IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/gam/jsusta/v10y2018i1p201-d127060.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

Spatially Explicit Assessment of Agricultural Water Equilibrium in the Korean Peninsula

Author

Listed:
  • Chul-Hee Lim

    (Department of Environmental Science and Ecological Engineering, Korea University, Seoul 02481, Korea
    Institute of Life Science and Natural Resource, Korea University, Seoul 02481, Korea)

  • Yuyoung Choi

    (Department of Environmental Science and Ecological Engineering, Korea University, Seoul 02481, Korea)

  • Moonil Kim

    (Department of Environmental Science and Ecological Engineering, Korea University, Seoul 02481, Korea
    Ecosystem Services and Management Program, International Institute for Applied Systems Analysis (IIASA), Schlossplatz 1, A-2361 Laxenburg, Austria)

  • Soo Jeong Lee

    (Department of Environmental Science and Ecological Engineering, Korea University, Seoul 02481, Korea)

  • Christian Folberth

    (Ecosystem Services and Management Program, International Institute for Applied Systems Analysis (IIASA), Schlossplatz 1, A-2361 Laxenburg, Austria)

  • Woo-Kyun Lee

    (Department of Environmental Science and Ecological Engineering, Korea University, Seoul 02481, Korea)

Abstract

In agriculture, balancing water use and retention is an issue dealt with in most regions and for many crops. In this study, we suggest agricultural water equilibrium (AWE) as a new concept that can facilitate a spatially explicit management of agricultural water. This concept is based on the principle of supply and demand of agricultural water, where the virtual water content of crops (VWC) can be defined as the demand, and cropland water budget (CWB) as the supply. For assessing the AWE of the Korean Peninsula, we quantified the CWB based on the hydrological cycle and the VWC of rice, a key crop in the Peninsula. Five factors, namely crop yield, growing season evapotranspiration, annual evapotranspiration, runoff, and annual precipitation, were used to assess the AWE, of which the first four were estimated using the spatially explicit large-scale crop model, Geographical Information System (GIS)-based Environmental Policy Integrated Climate (GEPIC). The CWB and VWC were calculated for a period of three decades, and the AWE was computed by deducting the VWC from the CWB. Our results show a latitudinal difference across the Korean Peninsula. On analyzing the AWE of the major river basins, we found most basins in North Korea showed very low values inferring unsustainable overconsumption of water. The latitudinal difference in AWE is a reflectance of the latitudinal changes in the VWC and CWB. This can be explained by decoupling the demand and supply of agricultural water. Although the AWE values presented in this study were not absolute, the values were sufficient to explain the latitudinal change, and the demand and supply of agricultural water, and establish the usefulness of the indicator.

Suggested Citation

  • Chul-Hee Lim & Yuyoung Choi & Moonil Kim & Soo Jeong Lee & Christian Folberth & Woo-Kyun Lee, 2018. "Spatially Explicit Assessment of Agricultural Water Equilibrium in the Korean Peninsula," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 10(1), pages 1-17, January.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:10:y:2018:i:1:p:201-:d:127060
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/2071-1050/10/1/201/pdf
    Download Restriction: no
    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/2071-1050/10/1/201/
    Download Restriction: no
    ---><---

