Assessment of rice water footprint in the Kashmir valley
Rice Water Footprint in Kashmir Valley
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.21921/jas.v13i01.15276Keywords:
Water footprint, Rice, Green water, Blue water, Grey waterAbstract
Rice is a key crop in the Kashmir valley and it needs a lot of water during production, so managing water well is crucial for lasting sustainability. This study evaluated the water footprint of rice in Kashmir from 2010 to 2023 by separately assessing the green, blue, and grey water footprint components. The water footprint was measured using standard methods based on climate, crop, and yield data. The results indicated that the total water footprint of rice varies from 2868.32 to 8768.08 m³ per ton, with an average of 3592.28 m³ per ton. The blue water footprint contributed the largest part, making up 49.72% of the total. This was followed by green water at 35.27% and grey water at 15.00%. An especially high water footprint was observed in the year 2014, mainly because severe flooding caused big drops in yield, leading to higher water footprint values. The results emphasize how much climate changes and crop performance affect rice water footprints and also provide a useful basis for improving water efficiency and supporting sustainable rice farming in the Kashmir valley.
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