Assessing socio-environmental sustainability at the level of irrigation and drainage network

Darzi‐Naftchali, Abdullah; Bagherian-Jelodar, Mostafa; Mashhadi-Kholerdi, Farhad; Abdi-Moftikolaei, Maryam

doi:10.1016/j.scitotenv.2020.138927

Cited by 10 publications

(8 citation statements)

References 42 publications

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“…Here, the four capital categories are the same as those employed for classification of drivers. Outcomes were classified as well‐being if the authors referred to terms such as “well‐being,” “quality of life,” or “standard of living” (Darzi‐Naftchali et al, 2020; Hwang et al, 2018; McShane et al, 2013). Outcomes related to long‐term survival or viability were categorized as persistence (Balezentis et al, 2020; Cuervo, 2014; Hooks et al, 2017; Ofosuhene, 2005; Schwarz & McRae Williams, 2009), outcomes based on composite measures of sustainability which could not be reduced to individual components were categorized as general sustainability (Aliloo & Dashti, 2020), while outcomes based on participant perceptions of changes in sustainability were categorized as perceived sustainability (Schwarz & McRae Williams, 2009).…”

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…If multiple driver category‐outcome category pairs of the same type were present for a single study, but the reported directionality of findings differed, we categorize the findings for that combination of driver and outcome as mixed. For example, Darzi‐Naftchali et al (2020) examine multiple outcome variables categorized as natural capital (e.g., water quality, soil quality, groundwater level), some of which were positively affected and others which were negatively affected by the same policy or program driver (creation of an irrigation and drainage network), so the relationship between policy and natural capital categories was classified as mixed for this study. Overall, we find that most studies report positive relationships between outcomes and associated drivers (Table 2).…”

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Rural sustainability methods, drivers, and outcomes: A systematic review

Nelson

Nguyen

Francois

et al. 2022

Sustainable Development

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In the past three decades, sustainability science has taken on new importance as interest groups investigate better ways to tackle global challenges—environmental degradation, climate change, and human well‐being—that pose risks to communities, particularly in rural areas. Designs for sustainability require empirical evidence of what works and under what human and environmental conditions. Despite the amount of research that exists, the broad variety of research approaches and contexts makes generalizing knowledge about sustainability in rural areas challenging. This work addresses calls to consolidate the field's knowledge about rural sustainability by examining how rural sustainability has been evaluated, identifying drivers of rural sustainability and associated outcome indicators used to operationalize rural sustainability, and determining common trends in how drivers and outcomes are related. We synthesize this diverse literature to identify common themes in evaluation of rural sustainability across disciplines, global regions, and methodological approaches. Our findings indicate many methods have been used to evaluate rural sustainability, that factors derived from the Triple Bottom Line (social, economic, and environmental) are frequently used to operationalize rural sustainability, and that both direct human interventions and underlying socioeconomic drivers of sustainability are routinely examined in the literature. Overall, we find the majority of studies report positive impacts to rural sustainability, suggesting there are many avenues for creating positive change in sustainability in rural areas. However, we also find greater attention to study conceptualization, design and reporting is needed to provide greater confidence in results that inform policy and decision‐making.

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Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Rural sustainability methods, drivers, and outcomes: A systematic review

Nelson

Nguyen

Francois

et al. 2022

Sustainable Development

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“…In other words, Iran’s decision makers tried to solve Iran’s water scarcity by increasing water supply through infrastructure development rather than doing strict water conservation efforts (Madani et al 2016 ). Hence, the long-term continuation of overlooking the linkage between environment and development planning caused serious water problems which may last for generations (Darzi-Naftchali et al 2020 ).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Socioeconomic benefits of conserving Iran’s water resources through modifying agricultural practices and water management strategies

