Agricultural Cultivation Structure in Arid Areas Based on Water–Carbon Nexus—Taking the Middle Reaches of the Heihe River as an Example

Boxuan Li, Meng Niu (), Jing Zhao, Xi Zheng, Ran Chen, Xiao Ling, Jinxin Li and Yuxiao Wang
Additional contact information
Boxuan Li: Faculty of Architecture, Civil and Transportation Engineering, Beijing University of Technology, Beijing 100124, China
Meng Niu: China Urban Construction Design and Research Institute, Beijing 100120, China
Jing Zhao: School of Landscape Architecture, Beijing Forestry University, Beijing 100083, China
Xi Zheng: School of Landscape Architecture, Beijing Forestry University, Beijing 100083, China
Ran Chen: School of Landscape Architecture, Beijing Forestry University, Beijing 100083, China
Xiao Ling: School of Landscape Architecture, Beijing Forestry University, Beijing 100083, China
Jinxin Li: School of Landscape Architecture, Beijing Forestry University, Beijing 100083, China
Yuxiao Wang: Faculty of Architecture, Civil and Transportation Engineering, Beijing University of Technology, Beijing 100124, China

Land, 2023, vol. 12, issue 7, 1-18

Abstract: China faces challenges of food security and sustainable agricultural production. However, current studies rarely address the spatial distribution patterns of water consumption and carbon emissions. We studied the irrigation water use efficiency and carbon emission differences of crops in arid areas and their spatial distribution using wheat and maize, two major food crops in the middle reaches of the Heihe River, as examples. Furthermore, we have optimized low-carbon cropping of crops under the multiple objectives of water conservation and economic development. The results show that: (1) The carbon emissions per unit of water consumption for maize are 0.03 × 10 −6 t mm −1 and 0.49 × 10 −6 t mm −1 for wheat. Irrigation water consumption per unit yield is 515.6 mm t −1 for maize and 426.7 mm t −1 for wheat. (2) The spatial distribution patterns of irrigation water consumption were opposites for maize and wheat. The former has lower irrigation water consumption in the planting area upstream of the Heihe River and higher in the lower reaches. In contrast, the pattern of wheat irrigation is the opposite. (3) After optimizing the cropping mix for both crops, the area planted with wheat should be reduced to 59% of the current size, while maize should be expanded to 104%. The results of the research hold immense importance in guiding the future grain crop planting patterns for water-saving agriculture and low-carbon agriculture development in arid zones worldwide, aligning with the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals.

Keywords: water–carbon nexus; farming structure; irrigation system; low-carbon agriculture; arid regions; middle reaches of the Heihe River (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: Q15 Q2 Q24 Q28 Q5 R14 R52 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2023
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