Document Type : Research Paper
Authors
- Khoshnood Alizadeh 1
- Ramin Lotfi 2
- Aziz Majidi 3
- Esmail Alizadeh 4
- Navid Kargar 5
- Amir Nourjoo 6
- abdollah hasanzadeh 1
- Bagher Hoseinpour 5
1 Field Crops and Horticultural Research Department, West Azarbaijan Agricultural and Natural Resources Research and Education Center, AREEO, Urmia, Iran.
2 Dryland Agricultural Research Institute, AREEO, Maragheh, Iran.
3 Soil and Water Research Department, West Azarbaijan Agricultural and Natural Resources Research and Education Center, AREEO, Urmia, Iran.
4 Plant Pest Research Department, West Azarbaijan Agricultural and Natural Resources Research and Education Center, AREEO, Urmia, Iran.
5 Economic Research Department, West Azarbaijan Agricultural and Natural Resources Research and Education Center, AREEO, Urmia, Iran.
6 Technical and Engineering Research Department, West Azerbaijan Agricultural and Natural Resources Research and Education Center, Agricultural Research, Education and Extension Organization (AREEO), Urmia, Iran.
Abstract
Introduction: With more than 475,000 ha of dryland area, West Azerbaijan Province is one of the major dryland farming regions in Iran. The widespread practice of continuous wheat cultivation, the very low diversity of dryland crops, and the lack of an appropriate cropping pattern are among the major challenges facing the province’s dryland agricultural systems. Continuation of the current cropping pattern may seriously undermine production sustainability, and this issue has been one of the major drivers behind large-scale initiatives such as the “Production Leap in Dryland Areas” program and the national program for optimizing cropping patterns. Implementation of an optimized cropping pattern, particularly the inclusion of grain legumes and forage legumes in crop rotations, can significantly improve the sustainability of dryland production systems by enhancing the physical, chemical, and biological properties of soil, reducing pest and disease populations, and increasing water-use efficiency. In the dryland areas of West Azerbaijan Province, which are characterized by long winters and a relatively short growing season, the primary objective of crop rotation design is to manage the risks associated with water scarcity and low temperatures while maintaining or improving soil fertility. Under such conditions, simpler, more resilient, and lower-risk cropping patterns are generally preferred. Accordingly, this study analyzes the existing challenges and the potential of dryland agriculture in the region and examines effective measures and practical strategies for improving cropping patterns in the dryland areas of West Azerbaijan Province.
Research Methodology: In this study, the optimized cropping pattern was evaluated considering climatic and soil conditions, the effects of climate change on precipitation and temperature patterns, and the socioeconomic conditions of farmers. Accordingly, based on previous research findings and existing agricultural programs, an operational cropping pattern was developed, including suitable crop types, their spatial distribution, and the required management practices and inputs. Crop rotation patterns involving dryland cereals (wheat/barley) with grain legumes (chickpea/lentil), cereals with forage legumes (vetch, grass pea, and forage chickpea), and cereals with oilseed crops (safflower, isfahanian starthistle, and camelina) were introduced as examples of simple and low-risk cropping patterns suitable for the dryland conditions of West Azerbaijan Province.
Research Findings: A gradual decrease in the area allocated to dryland wheat, accompanied by a gradual increase in the cultivated areas of rotational crops that can substitute for cereals, including chickpea, lentil, safflower, and annual forage crops, is clearly evident when the officially mandated cropping programs of the recent three-year period (1402–1405) are compared. Accordingly, based on the National Cropping Pattern Program for the 2025–2026 cropping year, a substantial increase in the cultivated area of oilseed crops, particularly safflower and camelina, has been projected for the dryland areas of West Azerbaijan Province. This development is consistent with the objectives of the Dryland Production Sustainability Program, which represents a continuation of the Production Leap in Dryland Areas initiative, and has also been reflected in the province’s officially mandated cropping program. Achieving sustainable changes in cropping patterns and encouraging farmers to adopt the proposed patterns depend to a large extent on achieving tangible results under field conditions and adhering to the technical principles of dryland crop production. Based on research conducted under dryland conditions, the major technical priorities for successful implementation of the cropping pattern include: adopting direct seeding (no-tillage) as the first option and reduced tillage as the second option for dryland land preparation; using new and improved cultivars adapted to the province’s climatic conditions; maintaining appropriate seeding rates and planting arrangements; managing planting dates with an emphasis on autumn rather than spring sowing and establishing crops before the occurrence of effective early-autumn rainfall events; integrated weed management; balanced nutrient management; and selecting crop rotations according to production risk and economic considerations. Finally, reducing tillage intensity, implementing appropriate crop rotations, and retaining crop residues as the three key principles of conservation agriculture, together with the use of newly improved cultivars and recommended crop-specific production packages, can contribute substantially to the successful implementation of optimized cropping patterns in the dryland areas of West Azerbaijan Province.
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