Analysis of Water and Energy Consumption and Environment Impacts of Agricultural Production in Miandarband Plain of Kermanshah Province

Document Type : Research Article

Authors

1 Department of Agriculture Extension and Education, Faculty of Agriculture, Razi University, Kermanshah, Iran.

2 Department of Water Engineering, Faculty of Agriculture, Razi University, Kermanshah, Iran.

Abstract

Introduction
The agricultural sector accounts for 70% of fresh water and about 30% of the world's total energy consumption through food production and supply chain. Water, energy and food are three basic interrelated sources of human health, as water and energy are vital to food production. In recent centuries, increasing pressure due to scarcity of resources and increasing demand for food and ultimately environmental pollution necessitates the need for optimal management of water, energy and food. In this regard, this study was conducted Analysis of Water and Energy Consumption and Environment Impacts of Agricultural Production in Miandarband Plain.
 
Materials and Methods
The present study was conducted using a quantitative approach for wheat, barley, maize-grain, canola, tomato and potato crops. The statistical population was 1676 farmers that according to Krejcie and Morgan table, 315 farmers were selected using stratified random sampling. A researcher-made questionnaire and secondary data of the Meteorological Organization of Iran were used to collect information. In order to calculate the amount of energy consumed by the studied products, first the input and output energies of the products were measured and then converted to their equivalent energy. Input energy in food production systems is both direct and indirect. To calculate the water consumption by each product, two elements of green and blue water of the products were calculated. The amount of greenhouse gas emissions for the inputs of the studied products was calculated using CO2, N2O and CH4 emission coefficients for different inputs.
 
Results and Discussion
The research results showed the dominant crops production in the region consumes 50,827 m3 ha-1 of water; Potato (11440 m3 ha-1) and maize-grain (10492 m3 ha-1) consume the most water. The total energy consumption was 975608.50 MJ ha-1; the highest input energy consumption is related to potato (25%), maize-grain (22%) and tomato (15%). Chemical fertilizers, diesel fuel and water for irrigation used the most energy in the agricultural sector. Total CO2, N2O and CH4 emissions were 3729.79, 152.05 and 0.293 kg ha-1, respectively and total Global Warming Potential, 50872. 52 kg CO2eq; that tomato with emissions of 15592.48 and barley with emissions of 3279.88 kg CO2eq, had the highest and lowest share. According to the results, the amount of water consumption by the studied products, except for tomatoes, is more than the recommended amount of water required during the growth period of the desired products by experts; In this regard, it can be said that low irrigation efficiency, poor supervision by relevant agencies, the existence of a large number of illegal wells, mismanagement, uncoordinated management, lack of long-term attitude and inefficient water consumption of irrigation and especially the land use system has caused high water consumption in the studied crops. According to the results, the smaller the farm area, the higher the water and energy consumption and the higher the GWP. In such farms the farmer has lost the advantage of scale and by applying pressure on the ground by increasing the irrigation cycle, the use of fertilizers and pesticides seeks to gain more efficiency. On the other hand, due to the small size of farms, they use less up-to-date technologies, thus indirectly increasing water and energy waste. The results showed that crops that are mainly grown in agriculture in the region with the lease system have the highest input consumption and have a negative impact on the environment of the region. In this regard, it can be said that land tenants in the region try to get the most economic benefit from the land in a shorter period of time, and this increases the pressure on resources.
 
Conclusion
In general, it can be said that low irrigation efficiency, existence of a large number of illegal wells, allocation of agricultural subsidies and the lack of calculation of water and energy costs has caused the inefficiency of the agricultural system of Miandarband plain. Therefore, increasing irrigation efficiency using strip irrigation system and increasing water and energy prices in the agricultural sector can be effective in the optimal use of water and energy.

