Iran-Water Resources Research

Iran-Water Resources Research

Investigating and Analyzing the Rebound Effect Phenomenon of Irrigation Post Modernization and Necessary Considerations

Document Type : Review Paper

Authors
1 Associate Professor, Agricultural Engineering Research Institute (AERI), Agricultural Research, Education and Extension Organization (AREEO), Karaj, Iran.
2 Assistant Professor, Agricultural Engineering Research Institute (AERI), Agricultural Research, Education and Extension Organization (AREEO), Karaj, Iran.
Abstract
Irrigation modernization, mainly in the form of developing new irrigation systems and technologies, is a common policy which is practiced in a large number of developed or developing countries in the world especially countries in arid and semi-arid regions, including Iran. Irrigation modernization is mainly aimed at increasing irrigation efficiency, improving water productivity, and ultimately reducing irrigation water consumption and saving scarce water resources. Meanwhile, various studies have shown that sometimes increasing irrigation efficiency and improving water productivity through efficient and modern irrigation systems do not necessarily lead to real savings and reduction of agricultural water consumption as expected. There are even cases of increased consumption. The phenomenon is called the "rebound effect” of water. The concept of the rebound effect is that with the use of efficient irrigation technologies, the irrigation efficiency and the water productivity increase, but the expected saved water may be partly or wholly offset by more water consumption. Criteria to prevent the rebound effect are based on the assumption that a 1% increase in total irrigation efficiency (the water stored in the root zone to the total water delivered; including conveyance, distribution and application efficiencies) requires a 1% decrease in agricultural water consumption. The effective factors and reasons for the rebound effect phenomenon are mainly: the increase in the irrigated area following the reduction of water consumption due to the use of technology, the increase in evapotranspiration due to the change in the cropping pattern (expansion of the cultivation of high water consuming more economical crops), increased crop yield (due to better water management and less water stress on the crop as well as optimal use of other production inputs), reduction in the quantity and quality of return flows (due to increased irrigation efficiency and deficit irrigation of crops to provide enough water for the increased cultivated area) and hence reducing the soil leaching and soil secondary salinity. In general, there is a need to mainstream the literature on the subject and by determining the extent of rebound effect and the necessary analysis, relevant hints should be given to the policy makers and those responsible for the development of new irrigation technologies to adopt suitable policies and actions to implement technical, economic-social and political solutions.
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  • Receive Date 10 May 2023
  • Revise Date 05 August 2023
  • Accept Date 30 August 2023