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The Water Footprint (WF) is an indicator used to determine good practices for efficiently using water in human activities. This work evaluates the green (rainfed) and blue (irrigation) water footprint of avocado cultivation in the municipalities of Acuitzio (2012–2016) and Morelia (2016–2020) in Michoacán, Mexico. Likewise, the water stress of irrigation water use is analyzed, linking the blue WF with the volumes of concessions for agricultural use. The results revealed that the mean green WF for Acuitzio is 1292.49 m3/ton, and the mean blue WF is 689.23 m3/ton. In Morelia, the mean green WF is 582.97 m3/ton, and the mean blue WF is 711.74 m3/ton. The mean production of irrigated avocado in Acuitzio is 7963.62 (ton/year), and in Morelia, 8547.76 (ton/year), which allows us to project that, in Acuitzio, the avocado crop requires an annual mean of 5,046,610.69 m3, while the mean requirement in Morelia is 6,029,920.59 m3. The average volume of water for agricultural use in Acuitzio is 3,357,782.93 m3, while the average water demand is 149.27%. This situation shows water stress in this municipality since water consumption exceeds available water resources. For Morelia, the water available for agricultural use is 11,418,745.40 m3, and the average consumption of avocado as a crop is 53.18%, which can put the supply of this resource for other agricultural crops at risk. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Water is a fundamental resource for ecosystems, humans, and the development of all economic sectors; it is necessary to identify and evaluate its environmental pressures and impacts. The water footprint (WF) is an appropriate indicator for the consumption of water used to produce a product. The present study uses this tool to evaluate the green and blue water requirements and the sustainability of irrigation water use for agroindustrial avocado production in Ziracuaretiro, Michoacán (2012–2021). Our analysis was based on aggregating weather and soil data at the municipal level and official government databases of avocado cultivated surface, fruit production, and water rights concessions. The analysis considers the homogeneity of information throughout the study area. We estimated that rainfed plantations require 839.03 m3/ton, and irrigated plantations require 2355.80 m3/ton, with an average of 1597.47 m3/ton. In addition, we determined that avocado cultivation can demand up to 124.3% of agricultural water concessions in this municipality. Moreover, the WF estimates and the analysis indicate that such studies are fundamental for decision-makers to develop and implement water use efficiency strategies and shows the need for further research related to the water consumption of avocado as a crop at more detailed scales. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]