Fuzzy Logic-Based Model for Optimizing Agricultural Water Resource Allocation

As for the improper water and land use structure and difficulty in bringing the system into maximum performance, this research takes the Sanjiang Branch of Heilongjiang Land Reclamation Bureau as an example and uses the concept of complex adaptive system to build an allocation model of the complex adaptive system of agricultural land and water resources of the Sanjiang Plain and to make evolution analysis of optimized allocation of agricultural land and water resources under different groundwater exploitation plans. This research shows that: with the increased exploitation of groundwater, the agricultural production value and the grain yield have increased; the ecological area has decreased within a certain range; with the increased restriction in groundwater exploitation year by year, the efficiently-used land area will decrease, resulting in a lot of land not being effectively utilized and seriously hindering the coupling between the regional water and land resources and the local economy development.

SIGRIAN (National Information System for Agriculture Water Management) is a web GIS platform developed and managed by the Council for Agricultural Research and Economics, Centre for Politics and Bio economics (CREA-PB). This GEOdatabase is operating since 1998 and recently it has been established by the Italian Ministry of Agriculture (MIPAAF) as the reference repository for the irrigation data collection at national scale. SIGRIAN collects both geographical information concerning the hydraulic network schemes of the national water boards (Consortia and Water Associations) and information technically and economically related to the management of water resources in agriculture. SIGRIAN will be used as database for economic evaluations to address policy related to water resources in agriculture and to support the assessment of optimal water resource allocation.

In the arid zone of northwest China, the Heihe River Basin (HRB), as a typical inland river basin, has a fragile regional ecological environment, obvious ecological degradation characteristics, and extremely serious problems in the utilization of agricultural land resources. Meanwhile, the shortage of water resources, the low reduction of land quality, and excessive agricultural activities have greatly increased the local water and land pressure. In this paper, firstly, using the Malmquist DEA model and coupling coordination degree model, the agroecological risk assessment system on account of the coupling of water and land resources (WLR) is constructed. Secondly, taking HRB from 1995 to 2020 as an example, we carry out spatial correlation analysis based on the degree of risk-correlated WLR. Thirdly, we analyze the evolution process and spatial correlation of ecological risk of agricultural WLR in the HRB at the county scale, then we conclude and put forward policy suggestions for improvement. The results show that: (1) On the whole, the average ecological risk of agricultural water resources in the HRB from 1995 to 2020 was 0.933, indicating that the risk was declining; the average ecological risk of agricultural land resources in the HRB from 1995 to 2020 was 0.938, indicating that the risk was declining also. (2) The degree of ecological risk coupling and coordination of agricultural soil and water resources upstream of the HRB is on the rise, while that in the middle and lower reaches is on the decline. (3) Through panel model analysis, the matching suitability of WLR drives agroecological risk. The correlation between them is positive. In conclusion, this method can effectively evaluate the agroecological risk of WLR and provide technical support for agricultural production and management in arid areas.

Connotation analysis and evaluation index system construction of regional agricultural soil and water resource composite system harmony

To evaluate the state of an agricultural development more comprehensively, a vulnerability assessment is introduced into agricultural water and land resources system, and it is expected that the vulnerability assessment can provide a basis for improving system structure and function and realizing sustainable development. In the study, 27 evaluation indicators are selected from the agricultural water and land resources system (AWLRS), socio-economic system and ecological structure system to construct the evaluation index system for agricultural water and land resource system vulnerability (AWLRSV). Seagull optimization algorithm (SOA) is used to calibrate the parameters of the random forest (RF) model. SOA-RF model is applied to measure the AWLRSV of Heilongjiang Province in China. The results show that the SOA-RF model has higher accuracy and stronger stability than the traditional RF model and DA-RF model. The value of AWLRSV in Heilongjiang Province presents a downward–upward–downward trend from 2008 to 2018. The vulnerability levels are mainly level II and III, and level III is mainly distributed northwest and southeast of Heilongjiang Province. The novelty of this paper is to regard the agricultural water and land resources system as a compound system, put forward the vulnerability assessment framework. The findings may provide reference for regional sustainable development from a new research perspective.

