scholarly journals The Paradox of the Virtual Water Trade Balance in the Mediterranean Region

2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (5) ◽  
pp. 2978
Author(s):  
Alexandros Gkatsikos ◽  
Konstadinos Mattas

Climate change, water shortages and desertification threaten the economic and environmental sustainability in the Mediterranean. Limited rainfall and higher temperatures put agricultural production, which relies on water availability, in jeopardy. Thereupon, Mediterranean countries pursue agri-food resilience and water preservation through efficient water policies. Hence, water-deprived areas ought to import rather than produce water-intensive products to maintain water inventories and sustainability consequently. As this study examines the water sustainability for a Mediterranean water-scarce region with a particular focus on agriculture, the virtual water trade balance explores this hypothesis. A regional input–output model is constructed, and then total water consumption and the virtual water flows for each economic sector are estimated to determine the virtual water trade balance of the economy. Results indicate that the study area has a trade deficit and struggles economically but is a net importer of virtual water and secures water sustainability. As this virtual water deficit relies heavily on agriculture and originates in vast total water consumption rather than a large trade deficit, a paradox occurs; water-intensive cultivations and animals that consume 91.75% of water resources end up appearing to be water-saving. Further research is needed to strike a balance between economic growth and environmental protection.

2014 ◽  
Vol 15 (2) ◽  
pp. 317-326
Author(s):  
Jordan Hristov ◽  
Aleksandra Martinovska-Stojcheska ◽  
Yves Surry

This study analyzed direct and indirect relationships in water consumption by Macedonian economic sectors using virtual water in an input–output framework. Macedonia was found to be characterized by intensive water consumption, with some sectors having a significant virtual water content in their products. Virtual water multipliers were used to analyze the trade balance and determine whether national commercial trade strategies are in line with Heckscher–Ohlin (HO) theory. It was found that Macedonia trade strategies in terms of virtual water were generally in line with HO theory. However, as a consequence of significant exports and high virtual water content in vegetables, fruit, grapes and sheep and goat products within the agriculture sector and in food and basic metal products in the manufacturing sector, the region was a net exporter of virtual water, losing about 124 million m3 of water at 2005 level or 18% of total water consumption. Reducing exports of the most water-intensive products with significant net positive exports would result in substantial water savings of 42% of total water consumption. The results presented here can help policy makers in promoting production specializations that are more environmentally sustainable or in redesigning existing water pricing policies at national level to encourage rational use of water.


2020 ◽  
Vol 10 (18) ◽  
pp. 6156
Author(s):  
Muhammad Atiq Ur Rehman Tariq ◽  
Riley Raimond Damnics ◽  
Zohreh Rajabi ◽  
Muhammad Laiq Ur Rahman Shahid ◽  
Nitin Muttil

Due to population growth, climatic change, and growing water usage, water scarcity is expected to be a more prevalent issue at the global level. The situation in Australia is even more serious because it is the driest continent and is characterized by larger water footprints in the domestic, agriculture and industrial sectors. Because the largest consumption of freshwater resources is in the agricultural sector (59%), this research undertakes a detailed investigation of the water footprints of agricultural practices in Australia. The analysis of the four highest water footprint crops in Australia revealed that the suitability of various crops is connected to the region and the irrigation efficiencies. A desirable crop in one region may be unsuitable in another. The investigation is further extended to analyze the overall virtual water trade of Australia. Australia’s annual virtual water trade balance is adversely biased towards exporting a substantial quantity of water, amounting to 35 km3, per trade data of 2014. It is evident that there is significant potential to reduce water consumption and footprints, and increase the water usage efficiencies, in all sectors. Based on the investigations conducted, it is recommended that the water footprints at each state level be considered at the strategic level. Further detailed analyses are required to reduce the export of a substantial quantity of virtual water considering local demands, export requirements, and production capabilities of regions.


2020 ◽  
Vol 0 (6) ◽  
pp. 13-19
Author(s):  
Guzel Gumerova ◽  
Georgiy Gulyuk ◽  
Dmitry Kucher ◽  
Anatoly Shuravilin ◽  
Elena Piven

Data of long-term researches (2015–2018) in southern forest-steppe zone of the Republic of Bashkortostan, is justified theoretically and experimentally the mode of irrigation of potatoes on leached chernozems of unsatisfactory, satisfactory and good ameliorative condition of irrigated lands. For the growing periods of potatoes with different heat and moisture supply, the number of watering, the timing of their implementation, irrigation and irrigation norms are established. On lands with unsatisfactory meliorative state the number of irrigation depending on weather conditions of potato vegetation period varied from 0 to 3 (1.5 on average) with average irrigation norm – 990 m3/ha. With satisfactory meliorative state of lands the number of irrigation on average increased from 0 to 4 (2.3 on average) with irrigation norm – 1305 m3/ha. On lands with good meliorative state the number of irrigation was the highest – from 1 to 5 (3 on average) with average irrigation irrigation norm is 1653 m3/ha. It was noted that in the dry periods of potato vegetation the greatest number of watering was carried out (3–5 watering), and in the wet periods (2017) watering was not carried out except for the area with a good reclamation state, where only one irrigation was carried out by the norm of 550 m3/ha. Water consumption of potato was studied in dynamics as a whole during the growing season and the months of the growing season depending on weather conditions of vegetation period and land reclamation condition of irrigated lands, as well as in the control (without irrigation). The lowest total water consumption was in the area without irrigation and averaged 226.8 mm. In irrigated areas, its values increased to 319-353.4 mm. The average daily water consumption varied from 2.12 to 3.3 mm. The highest rates of potato water consumption were observed in June and July, and the lowest – in May and August. In the total water consumption of potatoes on the site without irrigation, the largest share was occupied by atmospheric precipitation and in addition to them the arrival of moisture from the soil. Irrigation water was used in irrigated areas along with precipitation, the share of which was 30.2–46.1 %.


