Abstract

RIOS FLORES, José Luis; TORRES MORENO, Miriam; RUIZ TORRES, José  and  TORRES MORENO, Marco Antonio. Efficiency and productivity of water irrigation in wheat (Triticum vulgare) from Ensenada and Valle de Mexicali, Baja California, Mexico. Acta univ [online]. 2016, vol.26, n.1, pp.20-29. ISSN 2007-9621.  https://doi.org/10.15174/au.2016.825.

Scarcity of water is a limiting factor for agriculture, as competition for water intensifies, water in agricultural production should be used more efficiently. This study estimated the productivity and efficiency of water in wheat production in Ensenada and Mexicali Valley, Baja California. Physical productivity was 3.11 m3 kg-1 in Ensenada and 1,498 m3 kg-1 in the Mexicali Valley. Gross income was $ 0.91 m-3 in Ensenada, and $ 2.39 m-3 in the Mexicali Valley. Price per cubic meter for irrigation of wheat in both regions was very low $ 0.19 m-3. Social productivity of water was 0.025 jobs hm-3 for both regions. It is concluded that the Mexicali Valley was more efficient in the use of water for production of wheat, since it employed 48% of the water used in the region of Ensenada, Baja California.

Keywords : Triticum vulgare; efficiency; productivity.