Karandish

2021

Ambio

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Sustainable development requires modifying the current consumption pattern of natural resources. This study investigates efficient tactics for reducing the unsustainability and inefficiency of human’s food-related blue water consumption alongside improving national environmental and socioeconomic status. As a case study for Iran, 15 alternative management scenarios (AMS) were defined compared to the current on-farm management, and their effects were assessed on a monthly scale. Based on the results, 45.5 billion m3 y−1 (BCM) blue water is consumed within the croplands, 78% and 34% of which are unsustainable and inefficient, respectively. AMCs reduces the unsustainable and inefficient blue water consumption by 2–17 BCM and 2–13 BCM, respectively. The combination of yield gap closure, drip irrigation, soil mulching, and deficit irrigation has the largest effect on blue water saving; it releases or changes the status of monthly blue water scarcity in 11 provinces; increases field-employees by 132%, food security by 9%, international food-export by 87%, and gross domestic production by 54%. However, it doesn’t fully address blue water overconsumption in the summer period; hence, further measures are needed to reduce blue water scarcity to the sustainable level in these environmental hotspots.

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“…Rice is cultivated mainly by smallholder farms, with traditional methods and low levels of mechanization, in paddy fields located in lowlands relatively close to the Caspian Sea [63][64][65], which has a climate-moderating role. Rice-producing areas have a humid Caspian climate, with hot summers and mild winters [14,66]. In Qaemshahr (location between 36 21 ′′ N to 36 38 ′′ N and 52 43 ′′ E to 53 3 ′′ E; elevation: 51 m a.s.l.…”

Section: Case Studymentioning

confidence: 99%

“…In developing countries, rice intensification through the use of high-yielding varieties has raised growing research interest, given its ability to reach the objectives of narrowing the yield gap while reducing the yield-scaled impacts of farming [9][10][11][12]. However, the substitution of traditional (TRV) with high-yielding (HRV) rice cultivars may increase the demand for production inputs (e.g., machinery, fertilizers) to achieve a higher expected yield [13][14][15]. More evidence from real-world farms is needed about the comparative environmental impacts of variety substitution (e.g., TRV vs. HRV), based on the evaluation of all production inputs and outputs over the life cycle, to highlight potential achievements and trade-offs between food security and overall sustainability outcomes [16][17][18][19].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Environmental Impacts of Rice Intensification Using High-Yielding Varieties: Evidence from Mazandaran, Iran

Gava,

Ardakani,

Delalic

et al. 2024

Sustainability

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This article aims to show the potential contribution of high-yielding rice varieties to achieve sustainable intensification in paddy farming, by focusing on a developing country. A comparative life cycle assessment of traditional vs. high-yielding varieties is carried out by comparing the area-based and yield-based results. Primary data are collected through a farm survey (49 farms in the Mazandaran province, Iran; spring 2018). The results highlight that high-yielding varieties can reduce the yield-scaled impacts. However, area-scaled impacts are subject to increase for most impact categories. Statistically significant trade-offs involve global warming potential (+13% per ha and −28% per t in high-yielding varieties) and fossil resource depletion (+15% per ha and −26% per t in high-yielding varieties). Pesticide management is the most alarming practice. High-yielding varieties increase pesticide consumption and related toxicity impacts both per t and per ha. This study is a new contribution to the literature by improving and broadening the mainstream productivity perspective of current life cycle assessment research about crop varieties. The lessons learnt from this study suggest that the trade-offs between yield-scaled and area-scaled impacts should be carefully considered by decision-makers and policymakers, especially in developing countries that, like Iran, are affected by the overexploitation of natural resources. Targeted policy and the development of farmer education and advisory services are needed to create the enabling conditions for farm management changes, including conscious use of production inputs while avoiding heuristics.

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Assessing socio-environmental sustainability at the level of irrigation and drainage network

Cited by 10 publications

References 42 publications

Rural sustainability methods, drivers, and outcomes: A systematic review

Rural sustainability methods, drivers, and outcomes: A systematic review

Socioeconomic benefits of conserving Iran’s water resources through modifying agricultural practices and water management strategies

Environmental Impacts of Rice Intensification Using High-Yielding Varieties: Evidence from Mazandaran, Iran

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