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Water Use/Footprint for Agricultural Products during Production, Trade and Consumption Processes, Volume II

A special issue of Water (ISSN 2073-4441). This special issue belongs to the section "Water Resources Management, Policy and Governance".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (25 August 2024) | Viewed by 6954

Special Issue Editors

Prof. Dr. Xinchun Cao

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Department of Agricultural Water Conservancy, Hohai University, Nanjing 210098, China
Interests: water footprint; agricultural water management; irrigation; virtual water; water use efficiency
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Dr. Jing Liu

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
College of Hydrology and Water Resources, Hohai University, Nanjing 210098, China
Interests: virtual water flows; water footprint; agricultural water use; regional water management; water stress
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Dr. Qingling Geng

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
School of Geoscience and Technology, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou 450052, China
Interests: agricultural water and land management; water use efficiency; land use change; climate change impacts; water–land–food–carbon nexus
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Water represents an essential element for humans, and it plays a significant role in promoting the development of human society. During the last few decades, water use and water management have received more and more attention, considering the increase in water demand and the limited water supply, especially for agricultural sector which is the largest water consumer. This special issue addresses the discussions for water use of agricultural products during different processes, such as production, consumption, trade or others, focus on a particular kind of crop is also welcomed, and different methods including water footprint of but not limited to water-use efficiency, water dependencies, water stress and security, environmentally sustainable water use, water saving and interaction between surface water and underground water, in both natural and artificial systems. Water resource management for agricultural sector which considering of all disciplines of hydrology and different kinds of water sources (such as the blue, green and grey water) is also included.

Prof. Dr. Xinchun Cao
Dr. Jing Liu
Dr. Qingling Geng
Guest Editors

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Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2600 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • water use
  • agricultural products
  • production, consumption, and trade processes
  • water footprint
  • virtual water
  • irrigation
  • water stress
  • hydrology and crop model
  • water use efficiency
  • agricultural water management

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Published Papers (5 papers)

