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Optimization of agricultural patterns based on virtual water considerations through integrated water resources management modeling

ABSTRACT As the largest lake within Iranian borders, Lake Urmia's critical conditions have disrupted its primary functions in recent years due to environmental challenges. Considering the virtual water (VW) concept (which takes into account the value of every unit of water volume in addition to the consumed volume of water) as a component of Integrated Water Resources Management (IWRM) can be nominated as an excellent approach for improving the conditions of the Lake Urmia catchment. Here, with the aid of WEAP (Water Evaluation and Planning) software, the region based on IWRM principles is modeled. Then, the necessities and effectiveness of optimizing VW in agricultural activities have been investigated through different cases. A comparison of the cases reveals the unfavorable condition of local agricultural practices at present, both in terms of water consumption and financial revenues. If not remedied, the current situation can aggravate the water scarcity problem in the region. Furthermore, the results suggest that considering multiple objectives (besides water consumption) in making a decision on the cropping pattern can present a more realistic response to the situation, improve the lake's conditions, and resolve the scarcities to certain extents.