Evaluation of Water Use Efficiency in Different Agricultural Crops under the Conditions of Kazakhstan

Authors

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.32523/bcrk3a79

Keywords:

water use efficiency, irrigation, water conservation, water resources, agriculture, irrigation systems, food security, water balance, water use coefficient

Abstract

In the article, the authors presented a comprehensive assessment of the economic and physiological efficiency of water use in agriculture of the Republic of Kazakhstan under conditions of increasing water scarcity.

The relevance of the study is determined by the high dependence of the country’s agricultural sector on irrigation, the transboundary nature of a significant part of water resources, and the persistently low productivity of water use in the regions.

The aim of the work is to assess the efficiency of water use for some agricultural crops in the context of the regions of Kazakhstan and to determine directions for increasing the rationality of water resources use.

The research methodology is based on the calculation of the water use efficiency indicator (WUE), expressed in tenge and US dollars per cubic meter of water, taking into account the gross value added of production, the share of irrigated land, water consumption norms, and the structure of agricultural production.

The results of the analysis revealed significant interregional differentiation of water use efficiency indicators (WUE), as well as a large difference in WUE between various agricultural crops. The highest WUE values are typical for vegetable crops, potatoes, and perennial plantations in the southern and south-eastern regions, where developed irrigation infrastructure and a high market value of products are combined. At the same time, cereal crops demonstrate a relatively low economic return per unit of water used, especially in regions with the predominance of rainfed agriculture. It has been established that water use efficiency is determined not only by the volumes of water withdrawal, but also by the structure of crops, yield levels, applied irrigation technologies, and the condition of infrastructure.

The practical significance of the study lies in the possibility of using the obtained results in the development of regionally oriented water-saving policy, optimization of the structure of agricultural production, and monitoring the achievement of SDG indicator 6.4.1. It is concluded that there is a need to transition to a differentiated model of water resources management aimed at increasing the economic return of water use and reducing water pressure under conditions of sustainable development.

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Author Biographies

  • Lyailya Akbayeva, L.N. Gumilyov Eurasian National University

    Professor of the Department of Management and Environmental Engineering

  • Raushan Shaikhieva, L.N. Gumilyov Eurasian National University

    Second-year Master’s student of the Department of Management and Environmental Engineering

  • Zhumabike Bakeshova, L.N. Gumilyov Eurasian National University

    Senior Lecturer of the Department of Management and Environmental Engineering, Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)

  • Iles Kiyanbekov, “Information and Analytical Center for Water Resources”

    Managing Director of the “Information and Analytical Center for Water Resources”

  • Yerdaulet Tulegenov, NAO "Kazakh National Women's Pedagogical University"

     Program Leader of the Department of Geography, PhD, Acting Associate Professor

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Published

2026-06-30 — Updated on 2026-06-30

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Issue

Vol. 155 No. 2 (2026)

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Articles

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Copyright (c) 2026 Ляйля Акбаева, Раушан Шайхиева, Жумабике Бакешова, Илес Киянбеков, Ердаулет Тулегенов (Автор)

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This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License.

How to Cite

Evaluation of Water Use Efficiency in Different Agricultural Crops under the Conditions of Kazakhstan. (2026). Journal of Ecology and Sustainability, 155(2), 7-21. https://doi.org/10.32523/bcrk3a79

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