Keywords

Main Subjects


Afruzi, A., and Zare Abyaneh, H., 2020. Investigation of agricultural water demand under the combination scenarios of climate change, irrigation efficiency enhancement, cropping pattern changes, and the development of early-maturing cultivars: A case study of Hamedan-Bahar Plain. Iranian Journal of Irrigation and Drainage 1(14): 61-75. (In Persian with English Summary)
Afzalinia, S., 2020. Tillage effects on energy use and greenhouse gas emission in wheat-cotton rotation. Iran Agricultural Research 39(1): 13-24. (In Persian with English Summary)
Ahmad, A., and Khan, S., 2009. On comparison of water and energy productivities in pressurized irrigation systems. 18th World IMACS/ MODSIM Congress, Cairns p. 2776–2782.
Basiri, M., Ghamarnia, H., and Ghobadi, M., 2020. Effect of different deficit irrigation and salinity management on leaf, shoot and root growth of (Mentha piperita L.). Journal of Water and Irrigation Management 1(10): 1-14. DOI: 10.22059/JWIM.2019.281106.681 (In Persian with English Summary)
Beheshti Tabar, I., Keyhani, A., and Rafiee, S., 2010. Energy balance in Iran's agronomy (1990-2006). Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews 14: 849-855. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.rser.2009.10.024
Behmanesh, J., Aligolinia, T., Rezaie, H., and Montasery, M., 2016. Determination and evaluation of blue and green water footprint of dominant tillage crops in Urmia lake watershed. Journal of Water and Soil Conservation 23(3): 337-344. DOI:10.22069/JWFST.2016.3203 (In Persian with English Summary)
Cheng, K., Yan, M., Nayak, D., Smith, P., Pan, G.X., and Zheng, J.W., 2014. Carbon footprint of crop production in China: An analysis of national statistics data. The Journal of Agricultural Science 153: 422-431. https://doi.org/10.1017/S0021859614000665
Elbehri, A., and Sadiddin, A., 2016. Climate change adaptation solutions for the green sectors of selected zones in the MENA region. Future of Food. Journal on Food, Agriculture and Society 4(3): 39-54.
Esengun, K., Erdal, G., Gunduz, O., and Erdal, H., 2007. An economic analysis and energy use in staketomato production in Tokat province of Turkey. Renewable energy 32: 1873-1881. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.renene.2006.07.005
Fabiani, S., Vanino, S., Napoli, R., and Nino, P., 2020. Water energy food nexus approach for sustainability assessment at farm level: An experience from an intensive agricultural area in central Italy. Environmental Science and Policy 104: 1–12. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.envsci.2019.10.008
Fan, X., Zhang, W., Chen, W., and Chen, B., 2020. Land–water–energy nexus in agricultural management for greenhouse gas mitigation. Applied Energy 265: 114796. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.apenergy.2020.114796
Farajian, L., Moghaddasi, R., and Hosseini, S., 2018. Agricultural energy demand modeling in Iran: Approaching to a more sustainable situation. Energy Reports 4: 260–265. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.egyr.2018.03.002
Garcia, D.J., Lovett, B.M., and You, F., 2019. Considering agricultural wastes and ecosystem services in Food-Energy-Water-Waste Nexus system design. Journal of Cleaner Production 228: 941–955. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jclepro.2019.04.314
 Ghiyasi, M., Pouryousef, M., Myandoab, M., Tajbakhsh, A., Hasanzade- Gorttape, M., and Salehzade, H., 2008. The evaluation of energy balance of wheat under low input farming in west Azerbaijan. Research Journal of Biological Sciences 12(3): 1408–1410.
Hatirli, S.A., Ozkan, B., and Fert, K., 2005. An econometric analysis of energy input/ output in Turkish agriculture. Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews 9: 608–623. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.rser.2004.07.001
Jat, H.S., Jat, R.D., Nanwal, R.K., Lohan, S.K., Yadav, A.K., Poonia, T., Sharma, P.C., and Jat, M.L., 2020. Energy use efficiency of crop residue management for sustainable energy and agriculture conservation in NW India. Renewable Energy 155: 1372–1382. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.renene.2020.04.046
Kamali, M.E., 2021. Determining the amount of water required for Maize irrigation in Mazandaran province. Extension Journal of Oilseed Plants 2(2): 93-103. (In Persian with English Summary)
Khoshnevisan, B., Rafiee, S., Omid, M., and Mousazadeh, H., 2013a. Reduction of CO2 emission by improving energy use efficiency of greenhouse cucumber production using DEA approach. Energy 55: 676–682. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.energy.2013.04.021
Khoshnevisan, B., Rafiee, S., Omid, M., Yousefi, M., and Movahedi, M., 2013b. Modeling of energy consumption and GHG (greenhouse gas) emissions in wheat production in Esfahan province of Iran using artificial neural networks. Energy 52: 333–338. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.energy.2013.01.028
Krejcie, R.V., & Morgan, D.W., (1970). Determining Sample Size for Research Activities. Educational and Psychological Measurement.