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Folberth, Christian & Yang, Hong & Gaiser, Thomas & Abbaspour, Karim C. & Schulin, Rainer, 2013. "Modeling maize yield responses to improvement in nutrient, water and cultivar inputs in sub-Saharan Africa," Agricultural Systems, Elsevier, vol. 119(C), pages 22-34.
    2. Xiong, Wei & Balkovič, Juraj & van der Velde, Marijn & Zhang, Xuesong & Izaurralde, R. César & Skalský, Rastislav & Lin, Erda & Mueller, Nathan & Obersteiner, Michael, 2014. "A calibration procedure to improve global rice yield simulations with EPIC," Ecological Modelling, Elsevier, vol. 273(C), pages 128-139.
    3. Gu, Alun & Teng, Fei & Lv, Zhiqiang, 2016. "Exploring the nexus between water saving and energy conservation: Insights from industry sector during the 12th Five-Year Plan period in China," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 59(C), pages 28-38.
    4. Jeon, Yoong-Deok & Kim, Young-Yong, 2000. "Land Reform, Income Redistribution, and Agricultural Production in Korea," Economic Development and Cultural Change, University of Chicago Press, vol. 48(2), pages 253-268, January.
    5. Chul-Hee Lim & Yuyoung Choi & Moonil Kim & Seong Woo Jeon & Woo-Kyun Lee, 2017. "Impact of Deforestation on Agro-Environmental Variables in Cropland, North Korea," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 9(8), pages 1-19, August.
    6. Rinaldi, Michele, 2001. "Application of EPIC model for irrigation scheduling of sunflower in Southern Italy," Agricultural Water Management, Elsevier, vol. 49(3), pages 185-196, August.
    7. C.-Y. Xu & V. Singh, 1998. "A Review on Monthly Water Balance Models for Water Resources Investigations," Water Resources Management: An International Journal, Published for the European Water Resources Association (EWRA), Springer;European Water Resources Association (EWRA), vol. 12(1), pages 20-50, February.
    8. Mehta, Vishal K. & Haden, Van R. & Joyce, Brian A. & Purkey, David R. & Jackson, Louise E., 2013. "Irrigation demand and supply, given projections of climate and land-use change, in Yolo County, California," Agricultural Water Management, Elsevier, vol. 117(C), pages 70-82.
    9. Bassil, Elias S. & Kaffka, Stephen R., 2002. "Response of safflower (Carthamus tinctorius L.) to saline soils and irrigation: I. Consumptive water use," Agricultural Water Management, Elsevier, vol. 54(1), pages 67-80, March.
    10. Liu, Junguo & Williams, Jimmy R. & Zehnder, Alexander J.B. & Yang, Hong, 2007. "GEPIC - modelling wheat yield and crop water productivity with high resolution on a global scale," Agricultural Systems, Elsevier, vol. 94(2), pages 478-493, May.
    11. Chul-Hee Lim & Seung Hee Kim & Yuyoung Choi & Menas C. Kafatos & Woo-Kyun Lee, 2017. "Estimation of the Virtual Water Content of Main Crops on the Korean Peninsula Using Multiple Regional Climate Models and Evapotranspiration Methods," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 9(7), pages 1-17, July.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Citations

    Citations are extracted by the CitEc Project, subscribe to its RSS feed for this item.
    as


    Cited by:

    1. Xuedong Liang & Meng Ye & Li Yang & Wanbing Fu & Zhi Li, 2018. "Evaluation and Policy Research on the Sustainable Development of China’s Rare Earth Resources," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 10(10), pages 1-16, October.

