Enhancing agricultural water productivity through water footprint analysis under semi-arid conditions: a case study from Türkiye

Öz

The growing global population necessitates improvements in agricultural water use productivity to ensure sustainable production systems. As agriculture accounts for the largest share of global freshwater consumption, enhancing agricultural productivity is essential for the long-term sustainability of water resources. In this context, the water footprint has emerged as a comprehensive indicator of water-use productivity, encompassing both direct and indirect consumption. This study investigates agricultural water-use productivity through a detailed water-footprint analysis, using Aydın Province in Türkiye as a case study. Results show that the total water footprint of crop production in the region is approximately 1238.86 million cubic meters (MCM). In livestock sector, it reaches 2069.73 MCM, with 1039.67 MCM attributable to animal husbandry and 1030.06 MCM to livestock-derived products. These findings underscore the substantial water demand of agricultural activities and highlight the urgent need to adopt efficient water management practices.

Anahtar Kelimeler

• Irrigation efficiency
• Semi-arid agriculture
• Sustainable water management
• Water footprint analysis

Etik Beyan

There is no need to obtain ethics committee approval for this study.

Yarı kurak koşullar altında su ayak izi analizi ile tarımsal su verimliliğinin artırılması: Türkiye’den örnek bir çalışma

Öz

Artan küresel nüfus, sürdürülebilir üretim sistemlerini güvence altına almak için tarımsal su kullanım verimliliğinde iyileştirmeler yapılmasını zorunlu kılmaktadır. Tarım, küresel tatlı su tüketiminin en büyük payına sahip olduğundan, bu sektördeki verimliliğin artırılması su kaynaklarının uzun vadeli sürdürülebilirliği açısından büyük önem taşımaktadır. Bu bağlamda hem doğrudan hem de dolaylı tüketimi kapsayan kapsamlı bir gösterge olarak su ayak izi ortaya çıkmıştır. Bu çalışmada, Türkiye'deki Aydın İli'nin bir örnek olarak ele alınmasıyla, tarımsal su kullanım verimliliğinin detaylı bir su ayak izi analizi aracılığıyla incelenmesi amaçlanmıştır. Elde edilen sonuçlar, bölgedeki bitkisel üretimde toplam su ayak izinin yaklaşık 1238.86 milyon metreküp (MCM) olduğunu göstermektedir. Hayvancılık sektöründe ise bu değer 2069.73 MCM'ye ulaşmakta olup, bunun 1039.67 MCM'si hayvancılık faaliyetlerinden, 1030.06 MCM'si ise hayvansal ürünlerden kaynaklanmaktadır. Bu bulgular, tarımsal faaliyetlerin önemli su talebini vurgulamakta ve verimli su yönetimi uygulamalarının ivedilikle benimsenmesi gerektiğini ortaya koymaktadır.

Anahtar Kelimeler

• Sulama verimliliği
• Yarı kurak tarım
• Sürdürülebilir su yönetimi
• Su ayak izi analizi

Etik Beyan

There is no need to obtain ethics committee approval for this study.

Kaynakça

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