Response of surface water quantity and quality to agricultural water use intensity in upstream Hutuo River Basin, China

For water-stressed regions like Iran improving the effectiveness and productivity of agricultural water-use is of utmost importance due to climate change and unsustainable demands. Therefore, a hydro-economic model has been developed here for the Zarrine River Basin with the central concept of that demands are value-sensitive functions, where quantities of water-uses at different locations and times have a changeable economic benefits. To do this, the potential crop yields and the surface and groundwater resources, especially Boukan Dam inflow are simulated using the hydrologic model, SWAT, based on predicted climatic scenarios i.e. quantile mapping-downscaled projections. Then, to allocate the agricultural water based on the agro- economic crop water productivity (AEWP) of crops, a basin-wide water management tool, MODSIM, is customized. Next, a simulation- optimization model has been developed using a coupled CSPSO-MODSIM, to optimize the total AEWP, considering climatic impact and crop pattern scenarios, for 2020-2038, 2050-2068 and 2080-2098 periods. Finally, the optimum crop pattern and crop water irrigation depths are presented for different RCPs and periods. The results indicated that this approach will improve considerably the AEWPs and decrease the agricultural water-use up to 40%. Thus, this integrated model is able to support water authorities and other stakeholder in a water-scarce basin, as is the study area.

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An ecological stability-oriented model for the conjunctive allocation of surface water and groundwater in oases in arid inland river basins

Water Science & Technology Water Supply ◽

10.2166/ws.2020.305 ◽

2020 ◽

Author(s):

Zixu Qiao ◽

Long Ma ◽

Tingxi Liu ◽

Xing Huang

Keyword(s):

Surface Water ◽

Water Resources ◽

Water Use ◽

River Basins ◽

Series Data ◽

Agricultural Water ◽

Ecological Stability ◽

Inland River ◽

Agricultural Water Use ◽

Surface Water And Groundwater

Abstract With the continuous development of the population and social economy, the spatial and temporal distribution of water resources in arid inland river basins is severely uneven, and there is a sharp contradiction between agricultural water use and ecological water use. Irrational development and utilization of water resources has led to many problems, such as shrinking oases and drying lakes. To solve this problem, this study proposes a multiobjective, multiwater-source, ecological stability-oriented double-layer model for optimal allocation of water resources based on the large-scale system decomposition–coordination principle, the water balance principle, and a water supply and demand forecasting model. This model can resolve the contradiction between agricultural water use and ecological water use by optimizing and adjusting the crop planting structure, industrial structure, and the amount of water allocated to and groundwater level in each region and thereby achieve ecological stability and restoration of oases. The developed model was applied to the Heihe River Basin in an inland region of Northwest China. The long-term time series data of 2000–2016 were used to construct and calibrate the model. Finally, the practical ecological stability-oriented plan for conjunctive allocation of surface water and groundwater in different plan years was proposed. This model enriches the research results related to the conjunctive allocation of surface water and groundwater and provides a reference for the ecological restoration of oases in arid inland river basins.

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Spatial–Temporal Evolution Characteristics and Influencing Factors of Agricultural Water Use Efficiency in Northwest China—Based on a Super-DEA Model and a Spatial Panel Econometric Model

Water ◽

10.3390/w13050632 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 13 (5) ◽

pp. 632

Author(s):

Weinan Lu ◽

Wenxin Liu ◽

Mengyang Hou ◽

Yuanjie Deng ◽

Yue Deng ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Water Use Efficiency ◽

Water Use ◽

Water Resource ◽

Arid Regions ◽

Econometric Model ◽

Northwest China ◽

Agricultural Water ◽

Agricultural Water Use ◽

Use Efficiency ◽

Semi Arid

Improving agricultural water use efficiency (AWUE) is an important way to solve the shortage of water resources in arid and semi-arid regions. This study used the Super-DEA (data envelopment analysis) to measure the AWUE of 52 cities in Northwest China from 2000 to 2018. Based on spatial and temporal perspectives, it applied Exploratory Spatial Data Analysis (ESDA) to explore the dynamic evolution and regional differences of AWUE. A spatial econometric model was then used to analyze the main factors that influence the AWUE in Northwest China. The results showed firstly that the overall AWUE in Northwest China from 2000 to 2018 presented a steady upward trend. However, only a few cities achieved effective agricultural water usage by 2018, and the differences among cities were obvious. Secondly, AWUE showed an obvious spatial autocorrelation in Northwest China and showed significant high–high and low–low agglomeration characteristics. Thirdly, economic growth, urbanization development, and effective irrigation have significant, positive effects on AWUE, while per capita water resource has a significant, negative influence. Finally, when improving the AWUE in arid and semi-arid regions, plans should be formulated according to local conditions. The results of this study can provide new ideas on the study of AWUE in arid and semi-arid regions and provide references for the formulation of regional agricultural water resource utilization policies as well.

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