Identification of Appropriate Solutions for Managing Surface Water Consumption of West Azerbaijan Province Using Dynamic System Modeling
Subject Areas : Water resources management
Sheida Yousefi
1
,
Seyed Mahdi Mirdamadi
2
,
Seyed Jamal Farjollah Hosseini
3
,
Farhad Lashgarara
4
1 - Ph.D. student in Agricultural Development, Department of Economic, Agricultural Extension and Education, Science and Research branch, Islamic Azad University, Tehran, Iran.
2 - Associate Professor, Department of Economic, Agricultural Extension and Education, Science and Research Branch, Islamic Azad University, Tehran, Iran.
3 - Associate Professor, Department of Economic, Agricultural Extension and Education, Science and 4) Research branch, Islamic Azad University, Tehran, Iran.
4 - Associate Professor, Department of Economic, Agricultural Extension and Education, Science and Research branch, Islamic Azad University, Tehran, Iran.
Keywords: Water Resource Management, West Azerbaijan Province, Economic/policy-making scenarios, climatic scenarios,
Abstract :
Background and Aim: The share of agricultural sector in West Azerbaijan province, Iran from surface water abstraction is 91.2%. Excessive consumption of water resources, drought and destruction of agricultural lands, dependence of work and livelihood of 1.2 million population of province on the agricultural sector, the adoption of long-term development plans, have intensified the water crisis in agricultural sector. Therefore, managing the consumption of surface water is essential. This study investigates the effect of agricultural, economic, policy-making, climatic, socio-cultural and educational scenarios on management of surface water consumption and availability.Method: The present study is an applied research has been carried out using the dynamic system approach in order to achieve sustainable management of water resources in West Azerbaijan province. First, the statistical data from the previous years (1991-2018) are entered into the system using Excel and SPSS software. Then, the dynamic system model is developed in VENSIM software. To ensure the efficiency of the model in evaluating policies, the model validation test is performed. After making sure that the model works efficiency, population growth scenarios with different fertility rates, PS1 (2.11 children), PS2 (1.95 children), PS3 (1.5 children) and PS4 (2.6 Children) and climatic scenarios with a probability of 20% annual rainfall reduction, continuation of the current rainfall trend and 20% annual rainfall improvement are introduced to the model. Additionally, investment scenarios with the aim of 0.5% improvement in the annual irrigation efficiency and the crop scenario such as low-consumption cultivation pattern are introduced to the model. Moreover, the impacts of participatory and education scenarios, are simulated up to the horizon of 2051.Results: The results showed that in the validation test there is a high correlation between the simulated values and the observed values of surface water, and the model is effective in evaluating policies. Upon continuation of the rainfall current trend, available surface water decreases by 3.76% during the simulation period (2018-2051). Droughts intensify with a decrease of 20% of annual rainfall due to the direct effect of rainfall on runoff, available surface water is reduced by 20.54%. The largest decrease in the surface water content is related to the scenario of reduced rainfall (-20%) together with the scenario of increasing fertility rate (ps4), which cause a decrease in the available surface water by 46.15%. Population growth has increased the total water consumption and even agricultural water demand by 27% over the 2051 horizon. Simultaneously using low-consumption cultivation pattern scenarios, investment to improve irrigation efficiency, participatory activities and training programs to improve water management, water consumption decrease by 29.20% and agricultural water demand from the surface water decrease by 31.37% under these conditions, the available surface water improves by 9.12% to the horizon of 2051.Conclusion: The results showed that, it is necessary to review population scenarios at the national level. Also, the agricultural scenario of observing the pattern of low-consumption cultivation with reducing water demand per hectare is known as the best scenario and its application has increased the available surface water by 2.45 times.Keywords: Water resource management, Economic/policy-making scenarios, Climatic scenarios, West Azerbaijan provinceBackground