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Adaptability of Maize Farmers to Drought and the Selection of Irrigation Period—A Survey of Irrigation Behavior of Farmers in the Three Provinces of Huang-Huai-Hai, China

Author

Listed:
  • Wenjia Hou

    (College of Economics and Management, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing 210095, China)

  • Shudong Zhou

    (College of Economics and Management, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing 210095, China)

Abstract

The summer maize area of Huang-Huai-Hai is the main summer maize production area in China, droughts occur frequently during the growth period of summer maize and irrigation water resources are scarce in this region. This paper studied the adaptability of maize farmers to drought and the selection of irrigation period in the three provinces of Huang-Huai-Hai. The adaptability index of irrigation at different growth stages was analyzed by establishing an extended C-D production function model, while the marginal income of irrigation in each growth period was calculated based on the estimation results of adaptability index model. The results showed that: (1) The growth period with the largest adaptability index in the three provinces of Huang-Huai-Hai was milk ripening stage. The adaptability index in milk ripening stage in Hebei, Henan, and Shandong was 1.063, 1.081, and 1.053, respectively. (2) The maize key growth periods of water sensitivity in the three provinces of Huang-Huai-Hai were tasseling period and milk ripening period, and in most cases, the irrigation period of farmers was consistent with the key growth period of water sensitivity. (3) In Hebei, Henan, and Shandong provinces, the marginal benefits of irrigation were greater than the marginal costs in each growth period. The marginal income of irrigation during tasseling period in the three provinces was relatively large, and tasseling period was the preferred irrigation period of most farmers. To optimize future irrigation water allocation, farmers should prioritize ensuring sufficient water supply during tasseling stage and milk ripening stage in Hebei and Shandong, and during big bell mouth stage and tasseling stage in Henan.

Suggested Citation

  • Wenjia Hou & Shudong Zhou, 2023. "Adaptability of Maize Farmers to Drought and the Selection of Irrigation Period—A Survey of Irrigation Behavior of Farmers in the Three Provinces of Huang-Huai-Hai, China," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(15), pages 1-16, July.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:15:y:2023:i:15:p:11759-:d:1206841
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Zhao Zhang & Yi Chen & Pin Wang & Shuai Zhang & Fulu Tao & Xiaofei Liu, 2014. "Spatial and temporal changes of agro-meteorological disasters affecting maize production in China since 1990," Natural Hazards: Journal of the International Society for the Prevention and Mitigation of Natural Hazards, Springer;International Society for the Prevention and Mitigation of Natural Hazards, vol. 71(3), pages 2087-2100, April.
    2. Wang, Jinxia & Yang, Yu & Huang, Jikun & Chen, Kevin, 2015. "Information provision, policy support, and farmers’ adaptive responses against drought: An empirical study in the North China Plain," Ecological Modelling, Elsevier, vol. 318(C), pages 275-282.
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