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Research

25 pages, 3921 KiB  
Article
A Study on the Characteristics and Influencing Factors of the Global Grain Virtual Water Trade Network
by Guangyao Deng and Keyu Di
Water 2025, 17(3), 288; https://doi.org/10.3390/w17030288 - 21 Jan 2025
Cited by 2 | Viewed by 728
Abstract
With the deepening of international trade and the increasing strain on water resources, the importance of the virtual water trade of grain products on an international level has become increasingly prominent. Based on FAOSTAT and water value research reports, this study constructed the [...] Read more.
With the deepening of international trade and the increasing strain on water resources, the importance of the virtual water trade of grain products on an international level has become increasingly prominent. Based on FAOSTAT and water value research reports, this study constructed the virtual water trade networks of wheat, rice, maize, and soybeans for 29 major grain trading countries in 2012 and 2022 and measured their network indicators and virtual water flow patterns. In addition, a QAP regression analysis was used to study the influencing factors of the virtual water trade network for grain products from the perspective of four dimensions: economic scale, geographical characteristics, resource endowment, and policy agreements. The results were as follows: Firstly, from 2012 to 2022, the virtual water trade of wheat and rice shifted from a state of net virtual water outflow to net virtual water inflow, and the overall net virtual water flows of maize and soybeans both showed a net virtual water inflow. Secondly, wheat’s virtual water trade network participants had reduced obvious “small-world” features, and KOR, the USA, TUR, and IND have long been at the center of that network. When the core nodes of the virtual water trade network of rice were reduced, the network tended to be decentralized. In that network, IND, NPL, the USA, and ZAF always occupied dominant positions. The overall connectivity of the maize virtual water trade network increased, with both the USA and JPN as the trade core. The number of core countries in the soybean virtual water trade network increased; significantly, CHN, the USA, and THA were in dominant positions. Lastly, the GDP at the economic scale was the biggest core driving factor of all virtual water trade networks of various grain products, followed by per capita arable land area in terms of resource endowment. In addition, the geographic characteristics and trade agreements of the virtual water trade networks of grain products also had a more significant negative impact. This paper argues that countries should make trade adjustments for their own developing disadvantaged grain products, vigorously develop their national economies, optimize the structure of the grain trade, and promote benign cooperation in international virtual water trade for grain products. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Water Use/Footprint for Agricultural Products during Production, Trade and Consumption Processes, Volume II)
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18 pages, 2556 KiB  
Article
Assessing the Environmental Impact of Oasis Agriculture in the Yarkant River Basin: A Comprehensive Study of Water Use, Carbon Footprint, and Decoupling Index
by Yi Wang, Xinyu Liu and Junwei Ding
Water 2024, 16(21), 3071; https://doi.org/10.3390/w16213071 - 26 Oct 2024
Viewed by 1214
Abstract
Studying the relationship between grain planting and the environment is an important means to promote sustainable production. This study takes wheat, a typical grain crop in the Yarkant River oasis irrigation district, the fourth largest agricultural irrigation district in China, as an example [...] Read more.
Studying the relationship between grain planting and the environment is an important means to promote sustainable production. This study takes wheat, a typical grain crop in the Yarkant River oasis irrigation district, the fourth largest agricultural irrigation district in China, as an example to analyze the relationship and changing trends between wheat yield and water footprint (WF), and carbon footprint (CF) from 2001 to 2020. The study found that during the research period, wheat yield, WFgreen,blue,WFgrey, and CF showed a fluctuating but significantly upward trend. Decoupling analysis indicates that the overall decoupling trend between wheat yield and water footprint and carbon footprint is not obvious. This suggests that the rapid development of wheat production in the Yarkant River Oasis has also led to significant water resource consumption, pollution, and greenhouse gas emissions. Among the three sub–irrigation districts, the Shache sub–irrigation district has the best decoupling state, reflecting that the increase in wheat yield in Shache did not lead to more water resource consumption and pollution which is may due to its abundant water resources and agriculture development. Further analysis found that the use of nitrogen fertilizers and irrigation electricity have contributed to water resource pressure and greenhouse gas emissions. This study reveals that there are significant environmental risks in the current wheat planting in the Yarkant River oasis irrigation district, but it also points out the direction for green development in the irrigation district. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Water Use/Footprint for Agricultural Products during Production, Trade and Consumption Processes, Volume II)
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18 pages, 18581 KiB  
Article
Spatial–Temporal Variations in Water Use Efficiency and Its Influencing Factors in the Li River Basin, China
by Yanqi Chu, Xiangling Tang and Xuemei Zhong
Water 2024, 16(19), 2864; https://doi.org/10.3390/w16192864 - 9 Oct 2024
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 887
Abstract
As a vital indicator for measuring the coupled carbon–water cycle of an ecosystem, water use efficiency (WUE) can also reflect the adaptive capacity of plants in different ecosystems. Located in Southwest China, the Li River Basin has a representative karst landform, and the [...] Read more.
