Analysis of Water Resources and Water Environmental Carrying Capacity of Animal Husbandry in China—Based on Water Footprint Theory

Lin Yu,Sayed Alim Samim,Zhiquan Hu,Xuezhen Xiong

doi:10.3390/w13233386

Abstract

Water shortage and water pollution have become the key factors restricting the sustainable development of animal husbandry in China. In this study, the water footprint model was used to analyze the water resource carrying capacity and water environment bearing pressure of animal husbandry in 31 provinces of China from 2001 to 2019. The findings indicate that: (1) The development of animal husbandry has exacerbated the regional water deficiency problem. Shandong, Henan, Hebei, and Liaoning have become the most serious water deficit areas of animal husbandry in China. The decreasing water resource carrying capacity indicates that water resources are difficult in supporting the growth of animal husbandry; (2) the change of animal feeding structures has led to the decrease of gray water footprint and the alleviation of the water environment bearing pressure; however, the water environment of animal husbandry in northern China and the northwest is still overburdened, which poses a major challenge to the control of agricultural non-point source pollution; (3) furthermore, according to the spatial and temporal characteristics of the water resource carrying capacity and water environment bearing pressure, the main livestock-producing areas in the north are facing a profound “water-livestock” contradiction and showing an increasing trend. The research results will help decision-makers to adjust the development mode of animal husbandry, optimize resource allocation, and promote the sustainable development of resource-saving and environment-friendly animal husbandry.

Highlights

Since the reform and opening-up, China’s animal husbandry has made brilliant achievements, but at the same time, it has brought a series of resource and environmental problems
The trend of the water footprint of animal husbandry is very close to the growing trend of the animal husbandry production scale
The conclusions are as follows: During the study period, the water footprint of animal husbandry in China increased by 40.92%

Summary

Introduction

Since the reform and opening-up, China’s animal husbandry has made brilliant achievements, but at the same time, it has brought a series of resource and environmental problems. The country continues to expand domestic livestock products’ production and supply scale while facing severe resource and environmental challenges [1,2]. A number of water resources need to be utilized throughout the processes, from feed grain production to livestock and poultry breeding, slaughtering, and processing. As a high water consumption industry, animal husbandry aggravates the shortage of water resources. For ensuring the high-quality development of animal husbandry, scientific measurement of water resources and the animal husbandry water environment bearing pressure will help us to better understand the supply and demand of water resources in animal husbandry and quantitatively analyze how water resources support or constrain animal husbandry in various regions of the country

Methods

Results

Discussion

Conclusion