Abstract
Of all economic activities in the North China Plain, agriculture accounts for the highest consumption of water resources. As water saving by using technologies to alleviate groundwater depletion has its limitations, adjusting the cultivation patterns of water-intensive crops becomes an unavoidable measure to ensure water sustainability. Different cropping patterns (including fallowing) and water supply scenarios were set up, using the DSSAT crop model and a regression model, in order to predict the effects of cropping adjustments on groundwater sustainability and food production in the piedmont region of the plain. The results indicate that: (1) irrigation water requirement needs to be limited to a maximum level of 187 mm/a to sustain groundwater at the present level. Above this level, every 100 mm of irrigation pumping leads to a decline of 0.49 m in the groundwater level; (2) under the current water supply conditions, and taking groundwater sustainability, food supply, water use efficiency and soil fertility recovery into consideration, leaving 34% of the cropland fallow or leaving it fallow every 3 years seems to be the best option; (3) If an extra amount of water of 0.2 or 0.5 billion m3 is supplied as a result of the SNWT Project, the percentage of cropland which should be left fallow can decrease to 25% or 11% respectively. The comprehensive information on the water and food nexus derived from this study can provide a reference framework for policies concerning sustainable water use and food security in the region.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Aase JK, Pikul JL (2000) Water use in a modified summer fallow system on semiarid northern Great Plains. Agric Water Manag 43(3):345–357
Cao X, Wu P, Wang Y, Zhao X (2014) Assessing blue and green water utilization in wheat production of China from the perspectives of water footprint and total water use. Hydrol Earth Syst Sci 18(8):3165–3178. https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-18-3165-2014
Chen YF, Han XR (2016) Analysis and solutions of the causes of excessive maize in China’s market under the background of globalization. Inquiry Econ Issues 3:164–171
Du J, King C (2018) Unravelling China’s Food Security Puzzle, 1979–2008. China Q 235:804–827. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jhydrol.2018.09.041
Fernandez R, Quiroga A, Noellemeyer E, Funaro D, Montoya J, Hitzmann B, Peinemann N (2008) A study of the effect of the interaction between site-specific conditions, residue cover and weed control on water storage during fallow. Agric Water Manag 95(9):1028–1040. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.agwat.2008.03.010
Gao B, Ju XT, Meng QF, Cui ZL, Christie P, Chen XP, Zhang FS (2015) The impact of alternative cropping systems on global warming potential, grain yield and groundwater use. Agric Ecosyst Environ 203:46–54. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.agee.2015.01.020
Han SM, Yang YH, Lei YP, Tang CY, Moiwo JP (2008) Seasonal groundwater storage anomaly and vadose zone soil moisture as indicators of precipitation recharge in the piedmont region of Taihang Mountain, North China Plain. Hydrol Res 39(5–6):479–495. https://doi.org/10.2166/nh.2008.117
Han L, Xu Y, Yang L, Deng X (2015a) Changing structure of precipitation evolution during 1957–2013 in Yangtze River Delta, China. Stoch Environ Res Risk Assess 29(8):2201–2212. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00477-015-1034-4
Han S, Hu Q, Yang Y, Wang J, Wang P, Wang Q (2015b) Characteristics and driving factors of drainage water in irrigation districts in arid areas. Water Resour Manag 29(14):5323–5337. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11269-015-1120-x
Hanjra MA, Qureshi ME (2010) Global water crisis and future food security in an era of climate change. Food Policy 35(5):365–377. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.foodpol.2010.05.006
Hoogenboom G, Jones JW, Wilkens PW, Porter CH, Boote KJ, Hunt LA, Singh U, Lizaso JI, White JW, Uryasev O, Ogoshi R, Koo J, Shelia V, Tsuji GY (2015) Decision support system for agrotechnology transfer (DSSAT) version 4.6 (http://dssat.net), DSSAT Foundation, Prosser, Washington
Hou XQ, Wang W, Han QF, Jia ZK, Yan B, Li YP, Su Q (2011) Effects of rotational tillage during summer fallow on wheat field soil water regime and grain yield. J Appl Ecol 22(10):2524–2532
Hu YK, Moiwo JP, Yang YH, Han SM, Yang YM (2010) Agricultural water-saving and sustainable groundwater management in Shijiazhuang Irrigation District, North China Plain. J Hydrol 393(3–4):219–232. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jhydrol.2010.08.017
