Spatio-Temporal Variations of Crop Water Footprint and Its Influencing Factors in Xinjiang, China during 1988–2017

Aihua Long, Pei Zhang, Yang Hai, Xiaoya Deng, Junfeng Li and Jie Wang
Additional contact information
Aihua Long: College of Water Conservancy and Architectural Engineering, Shihezi University, Shihezi 832003, China
Pei Zhang: State Key Laboratory of Simulation and Regulation of Water Cycle in River Basin, China Institute of Water Resources and Hydropower Research, Beijing 100038, China
Yang Hai: State Key Laboratory of Simulation and Regulation of Water Cycle in River Basin, China Institute of Water Resources and Hydropower Research, Beijing 100038, China
Xiaoya Deng: State Key Laboratory of Simulation and Regulation of Water Cycle in River Basin, China Institute of Water Resources and Hydropower Research, Beijing 100038, China
Junfeng Li: College of Water Conservancy and Architectural Engineering, Shihezi University, Shihezi 832003, China
Jie Wang: College of Water Conservancy and Architectural Engineering, Shihezi University, Shihezi 832003, China

Sustainability, 2020, vol. 12, issue 22, 1-15

Abstract: Scientifically determining agricultural water consumption is fundamental to the optimum allocation and regulation of regional water resources. However, traditional statistical methods used for determining agricultural water consumption in China do not reflect the actual use of water resources. This paper determined the variation in the crop water footprint (CWF) to reflect the actual agricultural water consumption in Xinjiang, China, during the past 30 years, and the data from 15 crops were included. In addition, the STIRPAT (stochastic impacts by regression on population, affluence and technology) model was used to determine the factors influencing the CWF. The results showed that the CWF in Xinjiang increased by 256% during the 30-year period. Factors such as population, agricultural added value, and effective irrigated area were correlated with an increase in the CWF. This study also showed that the implementation of national and regional policies significantly accelerated the expansion of agricultural production areas and increased the amount of agricultural water used. The objectives of this paper were to identify the factors influencing the CWF, give a new perspective for further analysis of the relationship between agricultural growth and water resources utilization, and provide a reference for local policy decision-makers in Xinjiang.

Keywords: agricultural added value; agricultural water consumption; irrigation area; political drive; water resources (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2020
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (1)

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