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Arid Land Geography ›› 2024, Vol. 47 ›› Issue (12): 2005-2016.doi: 10.12118/j.issn.1000-6060.2024.114

• Biology and Environment • Previous Articles     Next Articles

Spatio-temporal evolution of water footprint of typical grain crops and evaluation of water-saving potential in Ningxia

GAO Yamiao1,2(), CHEN Haonan1,2, WANG Fang1,2,3(), NAN Xiongxiong3, CHEN Hongxiang4, LI Wenhui1,2   

  1. 1. School of Geographical Science and Planning, Ningxia University, Yinchuan 750021, Ningxia, China
    2. China-Arab Joint International Research Laboratory for Featured Resources and Environmental Governance in Arid Region, Yinchuan 750021, Ningxia, China
    3. State Key Laboratory of Efficient Production of Forest Resources, Yinchuan 750002, Ningxia, China
    4. College of Resources, Environment and Life Sciences, Ningxia Normal University, Guyuan 756000, Ningxia, China
  • Received:2024-02-25 Revised:2024-05-12 Online:2024-12-25 Published:2025-01-02
  • Contact: WANG Fang E-mail:gaoym11@stu.nxu.edu.cn;fangwang0820@nxu.edu.cn

Abstract:

In recent years, the grain and vegetable production capacity of Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region (Ningxia) has increased significantly. However, as one of the most water-scarce provinces in China, evaluating the water footprint of agricultural production and its water-saving potential is crucial for promoting the sustainable use of agricultural water resources. Focusing on the production water footprint of five typical food crops, this study explored the spatiotemporal evolution trends of the production water footprint in the region from 2006 to 2020 using the Mann-Kendall trend test. Additionally, a water-saving potential model was employed to further analyze the water-saving potential of these crops. The results indicated that: (1) The production water footprint of typical grain crops in Ningxia exhibited a decreasing trend over the past 15 years, with the production water footprint in Guyuan City decreasing by 42.97%. (2) The blue water and gray water footprints of each crop showed a consistent downward trend, while the green water footprint of the same crop varied significantly across cities, with soybean contributing the most to the green water footprint. (3) The water-saving potential of crop engineering, true water-saving potential of blue water and true water-saving potential of green water could reach 44.81%, 46.43% and 45.10%, respectively, in typical year crop production projects. These findings provide a theoretical foundation for the sustainable development of water-saving agriculture in Ningxia.

Key words: crop production water footprint, spatiotemporal evolution, water saving potential, Ningxia