Comparison of Different Irrigation Methods Based on the Parametric Evaluation Approach in Abbas Plain: Iran

The main objective of this research is to compare different irrigation methods based upon a parametric evaluation system in an area of 29,300 ha in the Abbas plain located in the Elam Province, in the west of Iran. The soil properties of the study area such as texture, depth, electrical conductivity, drainage, calcium carbonate content, and slope were derived from a semidetailed soil study carried out on the Abbas Plain on a scale of 1:20,000. Once the soil properties were analyzed and evaluated, suitability maps were generated for surface, sprinkle, and drip irrigation methods using remote sensing techniques and geographic information system. The obtained results showed that for 16,125 ha (55.03%) of the study area surface irrigation method was highly recommended; whereas for 16,600 ha (56.66%) of the study area a sprinkle irrigation method would provide to be extremely efficient and suitable; moreover, it was found that 15,425 ha (52.65%) of the study area was highly suitable for drip irrigation methods; however, one soil series coded 9 and covering an area of 2,150 ha (7.34%) was incompatible for sprinkle and surface irrigation systems. For drip irrigation systems the unsuitable lands did not exist in this zone. The results demonstrated that by applying sprinkle irrigation instead of surface and drip irrigation methods, the arability of 21,250 ha (72.53%) in the Abbas Plain will improve. In addition by applying drip irrigation instead of surface and sprinkle irrigation methods, the land suitability of 6,275 ha (21.42%) of this plain will improve. The comparison of the different types of irrigation techniques revealed that the sprinkle and drip irrigation methods were more effective and efficient than the surface irrigation methods for improving land productivity. It is of note, however, that the main limiting factor in using either surface and/or sprinkle irrigation methods in this area is soil texture and the main limiting factor in using drip irrigation methods were soil calcium carbonate content and soil texture.     

Site Selection of Different Irrigation Systems Using an Analytical Hierarchy Process Integrated with GIS in a Semi-Arid Region

Site selection of different irrigation systems can lead to higher water productivity in drought conditions. The present study intends to evaluate suitable regions along the Izeh plain (Iran) for different pressurized and gravitational irrigation systems using Analytical Hierarchy Process (AHP) based on Geographic Information System (GIS). To that end, a variety of inputs such as climate, topography, skilled labor and system costs, etc. were identified and classified into two main categories of socio-economic and environmental criteria. Each criterion was subdivided into several criteria to make the site selection more specific. A matrix of the pair-wise comparison was, in turn, used to compare these criteria and sub-criteria, and to evaluate them based on their relative importance based on the region’s suitability for different irrigation system alternatives. Geographical layers were then obtained for each sub-criterion to select the most suitable sites for different irrigation systems in the study area. Pressurized irrigation systems including wheel move irrigation system, drip irrigation system and solid-set sprinkler irrigation system, together with gravitational irrigation systems consisting of surface irrigation system, and low-pressure irrigation system were considered as irrigation system alternatives during the site selection process in this study. The result map of site selection for different alternatives showed that surface irrigation, drip irrigation and low pressure systems were the best irrigation system alternatives for the region studied.