Please wait a minute...
Journal of Arid Land  2012, Vol. 4 Issue (4): 399-410    DOI: 10.3724/SP.J.1227.2012.00399
Research Articles     
Impact of agricultural development on variation in surface runoff in arid regions: a case of the Aksu River Basin
XinHuan ZHANG1, DeGang YANG1, XinYi XIANG2, Xiang HUANG1
1 Xinjiang Institute of Ecology and Geography, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Urumqi 830011, China;
2 School of Geographical Sciences, Southwest University, Chongqing 400715, China
Download:   PDF(641KB)
Export: BibTeX | EndNote (RIS)      

Abstract  Located in the south of Xinjiang Uygur autonomous region, the Tarim River is the longest inland river in China. Agricultural development, excessive exploitation and low surface water use efficiency in the headstream regions have led to a marked decrease in the water supply to the mainstream. This, in turn, has resulted in the drying-up of the watercourse in the lower reaches of the Tarim River and serious deterioration of the eco-environment. The Aksu River Basin, the most important headstream of the Tarim River, was selected as the research area in this study. Taking elastic coefficient, water demand coefficient and water utilization intensity as the indices, we studied the impact of agricultural development on decreasing surface runoff since the 1950s. The re-sults indicated that (1) the increasing rate of consumption of surface runoff outstripped the rate of increase meas-ured in the natural catchment discharge, resulting in ever diminishing stream discharge into the Tarim River. Agri-cultural irrigation and seepage loss in irrigation canal systems were the major sources for runoff consumption, tak-ing 63.72% of the overall runoff consumption. What’s more, agricultural water consumption took up more than 97% of the water used for long-term production; (2) the expansion of cultivated land, change of planting structure and comparatively low agricultural irrigation efficiency all contributed to the decrease in surface runoff of the Aksu River. The elasticity coefficient of surface runoff reduction corresponding to the increase in planted area was 0.34 in the 1950s, while in the 2000s it had increased to 7.87. This reflected a more sensitive response of runoff decrease to cultivated land expansion. The increase in cotton and fruit production, without widely-used scientific irrigation methods and water-saving technology, led to considerable waste of the water resources. Meanwhile, the irrigation efficiency was still quite low, characterized by the waste of water resources, and the decrease of surface runoff; (3) in different stages, cultivated land area, planting structure and agricultural water use efficiency exerted different effects on runoff decrease. In the early stage, agricultural development showed no obvious effect on runoff de-crease. Since the 1960s, the expansion in cultivated land resulted in large consumption of surface runoff; since the 1990s, not only expansion in cultivated land expansion, but also planting structure exerted significant impact on the consumption of surface runoff. Recently, though agricultural water use efficiency has improved in some regions to reduce the consumption of runoff to a certain extent, overall agricultural water use efficiency is still quite low; (4) during the investigation period, water consumption by agricultural development reflected the unbalanced relation-ship between human activities and water resources.

Key wordsbaseflow      climate      Kalinen separation method      Morlet wavelet      Yangtze River     
Received: 17 January 2012      Published: 15 December 2012
Fund:  

The Doctor Western-funded Projects of Chinese Academy of Sciences (XBBS 200803, XBBS 200810), West Plan Foundation of Chinese Academy of Sci-ences (KZCX2-XB3-01), and the National Natural Science Foundation of China (40801065).

Corresponding Authors:
Cite this article:

XinHuan ZHANG, DeGang YANG1 XinYi XIANG, Xiang HUANG. Impact of agricultural development on variation in surface runoff in arid regions: a case of the Aksu River Basin. Journal of Arid Land, 2012, 4(4): 399-410.

URL:

http://jal.xjegi.com/10.3724/SP.J.1227.2012.00399     OR     http://jal.xjegi.com/Y2012/V4/I4/399

Administrative Office of Aksu Region and Statistics Bureau of Aksu Region. 1999. Statistical Yearbooks for 50 years of the Aksu region. Urumqi: Xinjiang Statistics Press.

Administrative Office of Aksu Region and Statistics Bureau of Aksu Region. 2000–2010. Statistical Yearbooks of the Aksu Region. Urumqi: Xinjiang Statistics Press.

