Optimal cropping pattern for limited water supply: a case study in Lebanon
2001
El-Awar, F.A. | Darwish, M.R. | Mteirik, R.M. | Nimah, M.N.
The problem of optimal allocation of a limited water supply, for irrigation of several crops in the same area, is addressed in this article. Both intra-seasonal and inter-seasonal competition for water, among various crops, is considered. A Linear Programming mathematical model was developed to determine optimum water allocation. The main objective of this optimization model was to choose the optimal cropping pattern that satisfies the existing climatic, agronomic, economic, and land and water availability constraints for a selected pilot study area in Ghazzah, in the South Bekaa region of Lebanon. Two different scenarios, as well as another irrigation distribution scheme already planned for the pilot area, were compared to the current practice. Different conditions and restrictions on crop production and utilization of land resources were tested within the two scenarios. Results reveal that neither the current cropping pattern nor that of the planned distribution scheme is optimal, and that they should be replaced. The lowest net return is achieved with the current cropping pattern. Higher profits could be obtained in both tested scenarios due to the introduction of new crops to the area. The recommended scenario is the one having the highest net benefit to initial investment cost ratio.
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