Analysis of crop virtual water flow at dual scales in yellow river basin based on the SWAT model
Abstract Recently, water scarcity has been becoming increasingly severe, and the research of virtual water flow has offered a scientific foundation for effective water resource management. This study used a SWAT semi-distributed hydrological model, focusing on sub-basins and secondary water resource...
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Nature Portfolio
2025-08-01
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| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-13252-4 |
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| author | Jing Liu Tiantian Zi Lan Wang Xinchun Cao |
| author_facet | Jing Liu Tiantian Zi Lan Wang Xinchun Cao |
| author_sort | Jing Liu |
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| description | Abstract Recently, water scarcity has been becoming increasingly severe, and the research of virtual water flow has offered a scientific foundation for effective water resource management. This study used a SWAT semi-distributed hydrological model, focusing on sub-basins and secondary water resource divisions to quantitatively assess crop virtual water flow in Yellow River Basin (YRB), along with its network structure and water saving benefits. From 2007 to 2020, crop virtual water flow increased by over 20% at both scales, with net outflow areas predominantly in the north and net inflow areas mainly in the south. High centrality areas were predominantly located in the upstream mid-section and the eastern and southern regions of the midstream. The middle reaches of the upper Yellow River Basin and the middle YRB consistently occupied central positions. Water saving benefits significantly improved, with the total water saving at the secondary water resource divisions scale increasing from 21.97 $$\times$$ 108 to 46.92 $$\times$$ 108 m³, and the water saving efficiency growing by 72%. Areas with positive water saving benefits accounted for approximately 70% of YRB, especially in the northeastern part of the middle reaches of the YRB, while negative water saving benefits were mostly found in the southern middle and lower reaches. In the future, enhancing the monitoring and evaluation of crop virtual water flow will be essential. Strategic planning of crop trade routes should integrate both scales, emphasizing the development of core network regions while fostering growth in peripheral areas to ensure network stability. Additionally, implementing water-saving technologies and adjusting crop planting structures are vital for sustainable water resource management in YRB. |
| format | Article |
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| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-08-01 |
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| spelling | doaj-art-9c963d7233ba4e21ad2ba9d00a8781d02025-08-20T03:04:37ZengNature PortfolioScientific Reports2045-23222025-08-0115111910.1038/s41598-025-13252-4Analysis of crop virtual water flow at dual scales in yellow river basin based on the SWAT modelJing Liu0Tiantian Zi1Lan Wang2Xinchun Cao3College of Hydrology and Water Resources, Hohai UniversityCollege of Hydrology and Water Resources, Hohai UniversityCollege of Hydrology and Water Resources, Hohai UniversityCollege of Agricultural Science and Engineering, Hohai UniversityAbstract Recently, water scarcity has been becoming increasingly severe, and the research of virtual water flow has offered a scientific foundation for effective water resource management. This study used a SWAT semi-distributed hydrological model, focusing on sub-basins and secondary water resource divisions to quantitatively assess crop virtual water flow in Yellow River Basin (YRB), along with its network structure and water saving benefits. From 2007 to 2020, crop virtual water flow increased by over 20% at both scales, with net outflow areas predominantly in the north and net inflow areas mainly in the south. High centrality areas were predominantly located in the upstream mid-section and the eastern and southern regions of the midstream. The middle reaches of the upper Yellow River Basin and the middle YRB consistently occupied central positions. Water saving benefits significantly improved, with the total water saving at the secondary water resource divisions scale increasing from 21.97 $$\times$$ 108 to 46.92 $$\times$$ 108 m³, and the water saving efficiency growing by 72%. Areas with positive water saving benefits accounted for approximately 70% of YRB, especially in the northeastern part of the middle reaches of the YRB, while negative water saving benefits were mostly found in the southern middle and lower reaches. In the future, enhancing the monitoring and evaluation of crop virtual water flow will be essential. Strategic planning of crop trade routes should integrate both scales, emphasizing the development of core network regions while fostering growth in peripheral areas to ensure network stability. Additionally, implementing water-saving technologies and adjusting crop planting structures are vital for sustainable water resource management in YRB.https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-13252-4Virtual water flowNetwork structureWater saving benefitsSWATSub-basinsSecondary water resource divisions |
| spellingShingle | Jing Liu Tiantian Zi Lan Wang Xinchun Cao Analysis of crop virtual water flow at dual scales in yellow river basin based on the SWAT model Scientific Reports Virtual water flow Network structure Water saving benefits SWAT Sub-basins Secondary water resource divisions |
| title | Analysis of crop virtual water flow at dual scales in yellow river basin based on the SWAT model |
| title_full | Analysis of crop virtual water flow at dual scales in yellow river basin based on the SWAT model |
| title_fullStr | Analysis of crop virtual water flow at dual scales in yellow river basin based on the SWAT model |
| title_full_unstemmed | Analysis of crop virtual water flow at dual scales in yellow river basin based on the SWAT model |
| title_short | Analysis of crop virtual water flow at dual scales in yellow river basin based on the SWAT model |
| title_sort | analysis of crop virtual water flow at dual scales in yellow river basin based on the swat model |
| topic | Virtual water flow Network structure Water saving benefits SWAT Sub-basins Secondary water resource divisions |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-13252-4 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT jingliu analysisofcropvirtualwaterflowatdualscalesinyellowriverbasinbasedontheswatmodel AT tiantianzi analysisofcropvirtualwaterflowatdualscalesinyellowriverbasinbasedontheswatmodel AT lanwang analysisofcropvirtualwaterflowatdualscalesinyellowriverbasinbasedontheswatmodel AT xinchuncao analysisofcropvirtualwaterflowatdualscalesinyellowriverbasinbasedontheswatmodel |