The uneven distribution and spatial mismatch between water and land resources (WLR) limit the utilization efficiency of agricultural water and land resources (AWLR), and then pose a threat to food production. There is a critical need to understand their matching characteristics for strategic resource allocation decisions and management. In this study, a holistic index (RSI) derived from resource equivalency analysis (REA) was developed which contributed to examine the abundance or deficiency of agricultural water and land resources (AWLR) based on the conception of generalized water resources (including blue water and green water). Results indicate that the matching degree of AWLR was the lowest in Northeast China, North China and Gansu in Northwest China, while the highest value was in Xinjiang due to the higher blue water use. In north China, other provinces suffered water scarcity except in Jilin, Liaoning, Henan, while all provinces in south China suffered land scarcity except in Tibet and Jiangsu. Meanwhile, the matching of AWLR was not exactly consistent with the distribution pattern of precipitation. The higher proportion of green water resources was not located in southeast China with rich precipitation; it had to do with water management. Too much or little water resources can result in the increasing of blue water use. The proposed approach can be a powerful instrument to implement public policies and management strategy as an attempt to improve the utilization efficiency and enhance the optimize-allocation of AWLR.

Scientifically determining agricultural water consumption is fundamental to the optimum allocation and regulation of regional water resources. However, traditional statistical methods used for determining agricultural water consumption in China do not reflect the actual use of water resources. This paper determined the variation in the crop water footprint (CWF) to reflect the actual agricultural water consumption in Xinjiang, China, during the past 30 years, and the data from 15 crops were included. In addition, the STIRPAT (stochastic impacts by regression on population, affluence and technology) model was used to determine the factors influencing the CWF. The results showed that the CWF in Xinjiang increased by 256% during the 30-year period. Factors such as population, agricultural added value, and effective irrigated area were correlated with an increase in the CWF. This study also showed that the implementation of national and regional policies significantly accelerated the expansion of agricultural production areas and increased the amount of agricultural water used. The objectives of this paper were to identify the factors influencing the CWF, give a new perspective for further analysis of the relationship between agricultural growth and water resources utilization, and provide a reference for local policy decision-makers in Xinjiang.

In the global economic system, the stable development of agriculture as a basic industry is inseparable from the rational utilization of water resources. Irrigation projects play a vital role in ensuring agricultural water use, increasing grain output and promoting agricultural sustainable development. This study aims to explore the scientific experience of Baiqi Canal, an excellent irrigation project in ancient China, and its profound value as a world irrigation project heritage, analyze the importance of irrigation projects to agricultural water resources, and promote the protection and sustainable utilization of irrigation project heritage. Firstly, the irrigation mode of Baiqi Canal and its important role in agricultural development were introduced, and then its influence on local agricultural water resources and ecological environment was analyzed. Finally, the positive influence of international irrigation projects on agricultural water resources was further discussed, and its key role in ensuring food security and promoting agricultural sustainable development was emphasized.

In recent years, the large-scale development of land and water resources has led to a conflict between water supply and demand. Especially in arid regions, fragile ecosystems and continuous farmland expansion have threatened the ecological and social security of river basins. Therefore, it is urgent to propose scientific and reasonable water resource management models to alleviate this conflict. Based on the principle of “the strictest water resource management measures” for river basin water resources, this study has taken Heshuo County, Xinjiang as the research object, using a full-cost method to determine agricultural water prices for the irrigation district at 0.35 RMB/m3 and 1.4 RMB/m3. With the participation of stakeholders and experts, current water rights trading and management systems were analyzed by a Bayesian network (BN) model. In addition, the impact of water-pricing policy on farmers’ planting behavior was also quantified. The results indicated that an increase in water prices can effectively reduce agricultural water consumption for irrigation, but it would also induce negative externalities involving groundwater (GW) preservation and farmers’ income. A water resource management model mainly directed by water-pricing policy, and supplemented by GW protection and agricultural subsidy policies, could effectively regulate farmers’ water-use behavior, guarantee farmers’ income, and protect GW. This study provides a successful management approach for coordinating the relationship between agricultural water resources and the ecological environment in an arid basin watershed and promoting the efficient use of agricultural water resources in irrigated areas.

Book Review: "Impact of Climate Change on Water Resources in Agriculture"

Agricultural production is accompanied by a large amount of water consumption, nonpoint source pollution, and greenhouse gas emissions. However, the comprehensive and quantitative analysis of associated impacts on regional water, the environment, and the economy caused by variations in agricultural distribution is insufficient. This paper evaluates the evolution of grain production distribution and its effects on water resources, the economy, and the environment in China by using virtual water theory. The results show that the grain production area located in northern China is characterized by scarce water resources and a less developed economy. Due to the imbalance between grain supply and demand, virtual water embedded in grain will transfer among regions. These flows have formed a pattern where virtual water transfers from the water‐scarce northern region to the water‐rich southern region, increasing from 72.99 Gm3 in 1997 to 124.64 Gm3 in 2014. Evolution of grain production distribution changes the spatial pattern of grain production and consumption, and it exacerbates water resource pressure, the gray water footprint, and greenhouse gas emissions in the area that exports grain virtual water. The gray water footprint and carbon emissions in the grain export area increased by 10.66% and 31.06% during the study period, respectively. Meanwhile, the distribution of regional grain production influences the allocation of water resources in agriculture and other industries. Due to the difference between the economic benefits created by industry and agriculture, grain virtual water flow will have effects on the regional economic development.

