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The overexploitation of groundwater and the excessive application of nitrogen (N) fertilizer under the intensive double cropping system are responsible for the groundwater level decline and potential contamination in the North China Plain (NCP). Alternative cropping systems have the potential to alleviate current groundwater and N problems in the region, while there are limited studies simultaneously focusing on the impact of a change of cropping systems on crop yields, groundwater consumption, and N leaching. In this study, Field observed experiments of double-cropping system (i.e., winter wheat–summer maize) and mono-cropping system (early sowing maize) were used to calibrate and validate the Root Zone Water Quality Model (RZWQM2). Then, the validated RZWQM2 model was used to evaluate the long-term crop growth and environmental impact under the local winter wheat–summer maize rotation system with practical irrigation (WW-SM_pi) and auto-irrigation (WW-SM_ai), and three alternative cropping systems (single early maize, SEM; winter wheat–summer maize and single early maize, WW-SM-SEM; winter wheat-summer maize and double single early maize, WW-SM-2SEM). The net consumption of groundwater and N leaching under WW-SM_pi were 226.9 mm yr−1 and 79.7 kg ha−1 yr−1, respectively. Under the local rotation system, auto-irrigation could increase crop yields and N leaching. Compared with the WW-SM_ai, the alternative cropping systems, WW-SM-SEM, WW-SM-2SEM, and SEM, significantly decreased the net consumption of groundwater by 49.3%, 63.0%, and 97.8%, respectively (147.5–292.9 mm), and N leaching by 53.5%, 67.5%, and 89.6%, respectively (50.0–83.7 kg ha−1). However, the yields of the three alternative cropping systems were reduced by less than 30% (12.2%, 20.1%, and 29.7%, respectively). The simulated results indicated that appropriately decreasing the planting frequency of winter wheat is an effective approach to reduce groundwater overexploitation and N contamination with a relatively limited reduction in grain yields. The results could provide a scientific basis for cropping system adjustment in guaranteeing sustainable regional water and grain policy.
Meiying Liu; Leilei Min; Yanjun Shen; Lin Wu. Evaluating the Impact of Alternative Cropping Systems on Groundwater Consumption and Nitrate Leaching in the Piedmont Area of the North China Plain. Agronomy 2020, 10, 1635 .
AMA StyleMeiying Liu, Leilei Min, Yanjun Shen, Lin Wu. Evaluating the Impact of Alternative Cropping Systems on Groundwater Consumption and Nitrate Leaching in the Piedmont Area of the North China Plain. Agronomy. 2020; 10 (11):1635.
Chicago/Turabian StyleMeiying Liu; Leilei Min; Yanjun Shen; Lin Wu. 2020. "Evaluating the Impact of Alternative Cropping Systems on Groundwater Consumption and Nitrate Leaching in the Piedmont Area of the North China Plain." Agronomy 10, no. 11: 1635.
Despite the significance of river leakage to riparian ecosystems in arid/semi-arid regions, a true understanding and the accurate quantification of the leakage processes of ephemeral rivers in these regions remain elusive. In this study, the patterns of river infiltration and the associated controlling factors in an approximately 150-km section of the Donghe River (lower Heihe River, China) were revealed using a combination of field investigations and modelling techniques. The results showed that from 21 April 2010 to 7 September 2012, river water leakage accounted for 33% of the total river runoff in the simulated segments. A sensitivity analysis showed that the simulated infiltration rates were most sensitive to the aquifer hydraulic conductivity and the maximum evapotranspiration (ET) rate. However, the river leakage rate, i.e., the ratio of the leakage volume to the total runoff volume, of a single runoff event relies heavily on the total runoff volume and river flow rate. In addition to the hydraulic parameters of riverbeds, the characteristics of ET parameters are equally important for quantifying the flux exchange between arid ephemeral streams and underlying aquifers. Coupled surface/groundwater models, which aim to estimate river leakage, should consider riparian zones because these areas play a dominant role in the formation of leakage from the river for recharging via ET. The results of this paper can be used as a reference for water resource planning and management in regulated river basins to help maintain riparian ecosystems in arid regions.
Leilei Min; Peter Yu. Vasilevskiy; Ping Wang; Sergey P. Pozdniakov; Jingjie Yu. Numerical Approaches for Estimating Daily River Leakage from Arid Ephemeral Streams. Water 2020, 12, 499 .
AMA StyleLeilei Min, Peter Yu. Vasilevskiy, Ping Wang, Sergey P. Pozdniakov, Jingjie Yu. Numerical Approaches for Estimating Daily River Leakage from Arid Ephemeral Streams. Water. 2020; 12 (2):499.
