Determination and Evaluation of Potential Water Use Efficiency and Comparative Advantage of Major Irrigated Crops in Several Provinces of Iran

There are new technologies such as geographic information systems (GIS) that can be effective in the optimization of irrigation water. Therefore, utilizing these resources in a desirable, effective and efficient manner to ensure sustainable development is one of the most important issues in the today's world. The aim of this study was to determine and evaluate the potential water use efficiency (WUEp) index in the plain scale by using net water requirement data, area under cultivation and yields, and to determine the comparative advantage of wheat and barley plants in Tehran, Alborz, Qom, Qazvin and Zanjan provinces by employing the geographic information system (GIS). The yields of wheat and barley products by weighted average in ArcGIS software were converted to yields in the plains scale. To calculate the potential and actual water use efficiency, we used the OPTIWAT software in order to calculate the net irrigation water and the current irrigation efficiency plains; also, the yields of wheat and barley products in the plains scale were used. Zoning water use efficiency indexes was performed by using the ArcGIS software and Kriging method. Mapping results showed a comparative advantage of crops in the west and northwest of Tehran province, south and southwest of Alborz province, southwest, north- west and center of Qazvin province, center Qom province and also, northern and southern regions of the Zanjan province, in comparison to other areas. Average potential and actual water use efficiency in the whole study area of the provinces for wheat were 1.43 and 0.58 kg m-3, respectively, while these were 1.62 and 0.65 kg m-3 for barley, respectively.