Мақала тақырыбының өзектілігі ғаламдық су тапшылығы жағдайында әлем елдерінің ұзақ мерзімді басымдықта алдында тұрған негізгі міндеттер ұлттық экономиканың барлық салаларының, оның ішінде стратегиялық маңызды сала ауыл шаруашылығының тиімді әрекет етуі үшін қолайлы жағдайлар жасау, оның ішінде сумен кепілді қамтамасыз ету, су ресурстарын сарқылудан және ластанудан қорғау, олардың сандық және сапалық ұдайы өндірілуінде. Осыған байланысты Қазақстанның азық-түлік қауіпсіздігін және тұрақты экономикалық өсімді қамтамасыз етуде ауыл шаруашылығы саласында су ресурстарын дамыған елдерде тиімді басқарудың бай тәжірибесін пайдалану ерекше маңызға ие. Мақалада ауыл шаруашылығының суды көп тұтынатын стратегиялық маңызды сала ретінде суды тиімді пайдалануды мемлекеттік басқарудың әлемдік тәжірибесіне шолу жасалады және үздік шетелдік тәжірибелерді Қазақстан жағдайында пайдалану мүмкіндіктері қарастырылады. Соған байланысты су ресурстарының ауыл шаруашылығындағы маңызын, осы бағытта тиімді басқарып отырған елдердің заманауи үлгілерін зерделеу жүргізілді. Ғылыми мақаланы жазу барысында ғылыми зерттеудің талдау - бірқатар елдерде ауыл шаруашылығында суды пайдалану тәжірибесі, синтез – ол тәжірибені Қазақстанда пайдалану сияқты әдістері басшылыққа алынды. Мақаланың зерттеу материалдары ретінде су ресурстарына қатысты халықаралық ұйымдар мен Қазақстан Республикасының Су ресурстары және ирригация Министрлігінің, Қазақстан Республикасы Стратегиялық жоспарлау және реформалар агенттігінің Ұлттық статистика бюросының мәліметтері алынды. Халықаралық тәжірибеге сүйене отырып Қазақстанның ауыл шаруашылығы саласында суды тиімді пайдалану бойынша ұсыныстар беріледі. The relevance of the topic of the article lies in the main tasks facing the countries of the world in the long-term priority in the context of global water scarcity, in creating favorable conditions for the effective functioning of all sectors of the national economy, including the strategically important branch of agriculture for guaranteed water supply, protection of water resources from depletion and pollution, in their quantitative and qualitative reproduction. In this regard, the use of rich experience in effective management of water resources in developed countries in the field of agriculture is of particular importance in ensuring Kazakhstan's food security and sustainable economic growth. The purpose of the scientific article is to review the global practice of public management of agricultural water use as a strategically important industry and to identify opportunities for using the best foreign practices in Kazakhstan. The objectives are to study the importance of water resources in agriculture, modern models of countries that effectively manage in this area. When writing the scientific article, we were guided by such scientific research methods as analysis - the experience of using water in agriculture in a number of countries, synthesis – the use of this experience in Kazakhstan. The research materials of the article are data from international organizations on water resources, the Ministry of Water Resources and Irrigation of the Republic of Kazakhstan, the Bureau of National Statistics of the Agency of the Republic of Kazakhstan for Strategic Planning and Reforms. Based on international experience, recommendations on the effective use of water in the agricultural sector of Kazakhstan are given.

Because of the Lack of water resources and the increasing water quantity used in living and production, the water resources are becoming the restrictive factor of regional economic and social development in in Manas river basin. The exploitation and utilization of conventional water resources has reached more than 95% in the basin,it caused great attention that the development and utilization of non-conventional water resources for agricultural development and ecological environment construction. At present, the exploitation and utilization of the non-conventional water resources(shallow underground salt water，saline water) for agriculture and forestry has become more and more widespread and in-depth. because of the lack of scientific instruction and reasonable exploitation, which not only caused water level falling, leading to degradation of the brittle natural entironment, but also caused SBHCSS and the decline in productivity. With the analysis of the non-conventional water resources actual exploitation and utilization, under the scientific development concept, the aryicle puts forward the sustained strategies of non-conventional underground water resources (salt water, saline water) reasonable exploitation and the irrigation return flow reuse efficient exploitation which is used for ecological restoration and reconstruction.

