Comprehensive evaluation of water use in agricultural production: a case study in Hetao Irrigation District, China

Scarcity and competition for water are becoming matters of increasing concern around the world. The interdisciplinary nature of the problem requires that the technical, economic, environmental and social aspects of water usage are integrated into a coherent analytical framework. Therefore, a comprehensive evaluation of agricultural water use during crop production is a necessary prerequisite for agricultural water management. The present study provides an overview of water-accounting and water footprint assessment methods by analysing the performance, efficiency, economic profitability and environmental impact of the Hetao Irrigation District, China. The performance and efficiency results showed that the total volume of water consumed in the Hetao Irrigation District, during wheat production, was 872 Mm3, of which 116 Mm3 was green water and 756 Mm3 was blue water. Furthermore, 443 Mm3 of the blue water was used effectively, while 313 Mm3 was non-beneficial due to an inefficient irrigation system. The grey water footprint was 152 Mm3 during wheat production, which accounted for 15.42% of the total available water in the district. The results indicated that the economic profit is higher relative to the national average due to the high yields in wheat production in the Hetao Irrigation District. However, efficient use of resources and environmental sustainability were relatively low due to high water consumption and pollution. This study highlighted the need for a comprehensive evaluation of water use in agricultural production and it provides insights by using water footprint and water accounting in water use assessment and is a reference for other related studies.