Guan'gai paishui xuebao (Apr 2023)

Using System Dynamics to Improve Agricultural Water Use Efficiency in Qingtongxia Irrigation District

  • JIA Yizhou,
  • LIU Zixi,
  • TANG Lian

DOI
https://doi.org/10.13522/j.cnki.ggps.2022461
Journal volume & issue
Vol. 42, no. 4
pp. 137 – 144

Abstract

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【Objective】 Qingtongxia irrigation district is one of the irrigation districts in northwestern China which rely on Yellow River water for irrigation. Using the water footprint concept, this paper proposes a system dynamic model to help improve agricultural water use efficiency in this district. 【Method】 Blue and green water footprints of major crops in the district were calculated from their evapotranspiration and transpiration. A system dynamics model for agricultural water use efficiency was then established, and the model was solved using the Vensim software. 【Result】 Irrigation water is the primary water source for agriculture in the district, forming a production water use pattern in which blue water is the main source and green water is a supplementary source. The blue and green water footprints vary oppositely in order to meet the demand of crops for water. On the premise to ensure constant blue water use for the crops, we selected the green water use coefficient and irrigation water use coefficient as parameters in the modelling. The model results show that increasing green water utilization coefficient from 0.7 to 0.8 can increase wheat production by 2.7×105 t, rice production by 2×105 t, and corn production by 5.5×105 t. We also found that increasing the irrigation water utilization efficiency by 10 can increase wheat production by 4.7×105 t, rice production by 3.5×105 t, and corn production by 7.7×105 t. Collectively, increasing green water utilization coefficient and irrigation water utilization coefficient simultaneously can increase wheat production by 7.5×105 t, rice production by 5.5×105 t, and maize production by 1.32×107 t. 【Conclusion】 Agricultural production in Qingtongxia irrigation area should consider increasing utilization of green water and improving agricultural water use efficiency by improving engineering and non-engineering facilities to increase crop yields.

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