Iranian Journal of Irrigation & Drainage

Iranian Journal of Irrigation & Drainage

Analysis of Water Resource Sustainability in Barley Production in Iran

Document Type : Original Article

Authors
shahla dehghanpir 1
Ommolbanin bazrafshan 2
1 PhD Graduate in Watershed Management and Postdoctoral Researcher at the University of Hormozgan
2 University of Hormozgan
Abstract
Barley is one of the most important and resilient cereals in the arid and semi-arid regions of the Middle East, including Iran, which faces challenges of water scarcity and limited rainfall. Under these conditions, access to sufficient water resources for irrigation is a major challenge in the production of this crop in Iran. This study examines water scarcity in barley production in Iran during the period from 2008 to 2021. The results indicate that the green, gray, and blue water footprints account for 16%, 14%, and 70% of the total water footprint in barley production, respectively. Variations in water stress for barley in the western, northwestern, and northern provinces of Iran are generally less than 0.3, indicating low water stress. In contrast, in the southern, central, and eastern provinces of Iran, the average of this index is around 0.5, indicating moderate to high water stress. The range of the barley water stress index varies from 0.03 in the west (Kermanshah) to 1.22 in Yazd Province. The average water poverty value during this period was 58.17 million cubic meters, with the lowest water poverty recorded in Gilan Province (0.74 million cubic meters) and the highest in North Khorasan Province (258.77 million cubic meters). Additionally, the average values of the water self-sufficiency and dependency indices were 38% and 62%, respectively. This research can contribute to improving water resource management and enhancing the sustainability of barley production in Iran.
Keywords
Water stress
Barley
Water resources
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Iranian Journal of Irrigation & Drainage
Volume 19, Issue 3 - Serial Number 112
July and August 2025
Pages 357-372