Journal of Aquifer and Qanat
In collaboration Iranian Hydraulic Association

Evaluation of Physical and Economic Efficiency of Water Consumption in Greenhouse Production Units in South Khorasan Province

Articles in Press

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

Hossein Khozeymehnezhad 1
Omidreza Behrooz 2
Hamed Javadi 3

1 Associate Professor, Department of Water Engineering, University of Birjand, Birjand, Iran.

2 PhD Student, Department of Water Engineering, University of Birjand, Birjand, Iran.

3 Associate Professor, Soil and Water Research Department, South Khorasan Agricultural and Natural Resources Research and Education Center, AREEO, Birjand, Iran.

https://doi.org/10.22077/jaaq.2026.11479.1142
Abstract
Given the water crisis in arid and semi-arid regions, the development of greenhouse cultivation is proposed as a key solution to enhance productivity. The aim of this study was to evaluate the performance and physical and economic efficiency of water consumption in greenhouses of South Khorasan Province. For this purpose, research data were collected through questionnaires and field surveys from 203 active greenhouses in different counties of South Khorasan Province during the production period of 2024–2025. The results showed that cucumber, with a water use efficiency of 16.2 kg/m³ and a yield of 196 tons/ha, had the highest efficiency compared to tomato and pepper. Furthermore, greenhouses with an area of 1,000 to 3,000 m² had the highest efficiency, with a yield of 190 tons/ha and a water use efficiency of 30.9 kg/m³. The best planting date was from April to June, with a yield of 216 tons/ha and a water use efficiency of 35.4 kg/m³. A comparison between the greenhouse system and open-field cultivation showed a significant superiority of the greenhouse system; the water use efficiency in the greenhouse for cucumber was about 8 times that of open-field cultivation (2.8 kg/m³). The main identified challenges include energy instability and weaknesses in irrigation uniformity. This study emphasizes that precise input management and appropriate selection of production scale play a decisive role in the sustainability of greenhouses in the province.

Keywords

Cucumber
Tomato
Pepper
Greenhouse scale
Subjects
Journal of Aquifer and Qanat

Articles in Press, Accepted Manuscript
Available Online from 07 October 2026

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