Articles | Volume 25, issue 1
https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-25-169-2021
© Author(s) 2021. This work is distributed under
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-25-169-2021
© Author(s) 2021. This work is distributed under
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
Research article
| 
11 Jan 2021
Research article |
| 11 Jan 2021
| 11 Jan 2021
Physical versus economic water footprints in crop production: a spatial and temporal analysis for China
Xi Yang
College of Water Resources and Architectural Engineering, Northwest A&F University, Yangling 712100, China
Institute of Water-saving Agriculture in Arid Regions of China, Northwest A&F University, Yangling 712100, China
Institute of Soil and Water Conservation, Northwest A&F University, Yangling 712100, China
Institute of Water-saving Agriculture in Arid Regions of China, Northwest A&F University, Yangling 712100, China
Institute of Soil and Water Conservation, Chinese Academy of Sciences and Ministry of Water Resources, Yangling 712100, China
Pengxuan Xie
College of Water Resources and Architectural Engineering, Northwest A&F University, Yangling 712100, China
Institute of Water-saving Agriculture in Arid Regions of China, Northwest A&F University, Yangling 712100, China
Hongrong Huang
College of Water Resources and Architectural Engineering, Northwest A&F University, Yangling 712100, China
Institute of Water-saving Agriculture in Arid Regions of China, Northwest A&F University, Yangling 712100, China
Bianbian Feng
College of Water Resources and Architectural Engineering, Northwest A&F University, Yangling 712100, China
Institute of Water-saving Agriculture in Arid Regions of China, Northwest A&F University, Yangling 712100, China
Pute Wu
CORRESPONDING AUTHOR
Institute of Soil and Water Conservation, Northwest A&F University, Yangling 712100, China
Institute of Water-saving Agriculture in Arid Regions of China, Northwest A&F University, Yangling 712100, China
Institute of Soil and Water Conservation, Chinese Academy of Sciences and Ministry of Water Resources, Yangling 712100, China
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Cited
17 citations as recorded by crossref.
- Revealing Climate-Induced Patterns in Crop Yields and the Water-Energy-Food-Carbon Nexus: Insights from the Pearl River Basin C. Ye et al. 10.3390/w16243693
- Inputs for staple crop production in China drive burden shifting of water and carbon footprints transgressing part of provincial planetary boundaries B. Feng et al. 10.1016/j.watres.2022.118803
- Diversities and sustainability of dietary water footprint and virtual water flows in China C. Yan et al. 10.1016/j.jclepro.2024.141204
- A 21-Year Study of Virtual Water Trade in Ukraine’s Agricultural Sector: Crop Production and Water Use A. Afifi & A. Kim 10.3390/w17081231
- Optimal allocation of agricultural water resources in Yanghe watershed considering blue water to green water ratio C. Weng et al. 10.1002/jsfa.12478
- Machine learning modeling of water footprint in crop production distinguishing water supply and irrigation method scenarios Z. Li et al. 10.1016/j.jhydrol.2023.130171
- Assessing the contribution of China's grain production during 2005–2020 from the perspective of the crop-water-land nexus X. Cao et al. 10.1016/j.jhydrol.2023.130376
- Exploring the Regional Coordination Relationship between Water Utilization and Urbanization Based on Decoupling Analysis: A Case Study of the Beijing–Tianjin–Hebei Region R. Shen & L. Yao 10.3390/ijerph19116793
- Spatial and temporal sensitivity of water footprint assessment in crop production to modelling inputs and parameters Z. Li et al. 10.1016/j.agwat.2022.107805
- Spatial and temporal evolution of the physical-virtual water cycle and its economic coupling effects in China: A material flow analysis perspective X. Wan et al. 10.1016/j.jclepro.2025.145093
- Assessing variation and driving factors of the county-scale water footprint for soybean production in China J. Zhao et al. 10.1016/j.agwat.2022.107469
- Resilience assessment of blue and green water resources for staple crop production in China H. Huang et al. 10.1016/j.agwat.2023.108485
- Volume versus value of crop-related water footprints and virtual water flows: A case study for the Yellow River Basin L. Zhuo et al. 10.1016/j.jhydrol.2022.127674
- Multi-dimensional evaluation of water footprint and implication for crop production: A case study in Hetao Irrigation District, China J. Yin et al. 10.1016/j.agwat.2022.107630
- Regional blue and green water-saving potential and regulation paths for crop production: A case study in the Yellow River Basin Y. Duan et al. 10.1016/j.agwat.2023.108631
- Optimizing agricultural water-land resource allocation in water-economic-environment cycles considering uncertainties of spatiotemporal water footprints H. Xu et al. 10.1016/j.jclepro.2025.145348
- Changes in climate attributes and harvest area structures jointly determined spatial-temporal variations in water footprint of maize in the Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei region H. Huai et al. 10.1016/j.heliyon.2024.e32565
17 citations as recorded by crossref.
