Studies on agricultural water conservation strategies in key potential areas for grain production increase in China
XING Xigang
LI Wei
LI Yunling
REN Hejing
MIAO Ping
ZHENG Hexiang
Abstract：Agricultural water use accounts for over 60%of the total water consumption in China,making agricultural water conservation a crucial measure for reinforcing the rigid constraints on water resources,particularly in key potential areas for grain production increase where water scarcity is more pronounced.By analyzing the connotation of agricultural water conservation,this study highlights that the focus in the new era lies in balancing water conservation practices with the water demand for enhancing grain production capacity,maintaining farmland ecosystems,and expanding water supply sources.A new concept of agricultural water conservation is proposed accordingly.Based on a systematic analysis of cultivated land area,grain yield,high-standard farmland development,and reserve land resources,the key potential areas for grain production increase have been identified as the northeastern and northwestern regions of China.Considering the integrated development of water,land,grain,and ecology,the study analyzes the current status and identifies key issues in these areas,including underutilization of new quality productive forces,inadequate promotion and service systems for water conservation technologies,mismatched water-land-grain relationships,uneven alignment between grain production layout and water availability,and poor coordination among water,land,and ecology,leading to aggravated water shortages and ecological risks due to excessive agricultural development.In response to future demands for grain productivity,ecological restoration,and comprehensive conservation and intensive utilization,strategies are proposed to develop green,efficient,and smart agriculture,to upgrade water-saving and grain production capabilities in the northeast,and to intensify water conservation and control in the northwest.These strategies aim to support planning,policymaking,and water management enhancement in key potential areas.
Keywords：agricultural water conservationkey potential areas for grain production increasewater-land-grain-ecologysituation requirementsdevelopment strategies
Publication Date：2025-07-12
Online Publishing Date：2025-08-15(First online date of this platform, not the publication date of the document)
Pages：9( 57-65 )