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Chul-Hee Lim & Seung Hee Kim & Yuyoung Choi & Menas C. Kafatos & Woo-Kyun Lee, 2017. "Estimation of the Virtual Water Content of Main Crops on the Korean Peninsula Using Multiple Regional Climate Models and Evapotranspiration Methods," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 9(7), pages 1-17, July.
    2. Chul-Hee Lim & Yuyoung Choi & Moonil Kim & Seong Woo Jeon & Woo-Kyun Lee, 2017. "Impact of Deforestation on Agro-Environmental Variables in Cropland, North Korea," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 9(8), pages 1-19, August.
    3. Food and Agricultural Organization [FAO], 2016. "Climate Change and Food Systems: Global Assessments and Implications for Food Security and Trade," Working Papers id:8512, eSocialSciences.
    4. Dennis Junior Choruma & Frank Chukwuzuoke Akamagwuna & Nelson Oghenekaro Odume, 2022. "Simulating the Impacts of Climate Change on Maize Yields Using EPIC: A Case Study in the Eastern Cape Province of South Africa," Agriculture, MDPI, vol. 12(6), pages 1-24, May.
    5. Wang, Zhiqiang & Ye, Li & Jiang, Jingyi & Fan, Yida & Zhang, Xiaoran, 2022. "Review of application of EPIC crop growth model," Ecological Modelling, Elsevier, vol. 467(C).
    6. Cai, Liping & Wang, Hui & Liu, Yanxu & Fan, Donglin & Li, Xiaoxiao, 2022. "Is potential cultivated land expanding or shrinking in the dryland of China? Spatiotemporal evaluation based on remote sensing and SVM," Land Use Policy, Elsevier, vol. 112(C).
    7. 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.
    8. Choruma, Dennis Junior & Balkovic, Juraj & Pietsch, Stephan Alexander & Odume, Oghenekaro Nelson, 2021. "Using EPIC to simulate the effects of different irrigation and fertilizer levels on maize yield in the Eastern Cape, South Africa," Agricultural Water Management, Elsevier, vol. 254(C).
    9. Qiao, Jianmin & Cao, Qian & Liu, Yupeng & Wu, Quanyuan, 2018. "Scale dependence and parameter sensitivity of the EPIC model in the agro-pastoral transitional zone of north China," Ecological Modelling, Elsevier, vol. 390(C), pages 51-61.
    10. Ren, Dongyang & Xu, Xu & Engel, Bernard & Huang, Quanzhong & Xiong, Yunwu & Huo, Zailin & Huang, Guanhua, 2021. "A comprehensive analysis of water productivity in natural vegetation and various crops coexistent agro-ecosystems," Agricultural Water Management, Elsevier, vol. 243(C).
    11. Nathan Foley-Fisher & Eoin McLaughlin, 2015. "Capitalising on the Irish Land Question:Land Reform and State Banking in Ireland, 1891-1938," Discussion Papers in Environment and Development Economics 2015-03, University of St. Andrews, School of Geography and Sustainable Development.
    12. Falkinger, Josef & Grossmann, Volker, 2013. "Oligarchic land ownership, entrepreneurship, and economic development," Journal of Development Economics, Elsevier, vol. 101(C), pages 206-215.
    13. Dono, Gabriele & Cortignani, Raffaele & Doro, Luca & Giraldo, Luca & Ledda, Luigi & Pasqui, Massimiliano & Roggero, Pier Paolo, 2013. "Adapting to uncertainty associated with short-term climate variability changes in irrigated Mediterranean farming systems," Agricultural Systems, Elsevier, vol. 117(C), pages 1-12.
    14. Yang, Lin & Lv, Haodong & Jiang, Dalin & Fan, Jingli & Zhang, Xian & He, Weijun & Zhou, Jinsheng & Wu, Wenjing, 2020. "Whether CCS technologies will exacerbate the water crisis in China? —A full life-cycle analysis," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 134(C).
    15. Zamani, Omid & Azadi, Hossein & Mortazavi, Seyed Abolghasem & Balali, Hamid & Moghaddam, Saghi Movahhed & Jurik, Lubos, 2021. "The impact of water-pricing policies on water productivity: Evidence of agriculture sector in Iran," Agricultural Water Management, Elsevier, vol. 245(C).
    16. Scheierling, Susanne M. & Treguer, David O. & Booker, James F. & Decker, Elisabeth, 2014. "How to assess agricultural water productivity ? looking for water in the agricultural productivity and efficiency literature," Policy Research Working Paper Series 6982, The World Bank.
    17. Istanbulluoglu, Ahmet, 2009. "Effects of irrigation regimes on yield and water productivity of safflower (Carthamus tinctorius L.) under Mediterranean climatic conditions," Agricultural Water Management, Elsevier, vol. 96(12), pages 1792-1798, December.
    18. Arjen Y. Hoekstra, 2017. "Water Footprint Assessment: Evolvement of a New Research Field," Water Resources Management: An International Journal, Published for the European Water Resources Association (EWRA), Springer;European Water Resources Association (EWRA), vol. 31(10), pages 3061-3081, August.
    19. Amber Kerr & Jake Dialesandro & Kerri Steenwerth & Nathan Lopez-Brody & Emile Elias, 2018. "Vulnerability of California specialty crops to projected mid-century temperature changes," Climatic Change, Springer, vol. 148(3), pages 419-436, June.
    20. Chen, Shang & He, Liang & Cao, Yinxuan & Wang, Runhong & Wu, Lianhai & Wang, Zhao & Zou, Yufeng & Siddique, Kadambot H.M. & Xiong, Wei & Liu, Manshuang & Feng, Hao & Yu, Qiang & Wang, Xiaoming & He, J, 2021. "Comparisons among four different upscaling strategies for cultivar genetic parameters in rainfed spring wheat phenology simulations with the DSSAT-CERES-Wheat model," Agricultural Water Management, Elsevier, vol. 258(C).

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:10:y:2018:i:1:p:201-:d:127060. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: MDPI Indexing Manager (email available below). General contact details of provider: https://www.mdpi.com .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.