Distributed agro-hydrological modeling with SWAP to improve water and salt management of the Voshmgir Irrigation and Drainage Network in Northern Iran

H. Noory, S. E A T M Van Der Zee, A. M. Liaghat, M. Parsinejad, J. C. van Dam

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62 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

The agro-hydrological model SWAP was used in a distributed manner to quantify irrigation water management effects on the water and salt balances of the Voshmgir Network of North Iran during the agricultural year 2006-2007. Field experiments, satellite images and geographical data were processed into input data for 10 uniform simulation areas. As simulated mean annual drainage water (312mm) of the entire area was only 14% smaller than measured (356mm), its distribution over the drainage units was well reproduced, and simulated and measured groundwater levels agreed well. Currently, water management leads to excessive irrigation (621-1436mmyear-1), and leaching as well as high salinity of shallow groundwater are responsible for large amounts of drainage water (25-59%) and salts (44-752mgcm-2). Focused water management can decrease mean drainage water (22-48%) and salts (30-49%), compared with current water management without adverse effects on relative transpiration and root zone salinity.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)1062-1070
Number of pages9
JournalAgricultural Water Management
Volume98
Issue number6
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - Apr 2011
Externally publishedYes

Keywords

  • Leaching fraction
  • Root zone salinity
  • Shallow groundwater
  • Water application efficiency

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