and Aim: The share of agricultural sector in West Azerbaijan province, Iran from surface water abstraction is 91.2%. Excessive consumption of water resources, drought and destruction of agricultural lands, dependence of work and livelihood of 1.2 million population of province on the agricultural sector, the adoption of long-term development plans, have intensified the water crisis in agricultural sector. Therefore, managing the consumption of surface water is essential. This study investigates the effect of agricultural, economic, policy-making, climatic, socio-cultural and educational scenarios on management of surface water consumption and availability.Method: The present study is an applied research has been carried out using the dynamic system approach in order to achieve sustainable management of water resources in West Azerbaijan province. First, the statistical data from the previous years (1991-2018) are entered into the system using Excel and SPSS software. Then, the dynamic system model is developed in VENSIM software. To ensure the efficiency of the model in evaluating policies, the model validation test is performed. After making sure that the model works efficiency, population growth scenarios with different fertility rates, PS1 (2.11 children), PS2 (1.95 children), PS3 (1.5 children) and PS4 (2.6 Children) and climatic scenarios with a probability of 20% annual rainfall reduction, continuation of the current rainfall trend and 20% annual rainfall improvement are introduced to the model. Additionally, investment scenarios with the aim of 0.5% improvement in the annual irrigation efficiency and the crop scenario such as low-consumption cultivation pattern are introduced to the model. Moreover, the impacts of participatory and education scenarios, are simulated up to the horizon of 2051.Results: The results showed that in the validation test there is a high correlation between the simulated values and the observed values of surface water, and the model is effective in evaluating policies. Upon continuation of the rainfall current trend, available surface water decreases by 3.76% during the simulation period (2018-2051). Droughts intensify with a decrease of 20% of annual rainfall due to the direct effect of rainfall on runoff, available surface water is reduced by 20.54%. The largest decrease in the surface water content is related to the scenario of reduced rainfall (-20%) together with the scenario of increasing fertility rate (ps4), which cause a decrease in the available surface water by 46.15%. Population growth has increased the total water consumption and even agricultural water demand by 27% over the 2051 horizon. Simultaneously using low-consumption cultivation pattern scenarios, investment to improve irrigation efficiency, participatory activities and training programs to improve water management, water consumption decrease by 29.20% and agricultural water demand from the surface water decrease by 31.37% under these conditions, the available surface water improves by 9.12% to the horizon of 2051.Conclusion: The results showed that, it is necessary to review population scenarios at the national level. Also, the agricultural scenario of observing the pattern of low-consumption cultivation with reducing water demand per hectare is known as the best scenario and its application has increased the available surface water by 2.45 times.
Amisigo, B.A., McCluskey, A. and Swanson, R. (2015). Modeling Impact of Climate Change on Water Resources and Agriculture Demand in the Volta Basin and other Basin Systems in Ghana. Sustainability, 7(6):6957-6975. doi:10.3390/su7066957.
Barikani, A.L., Ahmadian, M., Khalilian, S. (2011). Sustainable integrated use of surface and groundwater resources in determining the optimal cultivation pattern of Qazvin plain. Agricultural Economics and Development, 20(77): 29-56. [in Persian]
Beall, A., Fiedler, F., Boll, J. and Cosens, B. (2011). Sustainable Water Resource Management and Participatory System Dynamics. Case Study: Developing the Palouse Basin Participatory Model. Sustainability, 2011(3): 720-742. doi:10.3390/su3050720.
Carrera, L.B. (2018). Participatory and Collaborative modelling key to sustainable and inclusive development-Strengthening stakeholder ownership for informed and participatory water resources management. [Doctoral dissertation, University of Twente, Netherlands]. School for SENSE of public thecnical university.
El-Kharraz, J., El-Sadek, GH. and Eric, M. (2012). Water scarcity and drought in WANA countries. Journal of Procedia Engineering, 33: 14-20.
