Evaluation environmental change in Najaf Abad County focusing on agriculture sector (2003-2019)

The agricultural sector is inherently susceptible to climate change, making it one of the most vulnerable to the risks and side-effects of environmental changes. The purpose of this study is to evaluate environmental change in Najaf Abad County. The research method is descriptive-analytical and the data were obtained via the survey method. Mann-Kendall trend studies showed that the temperature had an upward trend over a statistical period of 20 years. And in the field of rainfall, there is no clear trend and a decrease in rainfall in the city. The study showed that there is a strong correlation between extraction from groundwater resources and changes in groundwater level and also the destructive effects of the process of increasing the derivation of groundwater resources in the Najafabad County. The correlation coefficient of precipitation and groundwater level fluctuations showed that there is no relationship between these two-time series. In this study area, the trend of falling groundwater level is independent of precipitation and due to the improper use of groundwater and the reduction of surface water entering the region. The results of the cross-correlation coefficient of the two-time series (water level drop and electrical conduction) indicate the strong correlation between these two-time series as well as the negative effects of groundwater level drop trend on the electrical conduction of water in Najafabad. Findings showed that in the south and southeast of Najafabad, due to the change in the use of farmers from agriculture to planting trees and gardens, vegetation has increased. But in most parts of the township, the vegetation trend has been negative. Studies have shown that the amount of agricultural and horticultural lands in the city has decreased sharply and the number of employees in the agricultural sector has decreased.