Chicago/Turabian StyleLeilei Min; Peter Yu. Vasilevskiy; Ping Wang; Sergey P. Pozdniakov; Jingjie Yu. 2020. "Numerical Approaches for Estimating Daily River Leakage from Arid Ephemeral Streams." Water 12, no. 2: 499.
The Huang-Huai-Hai (3H) Plain is the major crop-producing region in China. Due to the long-term overexploitation of groundwater for irrigation, the groundwater funnel is constantly expanding and the scarcity of water resources is prominent in this region. In this study, Gravity Recovery and Climate Experiment (GRACE) and hydrological models were used to estimate the spatial-temporal changes of groundwater storage (GWS) and the driving factors of GWS variations were discussed in the 3H Plain. The results showed that GRACE-based GWS was depleted at a rate of −1.14 ± 0.89 cm/y in the 3H Plain during 2003 to 2015. The maximum negative anomaly occurred in spring due to agricultural irrigation activities. Spatially, the loss of GWS in the Haihe River Basin is more serious than that in the Huaihe River Basin, presenting a decreasing trend from south to north. Conversely, the blue water footprint (WFblue) of wheat exhibited an increasing trend from south to north. During the drought years of 2006, 2013, and 2014, more groundwater was extracted to offset the surface water shortage, leading to an accelerated decline in GWS. This study demonstrated that GWS depletion in the 3H Plain is well explained by reduced precipitation and groundwater abstraction due to anthropogenic irrigation activities.
Youzhe Su; Bin Guo; Ziteng Zhou; Yulong Zhong; Leilei Min. Spatio-Temporal Variations in Groundwater Revealed by GRACE and Its Driving Factors in the Huang-Huai-Hai Plain, China. Sensors 2020, 20, 922 .
AMA StyleYouzhe Su, Bin Guo, Ziteng Zhou, Yulong Zhong, Leilei Min. Spatio-Temporal Variations in Groundwater Revealed by GRACE and Its Driving Factors in the Huang-Huai-Hai Plain, China. Sensors. 2020; 20 (3):922.
Chicago/Turabian StyleYouzhe Su; Bin Guo; Ziteng Zhou; Yulong Zhong; Leilei Min. 2020. "Spatio-Temporal Variations in Groundwater Revealed by GRACE and Its Driving Factors in the Huang-Huai-Hai Plain, China." Sensors 20, no. 3: 922.
Groundwater plays a major role in agro-hydrological processes in the North China Plain (NCP). The NCP is facing a water deficit, due to a rapid decline in the water table because of the double cropping system. A two crop (maize and wheat) rotation is required to balance the food supply and demand, which leads to an imbalance between evapotranspiration (ET) and precipitation. Thus, there has been a decline of about 1.35 m yr−1 of groundwater (Luancheng Agroecosystem Experimental Station (LAES), NCP) during the last 10 years. Lysimeter experiments were conducted under different irrigation treatments (flood, surface drip, and subsurface drip) to account for ET in the selection of a suitable irrigation method. Subsurface drip irrigation reduced ET by 26% compared to flood irrigation, and 15% compared to surface drip irrigation, with significant grain yield and biomass formation due to decreased evaporation losses. Grain yield, yield components, and above ground biomass were similar in subsurface drip and flood irrigation. However, these biomass parameters were lower with surface drip irrigation. Furthermore, subsurface drip irrigation increased the crop water productivity (24.95%) and irrigation water productivity (19.59%) compared to flood irrigation. The subsurface irrigated plants showed an increase in net photosynthesis (~10%), higher intrinsic water use efficiency (~36%), lower transpiration rate (~22%), and saved 80 mm of water compared to flood irrigation. Our findings indicate that subsurface drip irrigation can be adopted in the NCP to increase water use efficiency, optimize grain yield, and minimize water loss in order to address scarcity.
Muhammad Umair; Tabassum Hussain; Hanbing Jiang; Ayesha Ahmad; Jiawei Yao; Yongqing Qi; Yucui Zhang; Leilei Min; Yanjun Shen. Water-Saving Potential of Subsurface Drip Irrigation For Winter Wheat. Sustainability 2019, 11, 2978 .
AMA StyleMuhammad Umair, Tabassum Hussain, Hanbing Jiang, Ayesha Ahmad, Jiawei Yao, Yongqing Qi, Yucui Zhang, Leilei Min, Yanjun Shen. Water-Saving Potential of Subsurface Drip Irrigation For Winter Wheat. Sustainability. 2019; 11 (10):2978.
Chicago/Turabian StyleMuhammad Umair; Tabassum Hussain; Hanbing Jiang; Ayesha Ahmad; Jiawei Yao; Yongqing Qi; Yucui Zhang; Leilei Min; Yanjun Shen. 2019. "Water-Saving Potential of Subsurface Drip Irrigation For Winter Wheat." Sustainability 11, no. 10: 2978.