Fani, A. Ghazi, I. and Malekian, A. (2016). Challenges of water Resource management in Iran. American journal of Environmental Engineering, 6(4): 123-128. DOI: 10:5923/j.ajee. 20160604.03.
Ganjizadeh, R. and Hooshmand, A. (2012). A study on the cultivation pattern in irrigation and drainage network and water yield in the crop (Case study: Khairabad region of Behbahan, Khuzestan province). Third National Conference on Comprehensive Water Resource Management, Sari: https: //civilica.com/doc/335618. [in Persian]
Hosseini, A., Bagheri, A. (2012). Modeling the dynamics of the Mashhad plain water resources system to analyze sustainable development strategies. Water and Wastewater, 1392(4): 28-39. [in Persian]
Kazemi, B. and Sheibani, R. (2013). Factors affecting public participation in using modern irrigation methods to reduce water use for sustainable environmental development. First National Conference on Water and Agriculture Challenges, Iranian Irrigation and Drainage Association. [in Persian]
Kotir, J.H., Brown, G., Marshall, N. and Johnstone, R. (2017). Systemic feedback modelling for sustainable water resources management and agricultural development: An application of participatory modelling approach in the Volta River Basin. Environmental Modelling & Software, 88: 106-118.
Meng, X., Wang, H., Lei, X., Cai, S., Wu, H., Ji, X. and Tao, H. (2017). Hydrological modeling in the manas river basin using soil and water assessment tool driven by CMADS. Technical Gazette, 24(2): 525-534. DOI: 10.17559/TV-20170108133334.
Ministry of Energy. (2017). A report on the establishment of a geographical information system in the province and the study areas of West Azerbaijan Regional Water Company. Office of Basic Studies of Water Resources, Integration and Balance Group of the Regional Water Company of West Azerbaijan Province. August 2017. 58 p. [in Persian]
Ministry of Energy. (2018). Long-term report of water balance and cycle of West Azerbaijan province. Office of Basic Studies of Water Resources, Integration and Balance Group of the Regional Water Company of West Azerbaijan Province. [in Persian]
Moulavi, H. (2016). Dynamic modeling to evaluate agricultural water management policies at the national level. [Doctoral dissertation in irrigation and drainage engineering, University of Tehran], Campus of Agriculture and Natural Resources. [in Persian]
Nazari, B., Liaghat, A., Akbari, M.R and Keshavarz, M. (2018). Irrigation water management in Iran: Implications for water use efficiency improvement. Agricultural water management, 208(2018): 7-18. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.agwat.2018.08.003
Rahimi Khoob, H., Sotoodehnia, A., Masahbuani, A.R. and Gohari, A.R. (2015). Integrated evaluation of the effects of climate change on water and agricultural resource systems of Hashtgerd plain using system dynamics approach. Iranian Soil and Water Research, 46(2): 183-193. [in Persian]
Rasooli Azar; Feli, S.; Hosseini, S.M. (2011). Investigation of effective mechanisms in the acceptance and application of pressurized irrigation systems in West Azerbaijan province. Third Congress of Agricultural Extension and Education Sciences, Mashhad, https://civilica.com/doc/131740. [in Persian]
Regional Water Organization of West Azerbaijan Province. (2018). "Provincial Water Balance and Cycle Report". Ministry of Energy. [in Persian]
Samian, M., Naderi Mahdei, K., Saadi, H. and Movahedi, R. (2015). Identifying factoraffecting optimal management of agricultural water. J.Saudi Society of Agricultural Sciences. 14: 11-18. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jssas.2014.01.001.
Statistics Center of Iran. (2019). A report on population growth forecast in the provinces of Iran under different scenarios and rates of fertility growth up to 2025 and 2035. www.amar.org.ir. [in Persian]
Taqvaee, M., Eshaq, M., Salarvand, A. (2011). An analysis of factors affecting the non-use of pressurized irrigation systems in rural areas of Iran (Case Study: Rural Areas of Azna County). Center for Geographical Studies of Arid Areas, 1(3): 11-23. Email: m.taghavi@1tr.ui.ac.ir [in Persian]
Winz, I., Brierley, G. and Trowsdale, S. (2009). The Use of System Dynamics Simulation in Water Resources Management.Water Resour Manage, 23: 1301–1323. DOI 10.1007/s11269-008-9328-7.
