Modelling water scarcity and water footprint of agricultural crops: A case from a semi-arid region in Morocco
Study region: The Iguidi watershed is located in southeastern Morocco and represents semi-arid region where limited water resources constrain agricultural productivity and sustainability. Study focus: This study assesses the water footprint (WF) of four major crops: walnuts, wheat, olives, and almon...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Elsevier
2025-06-01
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| Series: | Journal of Hydrology: Regional Studies |
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| Online Access: | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2214581825002800 |
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| author | Oumaima Attar Marianna Leone Anna Maria De Girolamo Lhoussaine Bouchaou Youssef Brouziyne El Mahdi El Khalki Hamza Berrouch Soufiane Taia Mohammed Hssaisoune Yassine Ait Brahim |
| author_facet | Oumaima Attar Marianna Leone Anna Maria De Girolamo Lhoussaine Bouchaou Youssef Brouziyne El Mahdi El Khalki Hamza Berrouch Soufiane Taia Mohammed Hssaisoune Yassine Ait Brahim |
| author_sort | Oumaima Attar |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Study region: The Iguidi watershed is located in southeastern Morocco and represents semi-arid region where limited water resources constrain agricultural productivity and sustainability. Study focus: This study assesses the water footprint (WF) of four major crops: walnuts, wheat, olives, and almonds cultivated in the Iguidi watershed between 1992 and 2021. The Soil and Water Assessment Tool Plus (SWAT+) was used to simulate hydrological processes and estimate crop WF, including green and blue water components. The model was calibrated and validated using observed streamflow, with satisfactory performance (calibration: r = 0.80, R² = 0.55, NSE = 0.55; validation: r = 0.84, R² = 0.55, NSE = 0.55). Plant growth parameters were manually adjusted to improve crop model performance. New hydrological insights for the region: Results indicate significant differences in crop water use, with olives showing the highest total WF (2704.8 m³/t) and wheat the lowest (1482.86 m³/t). Blue Water Scarcity (BWS) increased sharply after 2017, with the index increasing from an average of 0.5 (1995–2021) to 2.4 in 2019. Green Water Scarcity (GWS) also increased after 2017, following a relatively stable period between 2009 and 2017 (average = 0.42). These findings indicate intensifying water stress in the watershed and underscore the need for adaptive and integrated water management strategies to enhance agricultural resilience in semi-arid regions. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-e8859dcf9d2a4c65afc84a074b5dbc77 |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 2214-5818 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-06-01 |
| publisher | Elsevier |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Journal of Hydrology: Regional Studies |
| spelling | doaj-art-e8859dcf9d2a4c65afc84a074b5dbc772025-08-20T03:47:34ZengElsevierJournal of Hydrology: Regional Studies2214-58182025-06-015910245510.1016/j.ejrh.2025.102455Modelling water scarcity and water footprint of agricultural crops: A case from a semi-arid region in MoroccoOumaima Attar0Marianna Leone1Anna Maria De Girolamo2Lhoussaine Bouchaou3Youssef Brouziyne4El Mahdi El Khalki5Hamza Berrouch6Soufiane Taia7Mohammed Hssaisoune8Yassine Ait Brahim9International Water Research Institute, University Mohammed 6 Polytechnic, Benguerir, Morocco; Corresponding author.Water Research Institute, National Research Council (CNR-IRSA), Bari 70132, ItalyWater Research Institute, National Research Council (CNR-IRSA), Bari 70132, ItalyInternational Water Research Institute, University Mohammed 6 Polytechnic, Benguerir, Morocco; Laboratory of Applied Geology and Geo-Environment, Faculty of Sciences, Ibn Zohr University, BP/8106, Cité Dakhla, Agadir 80000, MoroccoInternational Water Management Institute (IWMI), MENA Office, Giza 12661, EgyptInternational Water Research Institute, University Mohammed 6 Polytechnic, Benguerir, MoroccoInternational Water Research Institute, University Mohammed 6 Polytechnic, Benguerir, MoroccoInternational Water Research Institute, University Mohammed 6 Polytechnic, Benguerir, Morocco; Laboratory of Applied Geology and Geo-Environment, Faculty of Sciences, Ibn Zohr University, BP/8106, Cité Dakhla, Agadir 80000, MoroccoInternational Water Research Institute, University Mohammed 6 Polytechnic, Benguerir, Morocco; Laboratory of Applied Geology and Geo-Environment, Faculty of Sciences, Ibn Zohr University, BP/8106, Cité Dakhla, Agadir 80000, Morocco; Faculty of Applied Sciences, Ibn Zohr University, Ait Melloul 86153, MoroccoInternational Water Research Institute, University Mohammed 6 Polytechnic, Benguerir, MoroccoStudy region: The Iguidi watershed is located in southeastern Morocco and represents semi-arid region where limited water resources constrain agricultural productivity and sustainability. Study focus: This study assesses the water footprint (WF) of four major crops: walnuts, wheat, olives, and almonds cultivated in the Iguidi watershed between 1992 and 2021. The Soil and Water Assessment Tool Plus (SWAT+) was used to simulate hydrological processes and estimate crop WF, including green and blue water components. The model was calibrated and validated using observed streamflow, with satisfactory performance (calibration: r = 0.80, R² = 0.55, NSE = 0.55; validation: r = 0.84, R² = 0.55, NSE = 0.55). Plant growth parameters were manually adjusted to improve crop model performance. New hydrological insights for the region: Results indicate significant differences in crop water use, with olives showing the highest total WF (2704.8 m³/t) and wheat the lowest (1482.86 m³/t). Blue Water Scarcity (BWS) increased sharply after 2017, with the index increasing from an average of 0.5 (1995–2021) to 2.4 in 2019. Green Water Scarcity (GWS) also increased after 2017, following a relatively stable period between 2009 and 2017 (average = 0.42). These findings indicate intensifying water stress in the watershed and underscore the need for adaptive and integrated water management strategies to enhance agricultural resilience in semi-arid regions.http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2214581825002800Water footprintWater scarcitySWATSemi-arid regionMorocco |
| spellingShingle | Oumaima Attar Marianna Leone Anna Maria De Girolamo Lhoussaine Bouchaou Youssef Brouziyne El Mahdi El Khalki Hamza Berrouch Soufiane Taia Mohammed Hssaisoune Yassine Ait Brahim Modelling water scarcity and water footprint of agricultural crops: A case from a semi-arid region in Morocco Journal of Hydrology: Regional Studies Water footprint Water scarcity SWAT Semi-arid region Morocco |
| title | Modelling water scarcity and water footprint of agricultural crops: A case from a semi-arid region in Morocco |
| title_full | Modelling water scarcity and water footprint of agricultural crops: A case from a semi-arid region in Morocco |
| title_fullStr | Modelling water scarcity and water footprint of agricultural crops: A case from a semi-arid region in Morocco |
| title_full_unstemmed | Modelling water scarcity and water footprint of agricultural crops: A case from a semi-arid region in Morocco |
| title_short | Modelling water scarcity and water footprint of agricultural crops: A case from a semi-arid region in Morocco |
| title_sort | modelling water scarcity and water footprint of agricultural crops a case from a semi arid region in morocco |
| topic | Water footprint Water scarcity SWAT Semi-arid region Morocco |
| url | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2214581825002800 |
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