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Alternative cropping systems for groundwater irrigation sustainability in the North China Plain

Author

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  • Zhao, Jie
  • Zhang, Xuepeng
  • Yang, Yadong
  • Zang, Huadong
  • Yan, Peng
  • Meki, Manyowa N.
  • Doro, Luca
  • Sui, Peng
  • Jeong, Jaehak
  • Zeng, Zhaohai

Abstract

Over-exploitation of groundwater for agricultural irrigation has attracted worldwide attention because of the rapid groundwater depletion and environmental consequences induced by the current intensified cropping system. The combination of cropping system modeling with field experimentation is a powerful tool to evaluate the long-term consequences of changing water management and cropping systems under inter-annual climate variability. Here, we conducted two field experiments for early maize (EM, 2012–2018) single cropping system and winter wheat – summer maize (WWSM, 2015–2018) double cropping system in the North China Plain (NCP). Field observations were carried out for crop growth, yield, and soil volumetric moisture content (VMC) calibration with the Agricultural Policy/Environmental eXtender (APEX) model. The calibrated APEX model was used to assess the long-term (35 years, 1985–2019) impacts of EM and WWSM cropping systems under four irrigation scenarios on sustainable water and crop productivity using historical weather data. Results showed that the APEX replicated growth, yield, and VMC all reasonably well with R2 > 0.5, percent bias < 25%, and index of agreement > 0.8. The model realistically simulated VMC under full irrigation (FI), while model simulations under reduced irrigation were not that accurate. Neglectable yield losses of EM were observed by changing EM-FI to rainfed (EM-RF) (7.0 vs. 6.8 Mg ha−1) and lower inter-annual yield variability. Shifting WWSM-FI to EM-RF saved 47% evapotranspiration (ET) and 115% net water use (NWU) regardless of the precipitation category years, but caused 54% reduction in yield. Critical irrigation (CI) significantly reduced ET (7%) and NWU (28%) of WWSM, without yield loss, compared to FI, indicating great potentials of water-saving through optimized irrigation strategy. Minimum irrigation (MI) saved ET by 17% and NWU of WWSM by 62%, but led to 15% EY reduction compared with FI. In conclusion, the WWSM cropping system under CI has the potential to maintain yield with less water consumption, while rainfed EM is the best alternative option for mitigating groundwater over-exploitation with a certain extent risk in crop yield losses.

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  • Zhao, Jie & Zhang, Xuepeng & Yang, Yadong & Zang, Huadong & Yan, Peng & Meki, Manyowa N. & Doro, Luca & Sui, Peng & Jeong, Jaehak & Zeng, Zhaohai, 2021. "Alternative cropping systems for groundwater irrigation sustainability in the North China Plain," Agricultural Water Management, Elsevier, vol. 250(C).
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:agiwat:v:250:y:2021:i:c:s0378377421001323
    DOI: 10.1016/j.agwat.2021.106867
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