As a vital indicator for measuring the coupled carbon–water cycle of an ecosystem, water use efficiency (WUE) can also reflect the adaptive capacity of plants in different ecosystems. Located in Southwest China, the Li River Basin has a representative karst landform, and the uneven rainfall in the region leads to severe water shortage. In this study, we analyzed the spatial–temporal transformation characteristics of the WUE of the basin and its relationship with different influencing factors from 2001 to 2020 based on a correlation analysis and trend analysis. The main conclusions are as follows: (1) The average value of WUE in the Li River Basin was 1.8251 gC· mm−1·m−2, and it kept decreasing at a rate of 0.0072 gC· mm−1·m−2·a−1 in the past 20 years. With respect to the spatial distribution of the multi-year average of WUE, it exhibits a gradual increasing trend from west to east. (2) Between gross primary productivity (GPP) and evapotranspiration (ET), it was found that ET was the primary influencing factor of WUE. Precipitation was positively correlated with WUE in the Li River Basin, accounting for 67.22% of the total area of the basin. The air temperature was negatively correlated with WUE, and the area was negatively correlated with WUE, accounting for 92.67% of the basin area. (3) The normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI) and leaf area index (LAI) were negatively correlated with WUE, and the proportions of negatively correlated areas to the total area of the basin were similar; both were between 60 and 70%. The growth of vegetation inhibited the increase in WUE in the basin to a certain extent. Regarding Vapor Pressure Deficit (VPD), the proportions of positive and negative correlation areas with WUE were similar, accounting for 49.58% and 50.42%, respectively. (4) The occurrence of drought events and the enhancement in its degree led to a continuous increase in WUE in the basin; for different land cover types, the correlation of the standardized precipitation evapotranspiration index (SPEI) was in the following order from strongest to weakest: grassland > cropland > forest > shrubland. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Water Use/Footprint for Agricultural Products during Production, Trade and Consumption Processes, Volume II)
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19 pages, 673 KiB  
Article
The Effects of Water Footprint Management on Companies’ Reputations and Legitimacy under the Influence of Corporate Social Responsibility and Government Support: Contributions to the Chilean Agri-Food Industry
by Marcelo Werneck Barbosa and María de los Ángeles Raimann Pumpín
Water 2024, 16(19), 2746; https://doi.org/10.3390/w16192746 - 27 Sep 2024
Cited by 2 | Viewed by 1435
Abstract
Water management initiatives are implemented under a concept called water footprint management (WF management). Different initiatives and pressures might have a positive influence on the implementation of WF management, such as the adoption of corporate social responsibility (CSR) practices, government support and coercive [...] Read more.
Water management initiatives are implemented under a concept called water footprint management (WF management). Different initiatives and pressures might have a positive influence on the implementation of WF management, such as the adoption of corporate social responsibility (CSR) practices, government support and coercive pressures. This study assessed the effects that CSR practices, government support, and coercive pressures have on the implementation of WF management initiatives. This study also evaluated the effects that the adoption of WF management has on firms’ reputations and legitimacy. A quantitative methodology was employed, in which a survey of 113 Chilean firms in the agri-food industry was carried out. Data were analyzed with the Partial Least Squares–Structural Equation Modelling method, which determines causal relationships between constructs. We found that CSR and government support exert a direct, positive, and significant influence on WF management. Also, WF management was found to have a direct, positive, and significant effect on firms’ reputations and legitimacy. CSR has a greater influence on WF management compared to government support, which shows that CSR initiatives are of paramount importance, surpassing the support provided by governments for the implementation of WF management practices. Considerable indirect effects of CSR on reputation and legitimacy were also observed. This study’s findings imply a crucial role for governments in prioritizing coercive pressures. In addition, it is imperative that agri-food firms foster their CSR programs to improve the implementation of WF practices, as the urgency of the situation cannot be overstated. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Water Use/Footprint for Agricultural Products during Production, Trade and Consumption Processes, Volume II)
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15 pages, 2065 KiB  
Article
Assessment of Water Productivity and Economic Viability of Greenhouse-Grown Tomatoes under Soilless and Soil-Based Cultivations
by Suliman Ali Al-Khateeb, Faisal Ibrahim Zeineldin, Nagat Ahmed Elmulthum, Khalid Mohammed Al-Barrak, Muhammad Naeem Sattar, Tagelsir Ahmed Mohammad and Akbar S. Mohmand
Water 2024, 16(7), 987; https://doi.org/10.3390/w16070987 - 28 Mar 2024
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 2028
Abstract
Water scarcity has necessitated the adoption of water-saving techniques in both protected and non-protected farming. This study aimed to evaluate the performance of a water-saving soilless cultivation technique and compare it to conventional soil-based cultivation in protected farming. The soilless technique utilized local [...] Read more.
Water scarcity has necessitated the adoption of water-saving techniques in both protected and non-protected farming. This study aimed to evaluate the performance of a water-saving soilless cultivation technique and compare it to conventional soil-based cultivation in protected farming. The soilless technique utilized local gravel and a mixture of peat moss, humin-substrate, and perlite in a 4:3:1.5 ratio. During the tomato growth cycle, three irrigation regimes were imposed using drip irrigation: 8 Lh−1 design discharge (D1) emitters, 6 Lh−1 design discharge (D0.75) emitters, and 4 Lh−1 design discharge (D0.5) emitters for both cultivation methods. Vegetative growth, fruit yield, and water consumption were measured and water productivity was determined. Additionally, an economic assessment was conducted by estimating and comparing economic coefficients for both cultivation methods. Estimated coefficients included revenues, net profit, benefit–cost ratio, breakeven levels of production and prices, revenues over variable cost, and revenues on investment. The tomato fruit yield under soil-based cultivation surpassed the yield under soilless cultivation. Water productivity under soilless cultivation was nearly double (24.3 kg m−3) that of soil-based cultivation (15.5 kg m−3). Soilless cultivation saved 50% of the irrigation water applied by the conventional soil-based method, conserving energy and protecting the soil from deterioration. Revenues and net profits, driven by higher yield and lower variable costs, favored soil-based cultivation. The economic assessment demonstrated that both cultivation methods were economically viable. However, the soil-based cultivation method was more profitable due to its higher fruit yield. Overall, the results of this study suggest that the soilless cultivation technique is a feasible option for water-saving cultivation. However, the soil-based cultivation method remains more profitable due to its superior fruit yield. The soilless cultivation technique offers significant water savings but needs further improvements to achieve comparable economic returns to traditional farming. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Water Use/Footprint for Agricultural Products during Production, Trade and Consumption Processes, Volume II)
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