Water footprints and irrigated agricultural sustainability: the case of Chile. Issue 5 (2nd September 2016)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Donoso, G.; Blanco, E.; Franco, G.; Lira, J.
• Is Part Of: International journal of water resources development. Volume 32:Issue 5(2016)
• Page Start: 738
• Page End: 748
• Publication Date: 2016-09-02
• Subjects: Agricultural water footprint -- water productivity -- crop consumptive water use -- Chile; Water resources development -- Periodicals; Water-supply, Agricultural -- Periodicals; 333.91005
• DOI: 10.1080/07900627.2015.1070710
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0790-0627

Abstract

Abstract: This paper estimates the agricultural production water footprint (WF) of Chile, assessing green, blue and grey WFs of the main agricultural products for the main productive regions, taking into account climatic and soil differences. Chile's agricultural production blue WF is geographically concentrated in the lower portion of the Northern Dry Pacific and Central Chile area, which present less water availability. Thus, irrigated agricultural production in Chile, a semiarid country, is characterized by high water stress. In this scenario, public policies are required to incentivize better water management in order to reduce water vulnerability while boosting development.