Economic analysis of the optimal level of supplemental irrigation for rain-fed figs

ABSTRACT- The aim of this study is economic analysis of supplemental irrigation (SI) for rain-fed fig trees in the south of Iran, with and without micro-catchment water harvesting systems (MCWHS). Under no MCWHS, by decreasing about 55 % of applied water, the fig yield decreased about 28% and net income increased twice compared with the maximum yield condition. In general, the optimal amount of SI water would be lowered by using MCWHS in comparison with no using MCWHS. By using MCWHS, decreasing about 50 % of applied water causes about 14 % decrease in fig yield and net income increased twice compared with maximum yield condition. In order to obtain high net profit with a given amount of annual rainfall, the amount of optimal SI water decreased by increasing the unit price of water. An equation is proposed for the prediction of annual precipitation which may be used for planning SI for the fig trees in the study region.