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Water Requirements and Comprehensive Benefit Evaluation of Diversified Crop Rotations in the Huang-Huai Plain

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  • Huanhuan Peng

    (College of Water Resources & Civil Engineering, China Agricultural University, Beijing 100083, China
    National Key Laboratory of Efficient Utilization of Agricultural Water Resources, Beijing 100083, China
    National Field Scientific Observation and Research Station on Efficient Water Use of Oasis Agriculture in Wuwei of Gansu Province, Wuwei 733000, China
    These authors contributed equally to this work.)

  • Jinran Xiong

    (College of Water Resources & Civil Engineering, China Agricultural University, Beijing 100083, China
    National Key Laboratory of Efficient Utilization of Agricultural Water Resources, Beijing 100083, China
    National Field Scientific Observation and Research Station on Efficient Water Use of Oasis Agriculture in Wuwei of Gansu Province, Wuwei 733000, China
    These authors contributed equally to this work.)

  • Jiayi Zhang

    (College of Water Resources & Civil Engineering, China Agricultural University, Beijing 100083, China)

  • Linghui Zhu

    (College of Economics and Management, China Agricultural University, Beijing 100083, China)

  • Guiyan Wang

    (College of Agronomy, Hebei Agricultural University, Baoding 071001, China)

  • Steven Pacenka

    (Department of Biological and Environmental Engineering, Riley-Robb Hall, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY 14853, USA)

  • Xiaolin Yang

    (College of Water Resources & Civil Engineering, China Agricultural University, Beijing 100083, China
    National Key Laboratory of Efficient Utilization of Agricultural Water Resources, Beijing 100083, China
    National Field Scientific Observation and Research Station on Efficient Water Use of Oasis Agriculture in Wuwei of Gansu Province, Wuwei 733000, China)

Abstract

An intensified farming system can significantly increase crop productivity but can also cause major groundwater overdraft for irrigation and the loss of crop diversity. It is imperative to develop alternative crop rotations beyond the simplified conventional winter wheat–summer maize (W–M) rotation for alleviating the groundwater over-extraction in China’s Huang-Huai Plain. This study systematically quantified crop water requirement ( ET c ) and irrigation water requirement ( ET aw ) of eight crops from 2013 to 2018 based on the SIMETAW model applied to the Shangqiu area in the Huang-Huai Plain. Fourteen crop rotations (CI (i.e., crop harvests per rotation cycle year) 1.5 or 2) were constructed based on the ROTAT model. Results showed that compared to W–M rotation, the alternative rotations (CI = 1.5) significantly reduced the annual ET c in wet, normal, and dry years by 9–21%. Replacing winter wheat in the double cropping system did not significantly decrease annual ET c . Wheat–soybean rotation had similar annual ET c and ET aw accompanied by higher economic output and equivalent yield about 1.2 times, with 9% more protein output than the W–M rotation. There were eight crop rotations having greater comprehensive evaluation index ( CEI ) than W–M rotation by Entropy-TOPSIS when considering 10 indicators including water requirements, yield, economic benefits, water use efficiency, energy, and nutritional values. Spring potato–summer soybean had the highest CEI of 0.627. Sweet potato and potato showed advantages when included in rotations by increasing yield. “Wheat–soybean”-based rotations (CI = 1.5) also performed well in profitability and protein output. Replacing summer maize with soybean is promising for profitability and nutrition output without increasing irrigation requirements. Therefore, decreasing the cropping index, or involving soybean or sweet potato in rotations can be a useful way to improve sustainable land use, save water, and ensure food products in this water stressed region.

Suggested Citation

  • Huanhuan Peng & Jinran Xiong & Jiayi Zhang & Linghui Zhu & Guiyan Wang & Steven Pacenka & Xiaolin Yang, 2023. "Water Requirements and Comprehensive Benefit Evaluation of Diversified Crop Rotations in the Huang-Huai Plain," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(13), pages 1-20, June.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:15:y:2023:i:13:p:10229-:d:1181274
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    References listed on IDEAS

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