Integrated Watershed Management Vis-a-Vis Water–Energy–Food Nexus
91
Table 5 Water–energy–food nexus index of the studied food crops in the Shazand watershed [71]
Crop
2006
2007
2008
2009
2010
2011
2012
2013
2014
Irrigated wheat
0.24
0.24
0.25
0.29
0.29
0.29
0.29
0.30
0.31
Bean
0.20
0.19
0.19
0.27
0.27
0.27
0.27
0.28
0.29
Sugar cane
0.18
0.17
0.17
0.11
0.11
0.11
0.11
0.10
0.16
Potatoes
0.05
0.05
0.05
0.06
0.09
0.10
0.11
0.11
0.14
Onion
0.19
0.18
0.18
0.27
0.35
0.31
0.31
0.29
0.30
Watermelon
0.33
0.32
0.34
0.39
0.30
0.30
0.30
0.30
0.31
Cucumber
0.25
0.25
0.25
0.19
0.19
0.20
0.22
0.23
0.13
Alfalfa
0.29
0.14
0.15
0.25
0.25
0.24
0.25
0.25
0.26
Almond
0.92
0.76
0.76
0.83
0.86
0.86
0.87
0.87
0.88
Walnut
0.59
0.42
0.41
0.50
0.52
0.52
0.52
0.52
0.53
Rain-fed wheat
0.37
0.48
0.35
0.36
0.34
0.35
0.35
0.37
0.38
Barley
0.39
0.39
0.41
0.42
0.37
0.39
0.41
0.45
0.47
Pea
0.36
0.35
0.36
0.37
0.35
0.35
0.35
0.36
0.36
Safflower
0.52
0.55
0.54
0.57
0.56
0.56
0.57
0.58
0.58
Finally, the results of optimization study verified that the present situation of land
use allocation in the Shazand Watershed is undesirable in viewpoint of minimization
of water and energy consumption and maximization of benefit. The results further
pointed that the mean reduction benefit of water consumption with the help of nexus
approach would be about 3 (or by 16%), 5 (25%), 6 (26%), 9 (44%), 0.004 (39%),
5 (26%), 6 (27%), 5 (28%), and 5 (28%) MCM, during 2006 and 2014. In the same
vein, the mean reduction benefit of energy while using the nexus approach would
be also about 13,046,608 (17%), 12,893,028 (13%), 12,660,667 (10%), 64,868,538
(53%), 14,351,215 (11%), 15,270,574 (11%), 15,316,001 (11%), 16,054,753 (11%),
and 16,243,075 (11%) MJ during span periods between 2006 and 2014.
Accordingly, by virtue of changes considered in land use allocation through
the nexus optimization approach, the total annual benefit of the study watershed
would be ultimately about 62,109,086 (57%), 70,230,603 (54%), 60,526,585 (54%),
50,139,113 (47%), 133,833,833 (61%), 121,902,194 (55%), 86,939,365 (48%),
59,063,051 (42%), and 55,929,314 (40%) USD during the same period (i.e., 2006–
2014). Given the access to fully subsidized water and energy in the agricultural
sector in Iran and the inappropriate use of land in the Shazand Watershed, the thinking
approach of the nexus can reduce poverty and create job opportunities among farmers
and achieve sustainable development in the agricultural sector as the largest consumer
of water through minimizing water and energy consumption and maximizing their
efficiency.
91
Table 5 Water–energy–food nexus index of the studied food crops in the Shazand watershed [71]
Crop
2006
2007
2008
2009
2010
2011
2012
2013
2014
Irrigated wheat
0.24
0.24
0.25
0.29
0.29
0.29
0.29
0.30
0.31
Bean
0.20
0.19
0.19
0.27
0.27
0.27
0.27
0.28
0.29
Sugar cane
0.18
0.17
0.17
0.11
0.11
0.11
0.11
0.10
0.16
Potatoes
0.05
0.05
0.05
0.06
0.09
0.10
0.11
0.11
0.14
Onion
0.19
0.18
0.18
0.27
0.35
0.31
0.31
0.29
0.30
Watermelon
0.33
0.32
0.34
0.39
0.30
0.30
0.30
0.30
0.31
Cucumber
0.25
0.25
0.25
0.19
0.19
0.20
0.22
0.23
0.13
Alfalfa
0.29
0.14
0.15
0.25
0.25
0.24
0.25
0.25
0.26
Almond
0.92
0.76
0.76
0.83
0.86
0.86
0.87
0.87
0.88
Walnut
0.59
0.42
0.41
0.50
0.52
0.52
0.52
0.52
0.53
Rain-fed wheat
0.37
0.48
0.35
0.36
0.34
0.35
0.35
0.37
0.38
Barley
0.39
0.39
0.41
0.42
0.37
0.39
0.41
0.45
0.47
Pea
0.36
0.35
0.36
0.37
0.35
0.35
0.35
0.36
0.36
Safflower
0.52
0.55
0.54
0.57
0.56
0.56
0.57
0.58
0.58
Finally, the results of optimization study verified that the present situation of land
use allocation in the Shazand Watershed is undesirable in viewpoint of minimization
of water and energy consumption and maximization of benefit. The results further
pointed that the mean reduction benefit of water consumption with the help of nexus
approach would be about 3 (or by 16%), 5 (25%), 6 (26%), 9 (44%), 0.004 (39%),
5 (26%), 6 (27%), 5 (28%), and 5 (28%) MCM, during 2006 and 2014. In the same
vein, the mean reduction benefit of energy while using the nexus approach would
be also about 13,046,608 (17%), 12,893,028 (13%), 12,660,667 (10%), 64,868,538
(53%), 14,351,215 (11%), 15,270,574 (11%), 15,316,001 (11%), 16,054,753 (11%),
and 16,243,075 (11%) MJ during span periods between 2006 and 2014.
Accordingly, by virtue of changes considered in land use allocation through
the nexus optimization approach, the total annual benefit of the study watershed
would be ultimately about 62,109,086 (57%), 70,230,603 (54%), 60,526,585 (54%),
50,139,113 (47%), 133,833,833 (61%), 121,902,194 (55%), 86,939,365 (48%),
59,063,051 (42%), and 55,929,314 (40%) USD during the same period (i.e., 2006–
2014). Given the access to fully subsidized water and energy in the agricultural
sector in Iran and the inappropriate use of land in the Shazand Watershed, the thinking
approach of the nexus can reduce poverty and create job opportunities among farmers
and achieve sustainable development in the agricultural sector as the largest consumer
of water through minimizing water and energy consumption and maximizing their
efficiency.