in cucumber production. The present study was conducted on a national scale with the objective of directly determining the applied water and water productivity indices in cucumber production fields across the country during a single crop year (1399-1400) in more than 180 selected farms, including about 70% of the cultivated area of cucumbers in the country. The results of the study revealed a highly significant disparity in various parameters among the selected provinces, including the volume of irrigation water, applied water (the sum of irrigation and effective precipitation), yield, and water productivity indices. The volume of applied water for cucumber cultivation exhibited notable variation, ranging from 4158 m3/ha in Hormozgan province to 8898 m3/ha in Razavi Khorasan province. The weighted average of applied water volume was calculated to be 7043 m3/ha. Similarly, the average yield of cucumbers displayed considerable diversity, ranging from 12750 Kg/ha in Zanjan province to 32956 Kg/ha in Razavi Khorasan province. The weighted average yield stood at 25219 Kg/ha. The calculated water productivity indices for both irrigation water and applied water were 4.27 Kg/m3 and 4.20 Kg/m3, respectively. Notably, the province with the lowest applied water productivity was Zanjan (2.21 Kg/m3), while the highest was observed in Fars province (6.59 Kg/m3). Based on the results, the total water requirement for cultivating cucumbers across an area of 55000 hectares in the country was estimated to be 330 MCM.