Vahdat Adab R. and Balali, H. (2016). The impact of irrigation water pricing policies and government financial facilities on the acceptance of pressurized irrigation technology: A case study in Hamadan Province. Journal of Agricultural Economics and Development 30(4): 331-344. [in Persian]
Zare, Sh., Mohammadi, H. and Saboohi, M. (2017). Simulation of the development of modern irrigation systems on the equilibrium of groundwater resources in Khorasan Razavi province. Scientific Research Quarterly, Economic Research and Agricultural Development Institute 31(36): 179-195. DOI: 10.22067/jead.v3li2.6383. [in Persian]
Zhou, Y., Guo, S., Xu, C-Y., Liu, D., Chen, L. and Wang, D. (2015). Integrated optimal allocation model for complex adaptive system of water resources management (II): Case study, Journal of Hydrology, 531(3): 977-991. doi: http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.jhydrol.2015.10.043.
_||_Amisigo, B.A., McCluskey, A. and Swanson, R. (2015). Modeling Impact of Climate Change on Water Resources and Agriculture Demand in the Volta Basin and other Basin Systems in Ghana. Sustainability, 7(6):6957-6975. doi:10.3390/su7066957.
Barikani, A.L., Ahmadian, M., Khalilian, S. (2011). Sustainable integrated use of surface and groundwater resources in determining the optimal cultivation pattern of Qazvin plain. Agricultural Economics and Development, 20(77): 29-56. [in Persian]
Beall, A., Fiedler, F., Boll, J. and Cosens, B. (2011). Sustainable Water Resource Management and Participatory System Dynamics. Case Study: Developing the Palouse Basin Participatory Model. Sustainability, 2011(3): 720-742. doi:10.3390/su3050720.
Carrera, L.B. (2018). Participatory and Collaborative modelling key to sustainable and inclusive development-Strengthening stakeholder ownership for informed and participatory water resources management. [Doctoral dissertation, University of Twente, Netherlands]. School for SENSE of public thecnical university.
El-Kharraz, J., El-Sadek, GH. and Eric, M. (2012). Water scarcity and drought in WANA countries. Journal of Procedia Engineering, 33: 14-20.
Fani, A. Ghazi, I. and Malekian, A. (2016). Challenges of water Resource management in Iran. American journal of Environmental Engineering, 6(4): 123-128. DOI: 10:5923/j.ajee. 20160604.03.
Ganjizadeh, R. and Hooshmand, A. (2012). A study on the cultivation pattern in irrigation and drainage network and water yield in the crop (Case study: Khairabad region of Behbahan, Khuzestan province). Third National Conference on Comprehensive Water Resource Management, Sari: https: //civilica.com/doc/335618. [in Persian]
Hosseini, A., Bagheri, A. (2012). Modeling the dynamics of the Mashhad plain water resources system to analyze sustainable development strategies. Water and Wastewater, 1392(4): 28-39. [in Persian]
Kazemi, B. and Sheibani, R. (2013). Factors affecting public participation in using modern irrigation methods to reduce water use for sustainable environmental development. First National Conference on Water and Agriculture Challenges, Iranian Irrigation and Drainage Association. [in Persian]
Kotir, J.H., Brown, G., Marshall, N. and Johnstone, R. (2017). Systemic feedback modelling for sustainable water resources management and agricultural development: An application of participatory modelling approach in the Volta River Basin. Environmental Modelling & Software, 88: 106-118.
