Economic assessment of shade-cloth covers for agricultural irrigation reservoirs in a semi-arid climate

V. Martínez Alvarez, J. Calatrava Leyva, J.F. Maestre Valero and B. Martín Górriz

Agricultural Water Management, 2009, vol. 96, issue 9, 1351-1359

Abstract: We assess the economics of investing in suspended shade-cloth covers (SSCCs) in agricultural water reservoirs (AWRs) to reduce evaporation losses and save water for irrigation in arid and semi-arid areas. In particular, we examine the use of SSCCs in the Segura River Basin (southeastern Spain). The decision to install a cover depends on the potential evaporation losses, reservoir characteristics, cover effectiveness, the value of water, filtration requirements, water salinity, government subsidies and the installation, operation and maintenance costs. The economic viability of the investment increases with the value of the saved water, i.e., with water scarcity, and is greater when water quality is poor. Hence SSCCs can be helpful in arid and semi-arid regions facing water shortages and water quality problems. The farm-level decision to install a cover depends largely on the cost of purchasing water, when water is generally available, and the profit from increased crop production or enlarged farmlands, when water is scarce.

Keywords: Water; saving; Evaporation; losses; Salinity; Filtration; Spain (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2009
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Citations: View citations in EconPapers (13)

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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:eee:agiwat:v:96:y:2009:i:9:p:1351-1359

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