Optimization of virtual water flows in agriculture by changing cropping patterns using an integrated approach
Utilizing available water resources efficiently is crucial to address both our present and future requirements and plays a vital role in safeguarding food security. This current investigation deals with assessment and optimizing water footprint (WF) and virtual water flow (VWF) for primary crops in...
| Κύριοι συγγραφείς: | , , , , |
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| Μορφή: | Άρθρο |
| Γλώσσα: | English |
| Έκδοση: |
Elsevier
2023-12-01
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| Σειρά: | Heliyon |
| Θέματα: | |
| Διαθέσιμο Online: | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2405844023098110 |
| _version_ | 1827577560398036992 |
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| author | Mukesh Kumar Mehla Mahesh Kothari P.K. Singh S.R. Bhakar K.K. Yadav |
| author_facet | Mukesh Kumar Mehla Mahesh Kothari P.K. Singh S.R. Bhakar K.K. Yadav |
| author_sort | Mukesh Kumar Mehla |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Utilizing available water resources efficiently is crucial to address both our present and future requirements and plays a vital role in safeguarding food security. This current investigation deals with assessment and optimizing water footprint (WF) and virtual water flow (VWF) for primary crops in Banas River Basin (BRB) using AquaCrop model with local datasets and district-level estimates. VWF in the basins were estimated by multiplying the WF of crops with the amount exported/imported, which is determined based on the difference between production and consumption in the basin. The possibility of changing the cropping patterns was evaluated for the potential reduction of the blue WF. Annual WF from primary crops in the basin amounts to 19,255 MCM/yr (70 % green, 21 % blue and 10 % grey WF, respectively). Banas basin is a net exporter of agriculture commodities with nearly 7391 MCM/yr of water flowing out of the basin due to agricultural exports of which approximately 265 MCM/yr is virtual blue water outflow. Crops having low economic water productivity of blue water are being grown in vast areas resulting in a high blue WF. The optimizing the cropping pattern can result in a 5–42 % lower blue water footprint with 11–39 % higher economic output under different scenarios with and without considering the consumption needs. Changing the cropping pattern and making trade plan to optimize the crop import/exports can be viable option for tackling the blue water scarcity issues in the basin. WF can be managed sustainably by improving water resource allocation for better economic, social, and environmental productivity and going for less aggressive agricultural production. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-08T21:29:30Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-c7ddbd9e389c49188e48cc84e5d25c8c |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2405-8440 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-08T21:29:30Z |
| publishDate | 2023-12-01 |
| publisher | Elsevier |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Heliyon |
| spelling | doaj.art-c7ddbd9e389c49188e48cc84e5d25c8c2023-12-21T07:33:59ZengElsevierHeliyon2405-84402023-12-01912e22603Optimization of virtual water flows in agriculture by changing cropping patterns using an integrated approachMukesh Kumar Mehla0Mahesh Kothari1P.K. Singh2S.R. Bhakar3K.K. Yadav4Department of Soil and Water Engineering, College of Technology and Engineering, Maharana Pratap University of Agriculture and Technology, Udaipur, 313001, Raj, India; Corresponding author.Department of Soil and Water Engineering, College of Technology and Engineering, Maharana Pratap University of Agriculture and Technology, Udaipur, 313001, Raj, IndiaDepartment of Soil and Water Engineering, College of Technology and Engineering, Maharana Pratap University of Agriculture and Technology, Udaipur, 313001, Raj, IndiaDepartment of Soil and Water Engineering, College of Technology and Engineering, Maharana Pratap University of Agriculture and Technology, Udaipur, 313001, Raj, IndiaDepartment of Soil Science, Rajasthan College of Agriculture, Maharana Pratap University of Agriculture and Technology, Udaipur, 313001, Raj, IndiaUtilizing available water resources efficiently is crucial to address both our present and future requirements and plays a vital role in safeguarding food security. This current investigation deals with assessment and optimizing water footprint (WF) and virtual water flow (VWF) for primary crops in Banas River Basin (BRB) using AquaCrop model with local datasets and district-level estimates. VWF in the basins were estimated by multiplying the WF of crops with the amount exported/imported, which is determined based on the difference between production and consumption in the basin. The possibility of changing the cropping patterns was evaluated for the potential reduction of the blue WF. Annual WF from primary crops in the basin amounts to 19,255 MCM/yr (70 % green, 21 % blue and 10 % grey WF, respectively). Banas basin is a net exporter of agriculture commodities with nearly 7391 MCM/yr of water flowing out of the basin due to agricultural exports of which approximately 265 MCM/yr is virtual blue water outflow. Crops having low economic water productivity of blue water are being grown in vast areas resulting in a high blue WF. The optimizing the cropping pattern can result in a 5–42 % lower blue water footprint with 11–39 % higher economic output under different scenarios with and without considering the consumption needs. Changing the cropping pattern and making trade plan to optimize the crop import/exports can be viable option for tackling the blue water scarcity issues in the basin. WF can be managed sustainably by improving water resource allocation for better economic, social, and environmental productivity and going for less aggressive agricultural production.http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2405844023098110Water footprintOptimizing cropping patternsCropping patternsSustainable agriculture and water scarcity |
| spellingShingle | Mukesh Kumar Mehla Mahesh Kothari P.K. Singh S.R. Bhakar K.K. Yadav Optimization of virtual water flows in agriculture by changing cropping patterns using an integrated approach Heliyon Water footprint Optimizing cropping patterns Cropping patterns Sustainable agriculture and water scarcity |
| title | Optimization of virtual water flows in agriculture by changing cropping patterns using an integrated approach |
| title_full | Optimization of virtual water flows in agriculture by changing cropping patterns using an integrated approach |
| title_fullStr | Optimization of virtual water flows in agriculture by changing cropping patterns using an integrated approach |
| title_full_unstemmed | Optimization of virtual water flows in agriculture by changing cropping patterns using an integrated approach |
| title_short | Optimization of virtual water flows in agriculture by changing cropping patterns using an integrated approach |
| title_sort | optimization of virtual water flows in agriculture by changing cropping patterns using an integrated approach |
| topic | Water footprint Optimizing cropping patterns Cropping patterns Sustainable agriculture and water scarcity |
| url | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2405844023098110 |
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