Water Footprint of Soybean, Maize and Wheat in Pergamino, Argentina

Luciana Tozzini,Alejandro Pannunzio,Pamela Texeira Soria

doi:10.4236/as.2021.123020

Abstract

Nowadays more than 70% of the fresh water available worldwide is used for agriculture. In Argentina, extensive crops are not usually irrigated, so the cropping production depends mostly on rainfall water. In order to know how many liters of water are needed to produce a ton of soybeans, wheat and maize in the Pergamino district, Province of Buenos Aires, its Water Footprint was estimated by the Hoekstra method. Evaporation and rainfall data was obtained from SIGA INTA platform and production data was obtained from the Ministry of Agriculture. The results indicated that the average annual total water footprint values for soybean, corn and wheat crops for the period 2013-2018 in the Pergamino district, province of Buenos Aires, are 1,388 l∙kg−1, 693 l∙kg−1 and 1,249 l∙kg−1 respectively. These were lower than the global average reference values. The obtained results allowed future analysis advancing in the knowledge of the use of water productivity in grain production.

Highlights

In the near future, humanity will have to face many challenges
In order to know how many liters of water are needed to produce a ton of soybeans, wheat and maize in the Pergamino district, Province of Buenos Aires, its Water Footprint was estimated by the Hoekstra method
The results indicated that the average annual total water footprint values for soybean, corn and wheat crops for the period 2013-2018 in the Pergamino district, province of Buenos Aires, are 1,388 l∙kg−1, 693 l∙kg−1 and 1,249 l∙kg−1 respectively

Summary

Introduction

Humanity will have to face many challenges. The access and availability of water as a basic requirement for life and ensuring that the extraction of fresh water does not affect ecosystems are among the most important [1]. With a projected potential population of 9.2 billion by 2050 as projected by the UN (2015), it’s really important to ensure the food and plant biomass needs for future generations, especially in regions where water resources are limited [2]. Agriculture production uses approximately 70% of the fresh water available worldwide.

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Discussion

Conclusion