Conflict over Underground Water and Pressurize Irrigation in Iran: A Spatial Analysis

Abstract

The objective of this study was to analyze the relationship between underground water extraction (depletion) and development of pressurized irrigation using data for 30 provinces in Iran. A spatial regression was used to study the relationship between variables for data in 2010.Results show that pressurized irrigation, long-run rainfall, spatial dependence and cultivated area in a region have a positive and significant effect on the extraction (depletion) of underground water, while the number of deep and shallow wells did not show such a relationship. In light of these results, it is recommended that the Iranian government should be more watchful of the regions with higher rate of extraction (depletion) for future investment in irrigation systems.