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Temporal–spatial distributions of water use and productivity of maize in China

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  12 July 2018

X. C. Cao
Affiliation:
State Key Laboratory of Hydrology-Water Resources and Hydraulic Engineering, Hohai University, Nanjing, Jiangsu 210098, China Key Laboratory of Efficient Irrigation-Drainage and Agricultural Soil-Water Environment in Southern China of Ministry of Education, Hohai University, Nanjing, Jiangsu 210098, China College of Agricultural Engineering, Hohai University, Nanjing, Jiangsu 210098, China
R. Shu
Affiliation:
College of Agricultural Engineering, Hohai University, Nanjing, Jiangsu 210098, China
D. Chen
Affiliation:
Key Laboratory of Efficient Irrigation-Drainage and Agricultural Soil-Water Environment in Southern China of Ministry of Education, Hohai University, Nanjing, Jiangsu 210098, China College of Agricultural Engineering, Hohai University, Nanjing, Jiangsu 210098, China
X. P. Guo
Affiliation:
Key Laboratory of Efficient Irrigation-Drainage and Agricultural Soil-Water Environment in Southern China of Ministry of Education, Hohai University, Nanjing, Jiangsu 210098, China College of Agricultural Engineering, Hohai University, Nanjing, Jiangsu 210098, China
W. G. Wang*
Affiliation:
State Key Laboratory of Hydrology-Water Resources and Hydraulic Engineering, Hohai University, Nanjing, Jiangsu 210098, China
*
Author for correspondence: W. G. Wang, E-mail: wangweiguang@hhu.edu.cn

Abstract

The present study aim to explore temporal–spatial patterns of water use (WU) efficiency and its influencing factors of maize production in China during 1998–2010. WU and productivity (WP) were quantified by taking irrigation loss into account and the links between WP and nine selected indicators were revealed by the partial least squares regression (PLSR) model. Results showed that national WU and WP in maize production were 138.56 cubic gigametres (Gm3; 0.755 green and 0.245 blue) and 1.079 kg/m3, respectively. WP was enhanced in the present study due to an increase in irrigated crop yield. Provinces located in the middle–lower part of the Yellow River had high proportions of green water and WP, while high proportions of irrigation water and low WP were found in Northwest China. The dosage of pesticides per unit area, relative humidity, average temperature and precipitation were the dominant factors that affected WP. However, the relationships between WP and solar radiation, fertilizer, agricultural machinery power, irrigation proportion and irrigated efficiency were not significant. Findings of the present research may also provide a reference for regional agricultural water management.

Type
Crops and Soils Research Paper
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 2018 

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