2020 ◽  
Vol 20 (2) ◽  
Author(s):  
Trey Dronyk-Trosper ◽  
Brandli Stitzel

AbstractAs water rights and water usage become an ever more important part of municipalities’ and states’ way of life, it becomes important to understand what policies can be effective for encouraging conservation of water. One method that has been employed at various times and throughout numerous communities is to limit outdoor watering days. We use a dataset with over 3 million property-month observations during the 2007–2015 period in Norman, Oklahoma, to identify whether the periodic implementation of mandatory water restrictions reduces water usage. Our data allow us to exploit variance in the timing of these water restriction programs. Our findings indicate that this policy reduces water consumption by 0.7 % of total water consumption. Additionally, we use home assessment prices to identify heterogeneity in this response, finding that high priced homes are more responsive to water use restrictions.


2019 ◽  
Vol 39 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
梅旭荣 MEI Xurong ◽  
黄桂荣 HUANG Guirong ◽  
严昌荣 YAN Changrong ◽  
刘晓英 LIU Xiaoying ◽  
张欣莹 ZHANG Xinying ◽  
...  

2020 ◽  
pp. 120-125
Author(s):  
N. N. Dubenok ◽  
R. V. Kalinichenko ◽  
M. V. Klimakhina ◽  
E. V. Matsyganova ◽  
K. B. Shumakova

Relevance. In Russia the issue of resource-saving irrigation of agricultural land is one of the most urgent, and total water consumption is one of the most important elements of the water balance of irrigated territory. Analyze the basic methods of determining the total water consumption, determine the average daily water consumption, total water consumption and zonal bioclimatic ratios for oats, barley with planting perennial herbs and perennial herbs in the conditions of the Central Region of the Russian Federation. Materials and methods. The research was carried out on a stationary field experience in the Podolsk district of the Moscow District. To improve the individual elements of the water balance in these conditions were laid stationary water balancing sites (S=200 m2). The pre-21 thresholds for soil moisture was not less than 75%. The research was carried out in accordance with generally accepted methods and recommendations. Total water consumption during the growing season and in the phases of plant development was determined by the method of water balance. Results. The total water consumption of crops by elements of the slope varies significantly between the upper and lower elements of the slope difference is 12-15 mm, which should be taken into account when calculating irrigation regimes on sloped lands. At the top of the slope it is necessary to carry out 1-2 watering more than at the base of the slope. Differentiated watering along the length of the slope allows to save irrigation water by 10-15%. The water consumption of crops in the context of the experience was greater in April and September than in the other months of growing. This is due to climate indicators. Total evaporation from the soil and plant surfaces depends on soil moisture, crop condition, wind speed, temperature and humidity. In April and September, the study years showed elevated temperatures and low relative humidity. When comparing the average daily water consumption at irrigated areas at the top and at the base of the slope, it is seen that in all the months of vegetation it is more on the upper section by an average of 12%. Bioclimatic coefficients depend on humidity and air temperature. The zonal coefficients we have obtained allow us to determine the water consumption of crops, both in each growing season and in general for vegetation.


2021 ◽  
Vol 2021 ◽  
pp. 1-15
Author(s):  
Bin Zhi ◽  
Xiaochan Wang ◽  
Pingping Wei ◽  
Zengyue Li ◽  
Pan Wang ◽  
...  

At present, there are some key issues in the traditional preimmersion method for reducing the collapsibility of the loess ground, such as the difficulty in determining the total water consumption and the long immersion time. In response to these issues, a new method, the borehole preimmersion method, is presented, and a specific theoretical design model is proposed for application in projects. The method is specifically discussed from a new perspective, and the diffusion mechanism and evolution law of water in the ground are presented in detail through theoretical analysis and numerical calculation, respectively. The water diffusion is a mushroom-type form for a single water injection hole immersed in water. A calculation model derived for a single water injection hole or a group of water injection holes based on the research results is used to calculate the volumes of soaked loess and the total water consumption. Through an in situ immersion test, the treatment effect of this method is evaluated to verify the rationality of the method and the theoretical calculation model proposed in this study, which provides a new method and theoretical framework for effectively reducing the collapsibility of the loess ground.


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