The implementation of differentiated governance for agricultural water pollution (AWP) plays a significant role in alleviating the pressure on agricultural water resources. However, research that comprehensively assesses AWP and its influencing factors from a multidimensional perspective remains relatively limited. This study utilized the grey water footprint (GWF) model to quantify the agricultural grey water footprint (AGWF), agricultural grey water footprint efficiency (AGWFE), agricultural grey water footprint intensity (AGWFI), and agricultural water pollution level (AWPL) in Zhejiang from 2010 to 2020. Subsequently, we applied the standard deviational ellipse (SDE), the kernel density estimation (KDE), and the Dagum Gini coefficient to delve into the dynamic evolution and regional disparities of these indicators. Ultimately, we leveraged both the random forest model and the panel regression model to identify and examine the key factors shaping AGWF-related indicators. The results show that: (1) From 2010 to 2020, in Zhejiang, both AGWF and AGWFI exhibit a trend of first increasing and then decreasing, peaking in 2012. In contrast, AGWFE has consistently increased over the years, reaching an increase of 54.56 CNY/m3 by 2020. Meanwhile, despite fluctuations, AWPL in Zhejiang shows an overall gradual decline. (2) The centroids of relevant indicators for AWP in Zhejiang are primarily located in Jinhua (for AGWF and AGWFI), Shaoxing (for AWPL), and in the area where AGWFE converge. (3) Compared to 2010, the regional disparities in AGWF and AWPL have shrunk significantly in 2020, whereas the regional differences in AGWFE and AGWFI have increased to some extent. In most years, the regional disparities in AGWF, AGWFI, and AWPL are more pronounced in Northeastern Zhejiang compared to the southwestern part. (4) The influencing factors of AGWF, AGWFE, and AGWFI exhibit significant regional heterogeneity. In Northeastern Zhejiang, the primary factors influencing them are technological innovation, resource endowment, and crop-cultivation methods. Conversely, in the southwestern region, the primary factors exerting the same influence are the application intensities of fertilizers, pesticides, and agricultural film application. The primary drivers of AWPL in Zhejiang are grain yield, water resource availability, and crop-planting structure. Notably, these factors do not exhibit regional heterogeneity. The paper proposes AWP control policies from both a comprehensive and multi-dimensional perspective.

The use of high-resolution aerial imagery for assessing actual crop evapotranspiration $$ \left({ET}_{a}\right)$$ holds the potential to optimize the use of limited water resources in agriculture. Despite this potential, there is a shortage of information regarding the effectiveness of energy balance algorithms, initially designed for satellite remote sensing in estimating $$ {ET}_{a}$$ using aerial imagery. This study addresses this gap by employing the remote sensing model pySEBAL (Surface Energy Balance Algorithm for Land) in conjunction with high-resolution aerial imagery to estimate $$ {ET}_{a}$$ for processing tomatoes. Throughout the 2021 growing season, an aircraft captured multispectral and thermal imagery over a processing tomato field near Esparto, California, USA. Simultaneously, an eddy covariance flux tower within the field measured high-frequency turbulent fluxes and low-frequency biometeorology variables essential for evaluating the energy balance. The comprehensive assessment of energy balance components, including $$ {ET}_{a}$$ , yielded compelling evidence that pySEBAL accurately estimated $$ {ET}_{a}$$ at high spatial resolution. The root mean square error (RMSE) and normalized RMSE for various energy balance components were as follows: 33 W m− 2 (12%) for latent heat flux, 29 W m− 2 (35%) for sensible heat flux, 24 W m− 2 (4%) for net radiation, and 10 W m− 2 (15%) for soil heat flux. Additionally, $$ {ET}_{a}$$ exhibited an RMSE and NRMSE of 0.26 mm d− 1 (6%). Moreover, the spatial mapping of $$ {ET}_{a}$$ across the processing tomato field visually depicted the spatial variability associated with irrigation scheduling, crop development, areas affected by disease, and soil heterogeneity. This research underscores the value of high resolution spatial aerial imagery and pySEBAL algorithm for estimating $$ {ET}_{a}$$ variability in the field, a crucial aspect for guiding precision irrigation management and ensuring the optimal use of limited water resources in agriculture.