Effects of virtual water flow on regional water resources stress: A case study of grain in China

Shikun Sun; Yubao Wang; Bernie A Engel; Pute Wu

doi:10.1016/j.scitotenv.2016.01.016

Effects of virtual water flow on regional water resources stress: A case study of grain in China

Sci Total Environ. 2016 Apr 15:550:871-879. doi: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2016.01.016. Epub 2016 Feb 4.

Authors

Shikun Sun¹, Yubao Wang², Bernie A Engel³, Pute Wu¹

Affiliations

¹ Key Laboratory of Agricultural Soil and Water Engineering in Arid Area of Ministry of Education, Northwest A&F University, Yangling, Shaanxi 712100, PR China; Institute of Water Saving Agriculture in Arid regions of China, Northwest A&F University, Yangling, Shaanxi 712100, PR China.
² Key Laboratory of Agricultural Soil and Water Engineering in Arid Area of Ministry of Education, Northwest A&F University, Yangling, Shaanxi 712100, PR China; Institute of Water Saving Agriculture in Arid regions of China, Northwest A&F University, Yangling, Shaanxi 712100, PR China; Department of Agricultural and Biological Engineering, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN 47906, USA. Electronic address: yubaowang75@gmail.com.
³ Department of Agricultural and Biological Engineering, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN 47906, USA.

PMID: 26851759
DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2016.01.016

Abstract

Scarcity of water resources is one of the major challenges in the world, particularly for the main water consumer, agriculture. Virtual water flow (VWF) promotes water redistribution geographically and provides a new solution for resolving regional water shortage and improving water use efficiency in the world. Virtual water transfer among regions will have a significant influence on the water systems in both grain export and import regions. In order to assess the impacts of VWF related grain transfer on regional water resources conditions, the study takes mainland China as study area for a comprehensive evaluation of virtual water flow on regional water resources stress. Results show that Northeast China and Huang-Huai-Hai region are the major grain production regions as well as the major virtual water export regions. National water savings related to grain VWF was about 58Gm(3), with 48Gm(3) blue water and 10Gm(3) green water. VWF changes the original water distribution and has a significant effect on water resources in both virtual water import and export regions. Grain VWF significantly increased water stress in grain export regions and alleviated water stress in grain import regions. Water stress index (WSI) of Heilongjiang and Inner Mongolia has been increased by 138% and 129% due to grain export. Stress from water shortages is generally severe in export regions, and issues with the sustainability of grain production and VWF pattern are worthy of further exploration.

Keywords: China; Impacts; Virtual water; Water resources; Water stress index.

Publication types

Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't