An approach to reduce water consumption by optimizing and determining of crop cultivation pattern using meta-heuristic algorithms: A case study on Moghan plain

Abstract

Optimizing the crop cultivation pattern, in order to reduce water consumption, in arid and semi-arid regions such as Iran, due to water scarcity and food intake, is an essential solution for food intakes needs. Optimizing the crop cultivation pattern, in order to reduce water consumption, in arid and semi-arid regions such as Iran, due to water scarcity and food intake, is an essential solution for food intakes needs. In this study, new methods based on the election algorithms (EA) and gray wolf optimizer (GWO) algorithms were used to determine the optimal cultivation pattern in Moghan plain during the statistical years of 2007-2016. The objective function in the agricultural sector was based on each product and its yield, net from each product and the cultivar. Then, maximization of the objective function was performed using GWO and EA algorithm. The results of using GWO algorithm in determining the optimal crop pattern in Moghan plain showed that using economic policies such as changing the cultivar pattern, we can obtain a better result compared to EA algorithm in the agricultural sector. In general, the results of GWO algorithm showed that in the Moghan plain with 0.9, 140 billion rials, that is, about 42 % will have economic growth. In sum, the results showed that GWO algorithm with high values of statistical criteria (R2=0.96, RMSE=0.022 and NSE=0.75) has a higher efficiency in optimizing the crop cultivation pattern of Moghan plain, which can be applied to the correct planning for other cultivation areas to be employed.