Chen X. 2008. Land Use/Cover Change in Arid Areas. Beijing: Science Press, 169–180.

Chen Y N, Cui W C, Li W H, et al. 2003. Utilization of water resources and ecological protection in the Tarim River. Acta Geographic Sinica, 58(2): 215–222. 

Chen Y N, Zhang X L, Xu H L, et al. 2004. Ecological effect analysis on the water conveyance in dried-up riverway in Tarim River of Xinjiang. Science in China Series D: Earth Sciences, 34(5): 475–482.

Chen Y N, Xu Z X. 2005. Plausible impact of global climate change on water resources in the Tarim River Basin, China. Science in China Series D: Earth Sciences, 48(1): 65–73.

Chen Y N, Takeuchi K, Xu C, et al. 2006a. Regional climate change and its effects on river runoff in the Tarim Basin, China. Hydrological Processes, 20: 2207–2216.

Chen Y N, Zilliacus H, Li W H, et al. 2006b. Ground-water level affects plant species diversity along the lower reaches of the Tarim River, western China. Journal of Arid Environments, 66: 231–246.

Chen Y N, Li W H, Chen Y P, et al. 2007. Water conveyance in dried-up riverway and ecological restoration in the lower reaches of Tarim River, China. Acta Ecologica Sinica, 27(2): 538–545.

Chen Y N, Hao X M, Li W H, et al. 2008. An analysis of the ecological security and ecological water requirements in the inland rivers of arid regions. Advances in Earth Science, 23(7): 732–738.

Chen Y N, Ye Z X, Mao X H, et al. 2009. Dried-up trend of Tarim River and the countermeasures for mitigation. Arid Land Ge-ography, 32(6): 813–820.

Chen Z S, Chen Y N, Cao Z C, et al. 2011. The change of annual runoff and its connectivity with human driving factors in the mainstream of the Tarim River. Scientia Geographica Sinica, 31(12): 1506–1511.

Deng M J. 2005. Eco-environmental responses of the lower reaches of Tarim River to the emergency water deliveries. Advances in Water Science, 16(4): 586–591.

Deng M J. 2009. Theory and Practice of Water Control in Tarim River, China. Beijing: Science Press, 63.

Duan J J, Wang Y G, Wang X F, et al. 2001. Impact of climate change and human activities on the water resources and eco-logical environments in the Tarim River Basin in 1957–2006. Journal of Glaciology and Geocryology, 31(5): 781–791.

Fan Z L. 1993. A study on the formation and evolution of oases in Tarim Basin. Acta Geographica Sinica, 48(5): 421–427.

Fu L X, Chen Y N, Li W H, et al. 2009. Analyses of the duration and tendency of annual runoff in the headwaters of the Tarim River in the recent 50 years. Journal of Glaciology and Geocryology, 31(3): 457–463.

Gou S S, Zhang X W, Wang Y G, et al. 2010. Analysis on runoff volumes, water quality and water consumption of the Tarim River in recent 50 years. Arid Zone Research, 27(6): 861–870.

Hao X M, Chen Y N, Li W H. 2006. The driving forces of envi-ronmental change during the last 50 years in the Tarim River Basin. Acta Geographica Sinica, 61(3): 262–272.

Hao X M, Chen Y N, Xu C. 2008. Impacts of climate change and human activities on the surface runoff in the Tarim River Ba-sin over the last fifty years. Water Resources Management, 22: 1159–1171.

Hao X M, Li W H, Chen Y N, et al. 2008. The factors discrimi-nation of human activities and climate change for the main-stream of Tarim River. Progress in Natural Science, 18(12): 1409–1416.

Jiang Y, Zhou C H, Cheng W M. 2005. Analysis on runoff supply and variation characteristics of the Aksu Drainage Basin. Journal of Natural Resources, 20(1): 28–34.

Jiang Y, Zhou C H, Cheng W M. 2007. Streamflow trends and hydrological response to climatic change in Tarim Headwater Basin. Journal of Geographical Sciences, 17(1): 51–61.

Li W H, Chen Y J, Chen Y P, et al. 2006. Effects of ecological stream water transfusion on groundwater level and quality in the lower reaches of the Tarim River. Resources Science, 28(5): 157–163.

