Comparison of Virtual Water Amount and Sugarcane Consumption in Water Shortage Conditions of Khuzestan Region, Iran

This study aimed to assess the virtual water of sugarcane under two irrigation scenarios in the Khuzestan province of Iran. The first scenario (S1) reflected current water consumption conditions in sugarcane fields, while the second scenario (S2) involved a 30% reduction in water usage on these farms. In S1, the average virtual water content was 0.42 m3.kg-1, which decreased to 0.32 m3.kg-1 in S2. The virtual water variation among sugarcane units in S1 was 0.62 m³.kg-1, while in S2, it was 0.53 m³.kg-1. In S1, the virtual water contribution of all sugarcane units to the water stress index of Khuzestan’s agricultural sector was approximately 20.1%. This indicated that sugarcane production accounted for one-fifth of the water resources in the province’s agricultural sector, primarily for export. This contribution decreased by 14.1% in S2. The changes in virtual water were comparable among different sugarcane units in both scenarios. The water stress index, based on the virtual water per total allocated water resources in the agricultural sector in Khuzestan (VKA), revealed high values (2% VKA) in the Mirza Kochuk Khan, Debal-Khazai, Farabi, Karoon, and Dehkhoda units, moderate values (1% VKA 2%) in the Imam Khomeini and Salman Farsi units, and low values (VKA 1%) in the Haft Tappeh and Mianab units. Overall, the virtual water value and cultivated area significantly influenced the share of each sugarcane unit in the total virtual water amount. Notably, the Haft Tappeh and Mianab units had the smallest virtual water share, attributed to their smaller cultivated areas.