Hybrid Model for Strategic Management of Agricultural Water Demand in Arid Regions

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

1 Associate Professor, Department of Irrigation and Drainage Engineering, College of Aburaihan, University of Tehran, Iran

2 Graduated (MSc), Water Resources Engineering, Department of Irrigation and Drainage Engineering, College of Aburaihan, University of Tehran, Iran

Abstract

Water management in arid regions such as Iran's central desert is possible solely by applying strategic management of water demand of agricultural sector as the largest water user. In this study, the hybrid group decision-making model (MTAHP) of Analytical Hierarchy Process (AHP) and Modified Technique for Order Preference by Similarity to Ideal Solution (MTOPSIS) methods (MTAHP) was used to rank agricultural water demand management strategies in arid regions. Then, a closer look at best strategy was performed. For this purpose, a non-linear programming model was used to optimize irrigation cropping pattern by applying deficit irrigation. The results indicate that the strategy of "changing the cropping pattern" is the best strategy for water demand management in arid regions and using optimization model of land-water allocation will increase economically high-efficient crops’ areas. Four scenarios of different amount of available water were considered in optimization and then the optimum amount of cultivated area and allocated water for each product was determined. The results showed the cropping area reduction is based on the net profit per unit of water consumption. Also the results showed that by reducing the available water to 40%, the net profit can increase by 19% compared to the current status. In this study, the use of a multi-criteria decision-making model along with an optimization model is proposed to recognize and evaluate the best alternative. The proposed model can be used to enhancing agricultural water demand management in arid zones.

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References

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Iran-Water Resources Research
Volume 12, Issue 4 - Serial Number 38
Special Issue on the 6th National Conference on Water Resources Management
February 2017
Pages 60-69

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History

  • Receive Date: 02 November 2016
  • Revise Date: 14 January 2017
  • Accept Date: 14 January 2017

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