Maysami, M., and Jalali, A., 2020. Evaluation of energy input-output in wheat crop cultivation in agro-industry company of mazare novin Iranian (Agh Ghalla). Journal of Agricultural Science and Sustainable Production 30(2): 333-346. (In Persian with English Summary)
Mekonnen, M.M., and Hoekstra, A.Y., 2020. Sustainability of the blue water footprint of crops. Advances in Water Resources 103679: 1-16. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.advwatres.2020.103679
Mirbalooch, M.N., Delbari, M., and Piri, H., 2020. Evaluation of performance of classical sprinkler irrigation systems with mobile sprinkler in Khash city. Journal of Water and Irrigation Management 10(1): 31- 44. DOI: 10.22059/JWIM.2020.292131.732 (In Persian with English Summary)
Mohammadi, A., and Banihabib, M.E., 2020. Strategic management model for virtual water exchange of Iranian agricultural and animal productions. Journal of Water and Irrigation Management 10(1): 15-29. DOI: 10.22059/JWIM.2020.292971.731 (In Persian with English Summary)
Mohammadi, A., Rafiee, S.H., Jafari, A., Keyhani, A., Mousavi-Avva, S.H., and Nonhebe, S., 2014. Energy use efficiency and greenhouse gas emissions of farming systems in north Iran. Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews 30: 724–733. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.rser.2013.11.012
Moradi, R., and Pourghasemian, N., 2017. Greenhouse gases emission and global warming potential as affected by chemicals inputs for main cultivated crops in Kerman province: I- Cereal. Journal of Agroecology 9(2): 389-405. DOI: 10.22067/JAG.V9I2.42033 (In Persian with English Summary)
Pishgar-Komleh, S.H., Ghahderijani, M., and Sefeedpari, P., 2012. Energy consumption and CO2 emissions analysis of potato production based on different farm size levels in Iran. Journal of Cleaner Production 33: 183–191. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jclepro.2012.04.008
Rezvantalab, N., Soltani, A., Zeinali, E., and Foroughnia, A., 2019. Study of energy indicators and greenhouse gas emissions in wheat production in Golestan province. Journal of Agroecology 9(1): 17-38. (In Persian with English Summary)
Sadeghi, S.H., Sharifi Moghadam, E., Delavar, M., and Zarghami, M., 2020. Application of water-energy-food nexus approach for designating optimal agricultural management pattern at a watershed scale. Agricultural Water Management 233: 106071. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.agwat.2020.106071
 Shabanzadeh, M., Esfanjari Kenari, R., and Rezaei, A., 2016. Investigating the energy pattern of tomato production in Khorasan Razavi province. Journal of Agricultural Machinery 6(2): 524-536. https://doi.org/10.22067/jam.v6i2.37724 (In Persian with English Summary)
Singh, H., Mishra, D., and Nahar, N.M., 2010. Energy use pattern in production agriculture of a typical village in arid zone India – Part I. Energy Conversion and Management 43(16): 2275-2286. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0196-8904(01)00161-3
Soni, P., Taewichit, C., and Salokhe, V.M., 2013. Energy consumption and CO2 emissions in rainfed agricultural production systems of Northeast Thailand. Agricultural Systems 116: 25-36. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.agsy.2012.12.006
Taghinazhad, J., Vahedi, A., and Ranjbar, F., 2019. Economic assessment of energy consumption and greenhouse gas emissions from wheat production in Ardabil provience. Environmental Sciences 17(3): 137-150. https://doi.org/10.29252/envs.17.3.137 (In Persian with English Summary)
Tan, I., Storelvmo, T., and Zelinka, M., 2016. Observational constraints on mixed-phase clouds imply higher climate sensitivity. Science 6282(352): 224-227. DOI: 10.1126/science.aad5300
Tian, H., Lu, C., Ciais, P., Michalak, A.M., Canadell, J.G., Saikawa, E., Huntzinger, D.N., Gurney, K.R., Sitch, S., and Zhang, B., 2016. The terrestrial biosphere as a net source of greenhouse gases to the atmosphere. Nature 531: 225-228. https://doi.org/10.1038/nature16946
Tzilivakis, J., Warner, D.J., May, M., Lewis, K.A., and Jaggard, K., 2005. An assessment of the energy inputs and greenhouse gas emissions in sugar beet (Beta vulgaris) production in the UK. Agricultural Systems 85: 101–119. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.agsy.2004.07.015
Yousefi, M., Mahdavi Damghani, A., and Khoramivafa, M., 2016. Comparison greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and global warming potential (GWP) effect of energy use in different wheat agroecosystems in Iran. Environmental Science and Pollution Research 23(8): 7390–7397. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11356-015-5964-7
Zahedi, M., Eshghizadeh, H.R., and Mondani, F., 2015. Energy efficiency and productivity in potato and sugar beet production systems in Isfahan province.  Journal of Crop Production and Processing 5(17):181-191. DOI: 10.18869/acadpub.jcpp.5.17.181 (In Persian with English Summary)
 
CAPTCHA Image
Volume 14, Issue 4 - Serial Number 54
December 2023
Pages 693-712
  • Receive Date: 15 November 2020
  • Revise Date: 04 July 2021
  • Accept Date: 11 July 2021
  • First Publish Date: 11 July 2021