- Revealing Climate-Induced Patterns in Crop Yields and the Water-Energy-Food-Carbon Nexus: Insights from the Pearl River Basin C. Ye et al. 10.3390/w16243693
- Inputs for staple crop production in China drive burden shifting of water and carbon footprints transgressing part of provincial planetary boundaries B. Feng et al. 10.1016/j.watres.2022.118803
- Diversities and sustainability of dietary water footprint and virtual water flows in China C. Yan et al. 10.1016/j.jclepro.2024.141204
- A 21-Year Study of Virtual Water Trade in Ukraine’s Agricultural Sector: Crop Production and Water Use A. Afifi & A. Kim 10.3390/w17081231
- Optimal allocation of agricultural water resources in Yanghe watershed considering blue water to green water ratio C. Weng et al. 10.1002/jsfa.12478
- Machine learning modeling of water footprint in crop production distinguishing water supply and irrigation method scenarios Z. Li et al. 10.1016/j.jhydrol.2023.130171
- Assessing the contribution of China's grain production during 2005–2020 from the perspective of the crop-water-land nexus X. Cao et al. 10.1016/j.jhydrol.2023.130376
- Exploring the Regional Coordination Relationship between Water Utilization and Urbanization Based on Decoupling Analysis: A Case Study of the Beijing–Tianjin–Hebei Region R. Shen & L. Yao 10.3390/ijerph19116793
- Spatial and temporal sensitivity of water footprint assessment in crop production to modelling inputs and parameters Z. Li et al. 10.1016/j.agwat.2022.107805
- Spatial and temporal evolution of the physical-virtual water cycle and its economic coupling effects in China: A material flow analysis perspective X. Wan et al. 10.1016/j.jclepro.2025.145093
- Assessing variation and driving factors of the county-scale water footprint for soybean production in China J. Zhao et al. 10.1016/j.agwat.2022.107469
- Resilience assessment of blue and green water resources for staple crop production in China H. Huang et al. 10.1016/j.agwat.2023.108485
- Volume versus value of crop-related water footprints and virtual water flows: A case study for the Yellow River Basin L. Zhuo et al. 10.1016/j.jhydrol.2022.127674
- Multi-dimensional evaluation of water footprint and implication for crop production: A case study in Hetao Irrigation District, China J. Yin et al. 10.1016/j.agwat.2022.107630
- Regional blue and green water-saving potential and regulation paths for crop production: A case study in the Yellow River Basin Y. Duan et al. 10.1016/j.agwat.2023.108631
- Optimizing agricultural water-land resource allocation in water-economic-environment cycles considering uncertainties of spatiotemporal water footprints H. Xu et al. 10.1016/j.jclepro.2025.145348
- Changes in climate attributes and harvest area structures jointly determined spatial-temporal variations in water footprint of maize in the Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei region H. Huai et al. 10.1016/j.heliyon.2024.e32565
Latest update: 11 Jul 2025
Short summary
Maximizing economic benefits with higher water productivity or lower water footprint is the core sustainable goal of agricultural water resources management. Here we look at spatial and temporal variations and developments in both production-based (PWF) and economic value-based (EWF) water footprints of crops, by taking a case study for China. A synergy evaluation index is proposed to further quantitatively evaluate the synergies and trade-offs between PWF and EWF.
Maximizing economic benefits with higher water productivity or lower water footprint is the core...
