Linking water footprint accounting with irrigation management in high value crops

In this paper, a joint evaluation of crop water footprint accounting and irrigation management indicators is proposed as a diagnostic tool to identify the hotspots of irrigated agricultural systems. Based on this analysis, specific actions can be defined to improve water use efficiency, reduce water abstractions and polluted water returns, and maintain production rates. The methodology has been applied to intensive strawberry production in Southwest Spain, specifically in the vicinity of Doñana National Park; a highly sensitive environmental area located in the province of Huelva. Actions to ameliorate the current situation are proposed.