Abstract
If products were traded from regions with relatively high water productivity to regions with relatively low water productivity, water saving could be achieved. In this study, two indices—physical water-saving efficiency (volume of water savings per cubic meter of virtual water flows) and economic water-saving efficiency (value of water savings per cubic meter of virtual water flows considering water right trading)—were proposed to analyze the efficiency of inter-regional virtual water flows related to crop trade in China. Results indicated that the volume of inter-regional virtual water flows was 1.61 × 109 m3, more than 90% of which was occupied by oil-bearing crops, cereals, and beans. In terms of physical efficiency, only cereals and vegetables presented negative values. All kinds of crop trades were economically efficient, while most crops’ economic water-saving efficiency was less than 10 × 103 Yuan/m3. The application of advanced water-saving technologies, the cultivation of new crop varieties, the adjustment of regional cropping patterns, or consumption and trade patterns, could contribute to more water savings and higher physical water-saving efficiency, while the possible social, economic, and environmental tradeoffs should be considered simultaneously. Water right trading and virtual water compensation could contribute to sustainable water consumption, and full-cost pricing should be adapted in the future.
Highlights
As water shortages have become more and more severe due to the increasing population, changing climate, and other factors, the improvement of water efficiency has been promoted frequently and many different water efficiency indicators/indices have been introduced
The virtual water imports related to oil-bearing crops were mainly dominated by Zhejiang, Guangdong, and Heilongjiang Provinces, and the virtual water exports were mainly dominated by Inner Mongolia, Henan, and Hubei Provinces
The volume of inter-regional virtual water flows related to crop trade in China was 1.61 × 109 m3, more than 90% of which was occupied by oil-bearing crops, cereals, and beans
Summary
As water shortages have become more and more severe due to the increasing population, changing climate, and other factors, the improvement of water efficiency has been promoted frequently and many different water efficiency indicators/indices have been introduced. A large amount of research has been conducted on water savings on different scales, such as the global scale [14], inter-regional scale [15,16], country scale [17,18,19], and irrigation district scale [20]. Besides these studies, Zhao et al assessed scarce water saving through interprovincial trade within China, for which water scarcity status was considered [21]. A combination of different perspectives can provide a complete picture of regional water efficiency evaluation
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
