Abstract
Water-saving irrigation behavior (WSIB) is important for sustainable economic and social development in river basins and is promoted by improving water-saving awareness. Understanding the factors of WSIB could facilitate water demand management and information campaigns. Using the theory of planned behavior, this paper analyzes the influence of subjective attitude, perceived behavioral control and subjective norms on behavioral intention and final behavior with a structural equation model (SEM). Moreover, comparative study of the upper, middle and lower reaches of a river basin is also carried out to examine the regional differences. A survey of 546 rural residents in Heihe River Basin (HRB), which is located in northwest China, shows that (1) water-saving expectations and subjective norms have a significant impact on WSIB in upstream areas, and perceived behavioral control and subjective norms have positive effects in the middle and lower reaches; (2) the transformation of awareness into WSIB is slow and non-significant in all areas, mainly hindered by expected economic benefits; and (3) family water-saving experiences and social networks promote WSIB in the midstream and downstream areas. Compared with the midstream and downstream reaches, historical water-saving experience has no obvious effect on WSIB in the upper reaches. These findings highlight policies that (1) strengthen economic interests and increase the transformation of water-saving awareness into WSIB; (2) strengthen public awareness and neighborhood interaction, setting good examples to promote WSIB; and (3) increase farmer participation in relevant decision-making.
Highlights
Many major river systems do not have adequate water flow [1], and a large proportion of the world is currently experiencing water stress [2,3,4]
≤2 3 ≥4 mainly for consumption mainly for sale half of each for future generations for relatives rent to others transfer to village committee abandon other pure farmer working around go out for work self-employed in agriculture
A questionnaire was used to obtain information on 22 items related to water-saving attitudes (WSA, X1–X8), water-saving expectations (WSE, X9–X14), perceived behavioral control (PBC, X15–X16), subjective norms (SN, X17–X20) and Water-saving irrigation behavior (WSIB) (Y1–Y2)
Summary
Many major river systems do not have adequate water flow [1], and a large proportion of the world is currently experiencing water stress [2,3,4]. The endorheic basins in the arid region of northwest China are especially faced with water scarcities, leading to competition between the socio-economic and ecological uses of water [5,6] In this situation, water management that meets the increasing human demand for water while simultaneously protecting fragile ecosystems is urgently needed. Water-saving attitude refers to the cognition by individuals concerning water resource conservation and protection, including views on the current situation of water resources and the environment, the value of water resources, and the publicity and education activities related to water resource protection. Water-saving behavioral control in this paper refers to the perception of the water-saving ability of the sample households. The sampled farmers in the middle and lower reaches generally cultivated land of greater area and had a relatively low degree of concurrent employment. ≤2 3 ≥4 mainly for consumption mainly for sale half of each for future generations for relatives rent to others transfer to village committee abandon other pure farmer working around go out for work self-employed in agriculture
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