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Evaluation of Sustainability of Irrigated Crops in Arid Regions, China
- Source :
- Sustainability, Vol 13, Iss 342, p 342 (2021), Sustainability, Volume 13, Issue 1, Fan, F, Li, B, Zhang, W, Porter, J R & Zhang, F 2021, ' Evaluation of Sustainability of Irrigated Crops in Arid Regions, China ', Sustainability, vol. 13, no. 1, 342 . https://doi.org/10.3390/su13010342
- Publication Year :
- 2021
- Publisher :
- MDPI AG, 2021.
-
Abstract
- Ensuring national food security amidst ongoing economic development whilst both protecting the environment and reducing the dependence on fossil fuels are significant challenges for Chinese sustainable development. The main objectives of this study were to reveal irrigated crop (wheat, maize, and sunflower) performance in terms of energy, economic, and environmental aspects in China&rsquo<br />s largest designed irrigation area, Hetao irrigation district (HID), and to evaluate agricultural suitability based on plant structure. An integrated indicator and comprehensively assessment method were used to evaluate the above objectives based on the results from in-person surveys. The results show that maize exhibits the best overall performance compared to two other major crops (wheat and sunflower), which supports the government policy of adjust and optimize the planting structure program (AOPST), an effective way to achieve the multiple-objectives for sustainable agricultural development. However, reducing fertilizer remains a more critical factor than AOPST. These study results provide useful guidance for policy-makers and relevant stake-holders both in a regional context for the HID and at the global agricultural governance and management level.
- Subjects :
- Irrigation
net profit
020209 energy
Geography, Planning and Development
environmental degradation
TJ807-830
Context (language use)
02 engineering and technology
Agricultural engineering
010501 environmental sciences
Management, Monitoring, Policy and Law
TD194-195
01 natural sciences
Renewable energy sources
agricultural sustainability
0202 electrical engineering, electronic engineering, information engineering
GE1-350
Environmental degradation
0105 earth and related environmental sciences
Sustainable development
Food security
Environmental effects of industries and plants
Renewable Energy, Sustainability and the Environment
business.industry
Irrigation district
Environmental sciences
energy use efficiency
Agriculture
Sustainability
Environmental science
business
comprehensive assessment
Subjects
Details
- Language :
- English
- ISSN :
- 20711050
- Volume :
- 13
- Issue :
- 342
- Database :
- OpenAIRE
- Journal :
- Sustainability
- Accession number :
- edsair.doi.dedup.....556b1da6c20c0a277f7164404ffd1c20