Spatiotemporal variations of agricultural water footprint and its economic benefits in Xinjiang, northwestern China

Agriculture is the largest water user and is the main driving force behind water stress in Xinjiang, northwestern China. In this study, the water footprint (WF) (blue, green and gray WF) of main crop production and their temporal and spatial characteristics in Xinjiang were estimated in 2006, 2010, 2014 and 2018. The blue water footprint deficit (BWF(d)) was conducted and food productivity and economic benefits of WF were also analyzed via the water consumption per output value (food productivity and economic benefits). The results reveal that the WF increased from 22.75 to 44.16 billion m(3) during 2006–2018 in Xinjiang, of which cotton, corn and wheat are main contributors of WF. In terms of different regions, corn has the largest WF in north Xinjiang and cotton has the largest WF in south and east Xinjiang. The BWF(d) broadened from − 11.51 to + 13.26 billion m(3) in Xinjiang with the largest increased BWF(d) in Kashgar (from − 3.35 to 1.40 billion m(3)) and Aksu (from − 2.92 to 2.23 billion m(3)) of south Xinjiang and in Shihezi (from − 0.11 to 2.90 billion m(3)) of north Xinjiang. In addition, the water footprint food productivity does not well correspond with the water footprint economic benefits in prefectures of Xinjiang. It means we should consider the food yields priority and economic benefits priority to formulate a scientific and effective supervisor mode to realize the sustainable management of agricultural water in prefectures of Xinjiang.