Spatial Characteristics and Driving Forces of the Water Footprint of Spring Maize Production in Northern China

Xueqing Zhao, Jin Shi, Meixia Liu, Saud Uz Zafar, Qin Liu, Ishaq A. Mian, Bushra Khan, Shadman Khan, Yan Zhuang (), Wenyi Dong () and Enke Liu
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Xueqing Zhao: Institute of Environment and Sustainable Development in Agriculture, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing 100081, China
Jin Shi: Institute of Environment and Sustainable Development in Agriculture, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing 100081, China
Meixia Liu: Institute of Environment and Sustainable Development in Agriculture, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing 100081, China
Saud Uz Zafar: Key Laboratory of Dryland Agriculture, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs of the People’s Republic of China, Beijing 100081, China
Qin Liu: Institute of Environment and Sustainable Development in Agriculture, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing 100081, China
Ishaq A. Mian: Department of Soil & Environmental Sciences, The University of Agriculture Peshawar, Peshawar 25130, Pakistan
Bushra Khan: Department of Environmental Sciences, University of Peshawar, Peshawar 25120, Pakistan
Shadman Khan: Department of Soil & Environmental Sciences, The University of Agriculture Peshawar, Peshawar 25130, Pakistan
Yan Zhuang: Institute of Agricultural Resources and Regional Planning, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing 100081, China
Wenyi Dong: Institute of Environment and Sustainable Development in Agriculture, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing 100081, China
Enke Liu: Institute of Environment and Sustainable Development in Agriculture, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing 100081, China

Agriculture, 2023, vol. 13, issue 9, 1-17

Abstract: Using the water footprint (WF) approach to evaluate the water-use efficiency in agricultural production is crucial for assessing the sustainable use of water resources and mitigating water scarcity and pollution. This study calculated the blue, grey, green and total water footprints of spring maize production in Northeast China in 2019 and 2020 and compared the water footprint values at the provincial and municipal scales. In addition, this study analyzed the spatial variation and drivers of the water footprint. The results show that the average water footprints of spring maize production in Northeast China in 2019 and 2020 were 1.78 m 3 kg −1 and 2.00 m 3 kg −1 , out of which the grey water footprint contributed the most, accounting for 55.19% and 49.85% of the total water footprint, respectively, while the blue water footprint contributed the least, accounting for only 17.44% and 18.68% of the total water footprint. At the provincial level, the water footprint of spring maize production in Northeast China was spatially clustered, with the lowest total water footprint in Heilongjiang Province and the highest total water footprint in Jilin Province. The spatial distribution difference of the spring maize unit yield was the fundamental factor explaining the difference in the water footprint. The precipitation, surface water resources, average temperature, effective irrigated area and the proportion of effective irrigated area also had impacts on the water footprint. This study provides a scientific basis for optimizing the distribution of spring maize production in Northeast China, formulating appropriate sustainable water resource management plans, improving water-use efficiency and realizing sustainable water resource management in Northeast China.

Keywords: water footprint; spring maize production; water-use efficiency (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: Q1 Q10 Q11 Q12 Q13 Q14 Q15 Q16 Q17 Q18 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2023
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