Multi-target planting structure adjustment under different hydrologic years using AquaCrop model

Abstract

Increasing demand for water due to global population and economic growth will lead to severe global water shortage. Agricultural water consumes a large portion of water, and adjusting agricultural planting structure is one of the important means to realize agricultural water-saving. This paper took 2030 as the planning year and Shijin Irrigation District as the research area. Using the AquaCrop model, combined with field management, climatic and other conditions affecting crop growth and the yields of winter wheat, summer maize, and cotton under irrigation and rain-fed conditions were simulated in the planning year (2030). Taking the minimum consumption of agricultural irrigation water and the highest economic income as the goal, the planting structure adjustment plans of different hydrologic years are optimized under the limitation of water availability, cultivated land, and food security. The results showed that, after the adjustment of planting structure, the economy created by agriculture in the dry, normal, and wet year will increase by 0.1 billion yuan, 0.7 billion yuan, and 2.6 billion yuan, and the amount of irrigation is decreased by 42 million m3, 448 million m3, and 526 million m3, respectively.