Connection between water consumption of apple production and subsurface water depletion on the Loess Plateau of China
Economic tree species, particularly those in the agroforestry ecosystems, significantly impact subsurface hydrological processes due to their high transpiration and water demand. Understanding the impacts of agroforestry systems on subsurface water is crucial for sustainable water management, but qu...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Elsevier
2025-06-01
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| Series: | Agricultural Water Management |
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| Online Access: | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0378377425002604 |
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| author | Peijun Shi Jianjun Yang Yi Yang Zhi Li |
| author_facet | Peijun Shi Jianjun Yang Yi Yang Zhi Li |
| author_sort | Peijun Shi |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Economic tree species, particularly those in the agroforestry ecosystems, significantly impact subsurface hydrological processes due to their high transpiration and water demand. Understanding the impacts of agroforestry systems on subsurface water is crucial for sustainable water management, but quantitative regional-scale assessment remains challenging. This study investigated the relationship between water consumption in apple production and subsurface water in the Changwu County on the Loess Plateau of China. Using the dataset of apple orchard areas and yields from 1995 to 2020, we quantified the consumed water and depleted subsurface water by apple production, and subsequently analyzed their relationships with water table. Results indicated a clear linkage between water table decline and water consumption for apple production. Since 2005, precipitation has been unable to meet water demand of apple production, leading to progressive depletion of subsurface water. By 2020, the cumulative water depletion in the study area reached 3.6 × 107 m3, corresponding to a 63 mm decline in the water table depth equivalent to 11 % of mean annual precipitation. Both water consumption for apple production and subsurface water depletion showed linear growth trends in parallel with orchard expansion. The spatial extent of apple orchards was identified as the primary driver of regional subsurface water depletion. Intensive apple production has disrupted groundwater connectivity in this area, thereby increasing the risk to subsurface water. These findings provide valuable insights for balancing sustainable water management and agricultural production. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-89c24b3553bc4d279a7e4868a991ff1d |
| institution | OA Journals |
| issn | 1873-2283 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-06-01 |
| publisher | Elsevier |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Agricultural Water Management |
| spelling | doaj-art-89c24b3553bc4d279a7e4868a991ff1d2025-08-20T02:05:07ZengElsevierAgricultural Water Management1873-22832025-06-0131510954610.1016/j.agwat.2025.109546Connection between water consumption of apple production and subsurface water depletion on the Loess Plateau of ChinaPeijun Shi0Jianjun Yang1Yi Yang2Zhi Li3Key Laboratory of Oasis Ecology, Ministry of Education, College of Ecology and Environment, Xinjiang University, Urumchi, Xinjiang 830000, ChinaKey Laboratory of Oasis Ecology, Ministry of Education, College of Ecology and Environment, Xinjiang University, Urumchi, Xinjiang 830000, ChinaCollege of Natural Resources and Environment, Northwest A&F University, Yangling, Shaanxi 712100, ChinaCollege of Natural Resources and Environment, Northwest A&F University, Yangling, Shaanxi 712100, China; Corresponding author.Economic tree species, particularly those in the agroforestry ecosystems, significantly impact subsurface hydrological processes due to their high transpiration and water demand. Understanding the impacts of agroforestry systems on subsurface water is crucial for sustainable water management, but quantitative regional-scale assessment remains challenging. This study investigated the relationship between water consumption in apple production and subsurface water in the Changwu County on the Loess Plateau of China. Using the dataset of apple orchard areas and yields from 1995 to 2020, we quantified the consumed water and depleted subsurface water by apple production, and subsequently analyzed their relationships with water table. Results indicated a clear linkage between water table decline and water consumption for apple production. Since 2005, precipitation has been unable to meet water demand of apple production, leading to progressive depletion of subsurface water. By 2020, the cumulative water depletion in the study area reached 3.6 × 107 m3, corresponding to a 63 mm decline in the water table depth equivalent to 11 % of mean annual precipitation. Both water consumption for apple production and subsurface water depletion showed linear growth trends in parallel with orchard expansion. The spatial extent of apple orchards was identified as the primary driver of regional subsurface water depletion. Intensive apple production has disrupted groundwater connectivity in this area, thereby increasing the risk to subsurface water. These findings provide valuable insights for balancing sustainable water management and agricultural production.http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0378377425002604Apple treeSoil water depletionSubsurface hydrologyTree plantingGroundwaterLoess area |
| spellingShingle | Peijun Shi Jianjun Yang Yi Yang Zhi Li Connection between water consumption of apple production and subsurface water depletion on the Loess Plateau of China Agricultural Water Management Apple tree Soil water depletion Subsurface hydrology Tree planting Groundwater Loess area |
| title | Connection between water consumption of apple production and subsurface water depletion on the Loess Plateau of China |
| title_full | Connection between water consumption of apple production and subsurface water depletion on the Loess Plateau of China |
| title_fullStr | Connection between water consumption of apple production and subsurface water depletion on the Loess Plateau of China |
| title_full_unstemmed | Connection between water consumption of apple production and subsurface water depletion on the Loess Plateau of China |
| title_short | Connection between water consumption of apple production and subsurface water depletion on the Loess Plateau of China |
| title_sort | connection between water consumption of apple production and subsurface water depletion on the loess plateau of china |
| topic | Apple tree Soil water depletion Subsurface hydrology Tree planting Groundwater Loess area |
| url | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0378377425002604 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT peijunshi connectionbetweenwaterconsumptionofappleproductionandsubsurfacewaterdepletionontheloessplateauofchina AT jianjunyang connectionbetweenwaterconsumptionofappleproductionandsubsurfacewaterdepletionontheloessplateauofchina AT yiyang connectionbetweenwaterconsumptionofappleproductionandsubsurfacewaterdepletionontheloessplateauofchina AT zhili connectionbetweenwaterconsumptionofappleproductionandsubsurfacewaterdepletionontheloessplateauofchina |