Irrigation strategy management using System Dynamicsapproach: a case study of Shapour river basin in Iran

Decrease in the quantity and quality of water in the agricultural sectors affected by climate change anddrought in addition to the lack of agricultural demand management policies results in over-withdrawing ofwater in upstream irrigation districts. Also, this causes the water and salinity stress in downstream districts,and occurrence of intra-basin disputes and conflicts. In this study, considering this problem, a systemdynamics approach was carried out to evaluate and find appropriate irrigation strategy with respect to croppatterns and irrigation technology. This framework applied to an irrigation district on upstream of Shapourriver named Khesht district with traditional irrigation technologies. Findings revealed that the driptechnology for date orchards and sprinkler for the cultivation part adopting over irrigation strategy fororchards part and deficit irrigation for cultivated part resulted less water and salinity stress. Also, thisscenario had minimum water consumption in comparison with employment of other technologies andstrategies.

Keywords:

Irrigation Strategy , Crop Pattern , Root Zone , System Dynamics , Vensim