IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/gam/jsusta/v17y2025i8p3729-d1638801.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

Optimization of Freshwater–Saline Water Resource Mixing Irrigation Under Multiple Constraints

Author

Listed:
  • Yanyan Ge

    (Xinjiang Key Laboratory for Geodynamic Processes and Metallogenic Prognosis of the Central Asian Orogenic Belt, College of Geology and Mining Engineering, Xinjiang University, Urumqi 830047, China)

  • Yifan Jia

    (Xinjiang Key Laboratory for Geodynamic Processes and Metallogenic Prognosis of the Central Asian Orogenic Belt, College of Geology and Mining Engineering, Xinjiang University, Urumqi 830047, China)

  • Sheng Li

    (Xinjiang Key Laboratory for Geodynamic Processes and Metallogenic Prognosis of the Central Asian Orogenic Belt, College of Geology and Mining Engineering, Xinjiang University, Urumqi 830047, China)

  • Feilong Jie

    (Xinjiang Key Laboratory for Geodynamic Processes and Metallogenic Prognosis of the Central Asian Orogenic Belt, College of Geology and Mining Engineering, Xinjiang University, Urumqi 830047, China)

Abstract

The unique anticline geological structure in the central region of Yingjisha County results in significant spatial variations in groundwater quality. The study shows that the recoverable groundwater reserves account for 13.5% of the natural groundwater supply, and the development potential is considerable. Therefore, this study conducts an in-depth analysis of the spatial distribution characteristics of multiple water sources, integrates agricultural cropping patterns, and delineates irrigation districts accordingly. A water quality-based optimized allocation model for water resources is established. After optimization, the total irrigation water demand is reduced from 3685.8 million m 3 to 3229.9 million m 3 , with total groundwater extraction controlled at 694.0 million m 3 . The total water shortage rate is 12%, and the decline in groundwater levels has been effectively controlled. Additionally, 116.4 million m 3 of saline water is utilized, achieving an 83% utilization rate, which accounts for 16.8% of total groundwater extraction. Consequently, the utilization rate of freshwater decreases from 127% to 64%, while the overall water supply reliability reaches 87.6%. The sequence of water supply and consumption in the model remains consistent with the existing supply structure, demonstrating the rationality of the model parameter settings. This study proposes an optimal freshwater–saline water allocation model, which mixes saline water with reservoir water for dilution and subsequent agricultural irrigation. The approach aims to exploit the potential of saline groundwater and enhance the utilization efficiency of groundwater systems, thereby providing an innovative solution to alleviate water supply-demand conflicts in arid regions.

Suggested Citation

  • Yanyan Ge & Yifan Jia & Sheng Li & Feilong Jie, 2025. "Optimization of Freshwater–Saline Water Resource Mixing Irrigation Under Multiple Constraints," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 17(8), pages 1-17, April.
  • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:17:y:2025:i:8:p:3729-:d:1638801
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/2071-1050/17/8/3729/pdf
    Download Restriction: no

    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/2071-1050/17/8/3729/
    Download Restriction: no
    ---><---

    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:17:y:2025:i:8:p:3729-:d:1638801. 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.

    We have no bibliographic references for this item. You can help adding them by using 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.