The impact of agricultural practices on groundwater depletion: A spatiotemporal analysis of India

Abstract

ABSTRACTIn recent decades, intensive agricultural activities have adversely impacted the groundwater resources. The post‐green revolution era in India witnessed excessive irrigation practices that negatively impacted sustainable groundwater utilization. This study aims to analyze trends and patterns of groundwater depletion and identify potential factors to determine groundwater depletion across Indian states for the period 2004–2020. In doing so, percentage of safe blocks in terms of groundwater status is used as proxy for groundwater depletion. Employing the Mann–Kendal Method and Sen's slope, the study examines groundwater trends, while spatial analysis is conducted using Moran's I technique. Furthermore, a Fixed Effect‐Generalized Least Square (FE‐GLS) regression approach is employed to identify factors that influence groundwater status. Findings reveal the spatial autocorrelation of groundwater extraction among Indian states, which reflected by a Moran's I value of 0.62. Additionally, this study found that region of northern and southern India exhibits increasing trend groundwater depletion as compared to other regions. Based on the results of FE‐GLS regression and regression with Driscroll–Kraay standard error, our study indicates that crop intensity, gross irrigated land, gross sown area, and the area sown with water‐intensive crops have a negative and significant impacts on the percentage of safe blocks in terms of groundwater availability. Conversely, we found that annual rainfall has a positive and significant relationship with the percentage of safe blocks. From a policy perspective, the study suggests regulating the cultivation of water‐intensive crops and advocates for integrated policies to ensure sustainable water resource and food security – a balance often termed the food‐water‐energy nexus.