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Enhancing rice production sustainability and resilience via reactivating small water bodies for irrigation and drainage

Author

Listed:
  • Sisi Li

    (Chinese Academy of Sciences
    Key Laboratory for Environment and Disaster Monitoring and Evaluation of Hubei
    University of Chinese Academy of Sciences)

  • Yanhua Zhuang

    (Chinese Academy of Sciences
    Key Laboratory for Environment and Disaster Monitoring and Evaluation of Hubei
    University of Chinese Academy of Sciences)

  • Hongbin Liu

    (Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences)

  • Zhen Wang

    (Huazhong Agricultural University
    Huazhong Agricultural University)

  • Fulin Zhang

    (Hubei Academy of Agricultural Sciences)

  • Mingquan Lv

    (Chinese Academy of Sciences)

  • Limei Zhai

    (Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences)

  • Xianpeng Fan

    (Hubei Academy of Agricultural Sciences)

  • Shiwei Niu

    (Liaoning Academy of Agricultural Sciences)

  • Jingrui Chen

    (Jiangxi Academy of Agricultural Sciences)

  • Changxu Xu

    (Jiangxi Academy of Agricultural Sciences)

  • Na Wang

    (Liaoning Academy of Agricultural Sciences)

  • Shuhe Ruan

    (Chinese Academy of Sciences
    Key Laboratory for Environment and Disaster Monitoring and Evaluation of Hubei
    University of Chinese Academy of Sciences)

  • Wangzheng Shen

    (Chinese Academy of Sciences
    Key Laboratory for Environment and Disaster Monitoring and Evaluation of Hubei
    University of Chinese Academy of Sciences)

  • Menghan Mi

    (Chinese Academy of Sciences
    Key Laboratory for Environment and Disaster Monitoring and Evaluation of Hubei)

  • Shengjun Wu

    (Chinese Academy of Sciences)

  • Yun Du

    (Chinese Academy of Sciences
    Key Laboratory for Environment and Disaster Monitoring and Evaluation of Hubei
    University of Chinese Academy of Sciences)

  • Liang Zhang

    (Chinese Academy of Sciences
    Key Laboratory for Environment and Disaster Monitoring and Evaluation of Hubei
    University of Chinese Academy of Sciences)

Abstract

Rice farming threatens freshwater resources, while also being increasingly vulnerable to drought due to climate change. Rice farming needs to become more sustainable and resilient to climate change by improving irrigation drainage systems. Small water bodies, used to store drainage water and supply irrigation in traditional rice farming systems have gradually been abandoned in recent decades. This has resulted in a higher water footprint (WF) associated with rice farming due to increased freshwater usage and wastewater release, also leaving rice production more vulnerable to extreme weather events. Here, we propose how protecting and reactivating small water bodies for rice irrigation and drainage can decrease rice production WF in China by 30%, save 9% of China’s freshwater consumption, increase irrigation self-sufficiency from 3% to 31%, and alleviate yield loss in dry years by 2–3%. These findings show that redesigning rice irrigation drainage systems can help meet water scarcity challenges posed by climate change.

Suggested Citation

  • Sisi Li & Yanhua Zhuang & Hongbin Liu & Zhen Wang & Fulin Zhang & Mingquan Lv & Limei Zhai & Xianpeng Fan & Shiwei Niu & Jingrui Chen & Changxu Xu & Na Wang & Shuhe Ruan & Wangzheng Shen & Menghan Mi , 2023. "Enhancing rice production sustainability and resilience via reactivating small water bodies for irrigation and drainage," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 14(1), pages 1-11, December.
    • Handle: RePEc:nat:natcom:v:14:y:2023:i:1:d:10.1038_s41467-023-39454-w
    DOI: 10.1038/s41467-023-39454-w
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