Jones JW, Hoogenboom G, Porter CH, Boote KJ, Batchelor WD, Hunt LA, Wilkens PW, Singh U, Gijsman AJ, Ritchie JT (2003) The DSSAT cropping system model. Eur J Agron 18:235–265. https://doi.org/10.1016/S1161-0301(02)00107-7
Li M, Singh VP, Fu Q, Liu D, Li T, Zhou YJSER (2019) Optimization of agricultural water–food–energy nexus in a random environment: an integrated modelling approach. Stoch Environ Res Risk Assess 5:2. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00477-019-01672-4
Liu W, Fu G, Liu C, Song X, Ouyang R (2013) Projection of future rainfall for the North China plain using two statistical downscaling models and its hydrological implications. Stoch Environ Res Risk Assess 27(8):1783–1797. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00477-013-0714-1
Liu WF, Antonelli M, Kummu M, Zhao X, Wu PT, Liu JG, Zhuo L, Yang H (2019) Savings and losses of global water resources in food-related virtual water trade. Wiley Interdiscip Rev Water 6(1):16. https://doi.org/10.1002/wat2.1320
Lv J, Yao Y, Wang Y, Wang H, Zhang X (2003) Effects of soil tillages on soil moisture in slop land. J Soil Sci 34(1):74–76
Meng QF, Sun QP, Chen XP, Cui ZL, Yue SC, Zhang FS, Romheld V (2012) Alternative cropping systems for sustainable water and nitrogen use in the North China Plain. Agric Ecosyst Environ 146(1):93–102. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.agee.2011.10.015
Min LL, Shen YJ, Pei HW (2015) Estimating groundwater recharge using deep vadose zone data under typical irrigated cropland in the piedmont region of the North China Plain. J Hydrol 527:305–315. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jhydrol.2015.04.064
Office of the State Council for South-to-North Water Diversion Construction Committee (2008) General layout of South-to-North Water. Diversion. http://www.nsbd.gov.cn/zx/english/20080414
Pei H, Scanlon BR, Shen Y, Reedy RC, Long D, Liu C (2015) Impacts of varying agricultural intensification on crop yield and groundwater resources: comparison of the North China Plain and US High Plains. Environ Res Lett 10(4):044013
Qi XX, Dang HP (2018) Addressing the dual challenges of food security and environmental sustainability during rural livelihood transitions in China. Land Use Policy 77:199–208. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.landusepol.2018.05.047
Ren XS, Hu ZL, Cao YB, He S (eds) (2007) Water resources assessment in the Haihe River Basin. Water Resources and Electricity Press, Beijing (in Chinese)
Ren D, Yang Y, Yang Y, Richards K, Zhou X (2018) Land–Water–Food Nexus and indications of crop adjustment for water shortage solution. Sci Total Environ 626:11–21. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2018.01.071
Shen Y, Zhang Y, Scanlon BR, Lei H, Yang D, Yang F (2013) Energy/water budgets and productivity of the typical croplands irrigated with groundwater and surface water in the North China Plain. Agric For Meteorol 181:133–142. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.agrformet.2013.07.013
Sun C, Ren L (2014) Assessing crop yield and crop water productivity and optimizing irrigation scheduling of winter wheat and summer maize in the Haihe plain using SWAT model. Hydrol Process 28(4):2478–2498. https://doi.org/10.1002/hyp.9759
Sun HY, Shen YJ, Yu QA, Flerchinger GN, Zhang YQ, Liu CM, Zhang XY (2010) Effect of precipitation change on water balance and WUE of the winter wheat-summer maize rotation in the North China Plain. Agric Water Manag 97(8):1139–1145. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.agwat.2009.06.004
Sun Q, Kröbel R, Müller T, Römheld V, Cui Z, Zhang F, Chen X (2011) Optimization of yield and water-use of different cropping systems for sustainable groundwater use in North China Plain. Agric Water Manag 98(5):808–814. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.agwat.2010.12.007
Vörösmarty CJ, McIntyre PB, Gessner MO et al (2010) Global threats to human water security and river biodiversity. Nature 467(7315):555. https://doi.org/10.1038/nature09549
Wang HJ (ed) (2010) Research of comprehensive grain production capability in Hebei Province. Science and Technology Press of Hebei Province, Shijiazhuang (in Chinese)
Wu D, Fang SB, Li X, He D, Zhu YC, Yang ZQ, Xu JX, Wu YJ (2019) Spatial-temporal variation in irrigation water requirement for the winter wheat-summer maize rotation system since the 1980s on the North China Plain. Agric Water Manag 214:78–86. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.agwat.2019.01.004
Xiao DP, Shen YJ, Qi YQ, Moiwo JP, Min LL, Zhang YC, Guo Y, Pei HW (2017) Impact of alternative cropping systems on groundwater use and grain yields in the North China Plain Region. Agric Syst 153:109–117. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.agsy.2017.01.018
Yan N, Wu B, Perry C, Zeng H (2015) Assessing potential water savings in agriculture on the Hai Basin plain, China. Agric Water Manag 154:11–19. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.agwat.2015.02.003
