Assessment of Agricultural Water Resources Sustainability in Arid Regions Using Virtual Water Concept: Case of South Khorasan Province, Iran

Abstract

Cropping pattern plays an important role in providing food and agricultural water resources sustainability, especially in arid regions in which the concomitant socioeconomic dangers of water shortage would be inevitable. In this research, six indices are applied to classify 37 cultivated crops according to Central Product Classification (CPC). The respective 10-year data (2005–2014) were obtained from Agricultural Organization of South Khorasan (AOSKh) province. The water footprint concept along with some economic indicators are used to assess the water use efficiency. Results show that blue virtual water contributes to almost 99 percent of Total Virtual Water (TVW). In this occasion that an increasing pressure is exerted on groundwater resources, improper pattern of planting crops has to be beyond reproach. The improper cropping pattern in the study area led to the overuse of 346 × 106 m3 of water annually. More specifically, cereals cultivation was neither environmentally nor economically sustainable and since they accounted for the largest share of water usage at the province level, importing them should be considered as an urgent priority. Vegetable cultivation could be further increased—instead of other water-intensive crops such as fruits—at the province level, not only due to their low TVW, but also to their higher financial output.

Water-Saving Scenarios Based on Input–Output Analysis and Virtual Water Concept: A Case in Iran

“…This cannot be representative of the climate condition in the entire country since each region within a country has its own kind of climate patterns. Accordingly, Qasemipour and Abbasi [39] illustrate a great difference between South Khorasan crop water requirements and Iran's average.…”

Virtual Water Flow and Water Footprint Assessment of an Arid Region: A Case Study of South Khorasan Province, Iran

“…Due to the Iran's political situation and fighting against the sanctions, achieving absolute self-sufficiency in producing agricultural commodities, especially in strategic staple crops and cereals, is considered as a definite goal for local and national authorities. Although the region is a net virtual water importer in crops, current intensive agricultural practices exerted unprecedented pressure on groundwater resources, since the region lacks in green water resources [7]. respectively.…”

“…Using the volumes of virtual water trade in agricultural productions as indirect water consumption and in combination with domestic water use as direct water consumption, the water footprint of each county can be measured (Equation 12). From the sustainability point of view, all counties should be dependent on virtual water import, mainly due to their limited green (i.e., rainfall) and blue (i.e., irrigation) water resources [7]. The total water footprint and per capita water footprint of counties are presented in Figure 7.…”

“…According to the presented results, the region is overexploiting its blue water resources in crop production using withdrawal to availability (WTA) ratio. The readers are referred to Qasemipour and Abbasi [7] for more details on this issue.…”

“…According to the presented results, the region is overexploiting its blue water resources in crop production using withdrawal to availability (WTA) ratio. The readers are referred to Qasemipour and Abbasi [7] for more details on this issue. Intensive agriculture, high virtual water contents of both crops and livestock, great reliance on blue water supplies, and insisting on complete self-sufficiency in producing foodstuffs has negatively affects the sustainability of the region.…”