Agricultural Water Productivity Oriented Water Resources Allocation Based on the Coordination of Multiple Factors

Abstract

Agricultural water productivity (AWP), which is associated with multiple factors, is an important index for measuring the effectiveness of agricultural water management. The purpose of this study is to promote AWP through optimally allocating limited agricultural water resources with the coordination of related elements. Firstly, the coordination effects of multiple factors related to AWP are quantified as relative optimum membership degrees based on the fuzzy optimum selecting theory. Secondly, based on the relative optimum membership degrees for various crops, a linear fractional programming model is established to maximize AWP in agricultural water resources allocation. Thirdly, the impacts of the allocation schemes on the development of social-economy and ecological environment are discussed using the multi-dimensional regulation theory. The developed integrated system has advantages in increasing agricultural water productivity through the coordination of multiple factors with aspects of economy, society and resources. Moreover, the system is capable of screening schemes considering harmonious development of resources, economy, society and ecology based on optimization results, providing decision makers with more sustainable schemes for irrigation water allocation. The integrated system including the aforementioned three parts is applied to a real-world case study in China to demonstrate its feasibility and applicability. Different water allocation schemes for various crops under different scenarios were obtained. The average value of AWP is 1.85 kg/m3, which is 0.31 kg/m3 higher than the current value of AWP. An optimum scheme with 1.1405 × 108 m3 of water being allocated was also selected due to its highest level of coordination for resources, economy, society and ecology. The developed system can provide an effective method for AWP promotion. The obtained results can help local decision makers adjust water resources allocation schemes.