Yang Y, Tian F (2009) Abrupt change of runoff and its major driving factors in Haihe River Catchment, China. J Hydrol 374(3):373–383. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jhydrol.2009.06.040
Yang Y, Watanabe M, Sakura Y, Changyuan T, Hayashi S (2002) Groundwater-table and recharge changes in the Piedmont region of Taihang Mountain in Gaocheng City and its relation to agricultural water use. Water SA 28(2):171–178. https://doi.org/10.4314/wsa.v28i2.4883
Yang YH, Watanabe M, Zhang XY, Hao XH, Zhang JQ (2006) Estimation of groundwater use by crop production simulated by DSSAT-wheat and DSSAT-maize models in the piedmont region of the North China Plain. Hydrol Process 20(13):2787–2802. https://doi.org/10.1002/hyp.6071
Yang Y, Yang Y, Moiwo JP, Hu Y (2010) Estimation of irrigation requirement for sustainable water resources reallocation in North China. Agric Water Manag 97(11):1711–1721. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.agwat.2010.06.002
Yang Y, Yang Y, Liu D, Nordblom T, Wu B, Yan N (2014) Regional water balance based on remotely sensed evapotranspiration and irrigation: an assessment of the Haihe Plain, China. Remote Sens 6(3):2514–2533. https://doi.org/10.3390/rs6032514
Yang YM, Liu DL, Anwar MR, O’Leary G, Macadam I, Yang YH (2016) Water use efficiency and crop water balance of rainfed wheat in a semi-arid environment: sensitivity of future changes to projected climate changes and soil type. Theor Appl Climatol 123(3–4):565–579. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00704-015-1376-3
Yang YH, Wu JC, Zhang JM, Pan XY, Wang Y, He F (2017) Effect of tillage method on soil water infiltration, organic carbon content and structure. Chin J Eco-Agric 25(2):258–266
Yang YM, Zhou XY, Yang YH, Bi SJ, Yang XH, Liu DL (2018) Evaluating water-saving efficiency of plastic mulching in Northwest China using remote sensing and SEBAL. Agric Water Manag 209:240–248. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00704-015-1376-3
Yu HL (2016) Water, climate, and health. Stoch Environ Res Risk Assess 30(8):2041–2042. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00477-016-1359-7
Yuan ZJ, Shen YJ (2013) Estimation of agricultural water consumption from meteorological and yield data: a case study of Hebei, North China. PLoS ONE 8(3):e58685. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0058685
Zeleke KT (2017) Fallow management increases soil water and nitrogen storage. Agric Water Manag 186:12–20. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.agwat.2017.02.011
Zhang X, Chen S, Sun H, Shao L, Wang Y (2011) Changes in evapotranspiration over irrigated winter wheat and maize in North China Plain over three decades. Agric Water Manag 98(6):1097–1104. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.agwat.2011.02.003
Zhang X, Ren L, Kong X (2016) Estimating spatiotemporal variability and sustainability of shallow groundwater in a well-irrigated plain of the Haihe River basin using SWAT model. J Hydrol 541:1221–1240. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jhydrol.2016.08.030
Zhang XY, Qin WL, Chen SY, Shao LW, Sun HY (2017) Responses of yield and WUE of winter wheat to water stress during the past three decades: a case study in the North China Plain. Agric Water Manag 179:47–54. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.agwat.2016.05.004
Zhang X, Ren L, Wan L (2018) Assessing the trade-off between shallow groundwater conservation and crop production under limited exploitation in a well-irrigated plain of the Haihe River basin using the SWAT model. J Hydrol 567:253–266. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jhydrol.2018.09.041
Acknowledgement
This work was supported by the Major Science and Technology Program for Water Pollution Control and Treatment (2018ZX07110001), the Natural Science Foundation of China (grant no. 41671021), and the National Key Research and Development Program of China (No. 2017YFD0300908). Dandan Ren was supported by the funding from the China Scholarship Coucil (CSC.201804910607).
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Additional information
Publisher's Note
Springer Nature remains neutral with regard to jurisdictional claims in published maps and institutional affiliations.
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Ren, D., Yang, Y., Hu, Y. et al. Evaluating the potentials of cropping adjustment for groundwater conservation and food production in the piedmont region of the North China Plain. Stoch Environ Res Risk Assess 35, 117–128 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00477-019-01713-y
Published:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00477-019-01713-y