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The Water Footprint of Agriculture in Duero River Basin

Author

Listed:
  • Ángel De Miguel

    (IMDEA Water Institute, c/Punto Net 4, P.O. Box 28805, Alcalá de Henares, Madrid 28805, Spain)

  • Malaak Kallache

    (IMDEA Water Institute, c/Punto Net 4, P.O. Box 28805, Alcalá de Henares, Madrid 28805, Spain)

  • Eloy García-Calvo

    (IMDEA Water Institute, c/Punto Net 4, P.O. Box 28805, Alcalá de Henares, Madrid 28805, Spain
    Department of Analytical Chemistry, Physical Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, University of Alcalá, P.O. Box 28805, Alcalá de Henares, Madrid 28805, Spain)

Abstract

The aim of this paper is to evaluate the green, blue and grey water footprint (WF) of crops in the Duero river basin. For this purpose CWUModel was developed. CWUModel is able to estimate the green and blue water consumed by crops and the water needed to assimilate the nitrogen leaching resulting from fertilizer application. The total WF of crops in the Spanish Duero river basin was simulated as 9473 Mm 3 /year (59% green, 20% blue and 21% grey). Cultivation of crops in rain-fed lands is responsible for 5548 Mm 3 /year of the WF (86% green and 14% grey), whereas the irrigated WF accounts for 3924 Mm 3 /year (20% green, 47% blue and 33% grey). Barley is the crop with the highest WF, with almost 37% of the total WF for the crops simulated for the basin, followed by wheat (17%). Although maize makes up 16% of the total WF of the basin, the blue and grey components comprise the 36% of the total blue and grey WF in the basin. The relevance of green water goes beyond the rain-fed production, to the extent that in long-cycle irrigated cereals it accounts for over 40% of the total water consumed. Nonetheless, blue water is a key component in agriculture, both for production and economically. The sustainability assessment shows that the current blue water consumption of crops causes a significant or severe water stress level in 2–5 months of the year. The anticipated expansion of irrigation in the coming years could hamper water management, despite the Duero being a relatively humid basin.

Suggested Citation

  • Ángel De Miguel & Malaak Kallache & Eloy García-Calvo, 2015. "The Water Footprint of Agriculture in Duero River Basin," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 7(6), pages 1-22, May.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:7:y:2015:i:6:p:6759-6780:d:50340
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    References listed on IDEAS

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