Meng, X., Wang, H., Lei, X., Cai, S., Wu, H., Ji, X. and Tao, H. (2017). Hydrological modeling in the manas river basin using soil and water assessment tool driven by CMADS. Technical Gazette, 24(2): 525-534. DOI: 10.17559/TV-20170108133334.
Ministry of Energy. (2017). A report on the establishment of a geographical information system in the province and the study areas of West Azerbaijan Regional Water Company. Office of Basic Studies of Water Resources, Integration and Balance Group of the Regional Water Company of West Azerbaijan Province. August 2017. 58 p. [in Persian]
Ministry of Energy. (2018). Long-term report of water balance and cycle of West Azerbaijan province. Office of Basic Studies of Water Resources, Integration and Balance Group of the Regional Water Company of West Azerbaijan Province. [in Persian]
Moulavi, H. (2016). Dynamic modeling to evaluate agricultural water management policies at the national level. [Doctoral dissertation in irrigation and drainage engineering, University of Tehran], Campus of Agriculture and Natural Resources. [in Persian]
Nazari, B., Liaghat, A., Akbari, M.R and Keshavarz, M. (2018). Irrigation water management in Iran: Implications for water use efficiency improvement. Agricultural water management, 208(2018): 7-18. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.agwat.2018.08.003
Rahimi Khoob, H., Sotoodehnia, A., Masahbuani, A.R. and Gohari, A.R. (2015). Integrated evaluation of the effects of climate change on water and agricultural resource systems of Hashtgerd plain using system dynamics approach. Iranian Soil and Water Research, 46(2): 183-193. [in Persian]
Rasooli Azar; Feli, S.; Hosseini, S.M. (2011). Investigation of effective mechanisms in the acceptance and application of pressurized irrigation systems in West Azerbaijan province. Third Congress of Agricultural Extension and Education Sciences, Mashhad, https://civilica.com/doc/131740. [in Persian]
Regional Water Organization of West Azerbaijan Province. (2018). "Provincial Water Balance and Cycle Report". Ministry of Energy. [in Persian]
Samian, M., Naderi Mahdei, K., Saadi, H. and Movahedi, R. (2015). Identifying factoraffecting optimal management of agricultural water. J.Saudi Society of Agricultural Sciences. 14: 11-18. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jssas.2014.01.001.
Statistics Center of Iran. (2019). A report on population growth forecast in the provinces of Iran under different scenarios and rates of fertility growth up to 2025 and 2035. www.amar.org.ir. [in Persian]
Taqvaee, M., Eshaq, M., Salarvand, A. (2011). An analysis of factors affecting the non-use of pressurized irrigation systems in rural areas of Iran (Case Study: Rural Areas of Azna County). Center for Geographical Studies of Arid Areas, 1(3): 11-23. Email: m.taghavi@1tr.ui.ac.ir [in Persian]
Winz, I., Brierley, G. and Trowsdale, S. (2009). The Use of System Dynamics Simulation in Water Resources Management.Water Resour Manage, 23: 1301–1323. DOI 10.1007/s11269-008-9328-7.
Vahdat Adab R. and Balali, H. (2016). The impact of irrigation water pricing policies and government financial facilities on the acceptance of pressurized irrigation technology: A case study in Hamadan Province. Journal of Agricultural Economics and Development 30(4): 331-344. [in Persian]
Zare, Sh., Mohammadi, H. and Saboohi, M. (2017). Simulation of the development of modern irrigation systems on the equilibrium of groundwater resources in Khorasan Razavi province. Scientific Research Quarterly, Economic Research and Agricultural Development Institute 31(36): 179-195. DOI: 10.22067/jead.v3li2.6383. [in Persian]
Zhou, Y., Guo, S., Xu, C-Y., Liu, D., Chen, L. and Wang, D. (2015). Integrated optimal allocation model for complex adaptive system of water resources management (II): Case study, Journal of Hydrology, 531(3): 977-991. doi: http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.jhydrol.2015.10.043.