Ma X D, Chen Y N, Zhu C G, et al. 2011. The variation in soil moisture and the appropriate groundwater table for desert ri-parian forest along the Lower Tarim River. Journal of Geo-graphical Sciences, 21(1): 150–162.

Mansue S, Hu J L. 2011. Land use change in the Aksu River Basin in 1957–2007 and its hydrological effect analysis. Journal of Glaciology and Geocryology, 23(1): 182–189.

Mao D H. 1998. The Water Resources, Environment and Man-agement of Tarim River Watershed. Beijing: China Environ-mental Science Press, 185–186.

Mtalip T, Yang H M, Zhao X F. 2009. Discussion on current situation of water resource in the upper reaches of the Tarim River Mainstream. Environmental Protection of Xinjiang, 31(3): 6–9.

Paul A S, William D N. 2004. Microeconomics. Beijing: Posts & Telecommunications Press, 51–53.

Song Y D, Fan Z L, Lei Z D. 1999. Research on Water Resources Ecology of Tarim River, China. Urumqi: Xinjiang People Press, 7.

Statistical Bureau of Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region. 2005. Statistical Yearbooks from 1955 to 2005 of Xinjiang Uygur autonomous region. Beijing: China Statistics Press.

Statistical Bureau of Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region. 1981–2010. Statistical Yearbook of Xinjiang. Beijing: China Statistics Press.

Statistics Bureau of Xinjiang Production and Construction Corps. 1990–2010. Statistical Yearbooks of Xinjiang Production and Construction Corps. Beijing: China Statistics Press.

Wang G Y, Shen Y P, Su H C, et al. 2008. Runoff changes in Aksu River Basin during 1956–2006 and their impacts on water availability for Tarim River. Journal of Glaciology and Geocryology, 30(4): 562–568.

Wang J, Liu X, Gong W H, et al. 2010. Streamflow variations and flow-break causes of four source rivers and mainstream of Tarim River, Xinjiang in 2008. Journal of Glaciology and Geocryology, 32(3): 593–601.

Wang J, Zhang X W, Liu X, et al. 2009. Water supplying and conveying from the four source streams to the mainstream of Tarim River in 2007. Journal of Glaciology and Geocryology, 31(4): 732–740.

Wang Q M, Zhang J B, Fu Y C. 2010. Runoff change and its influencing factors under changing environment in Tarim River. Bulletin of Soil and Water Conservation, 30(4): 99–109.

Wang R H, Fan Z L. 2004. Evidence for a warm-humid climate in arid northwestern China during 40–30ka BP. Quaternary Sci-ence Reviews, 26(6): 1–12.

Water Resources Bureau in Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region. 1993. Xinjiang Irrigation. Urumqi: Xinjiang People Press, 102–110.

Water Resources Bureau in Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region. 2007–2010. Xinjiang Water Resource Bulletins. Urumqi: Wa-ter Resources Bureau in Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region.

Xi X M, Duan S G. 2009. Water consumption analysis and cause of the middle reaches in Tarim River. Water and Soil Conser-vation, 16(3): 34–37.

Xia J, Sun X T, Tan G. 2003. Advances and prospective about water cycle research in West China. Advances in Earth Sci-ence, 18(1): 58–67.

Xu H L, Ye M, Song Y D, et al. 2005. The dynamic variation of water resources and its tendency in Tarim River Basin. Acta Geographica Sinica, 60(3): 487–494.

Xu H L, Ye M, Li J M. 2008. The water transfer effects on agri-cultural development in the lower Tarim River, Xinjiang of China. Agricultural Water Management, 95: 9559–9568.

Ye Z X, Chen Y N, Li W H. 2010. Ecological water demand of natural vegetation in the lower Tarim River. Journal of Geo-graphical Sciences, 20(2): 261–272.

Yu Y, Huang L M, Shen B, et al. 2009. Current situation analysis of water consumption in Hotan River Basin. Journal of Water Resources and Water Engineering, 20(6): 47–51.

Yuan X. 2010. Discussion on the mechanism of water resources management system in Tarim River Basin. China Water Re-sources, (7): 23–25.

Zhang Z J, Li J M, Shi S B, et al. 2008. Fuzzy-based evaluation of water resources carrying capacity in Aksu River. Journal of Arid Land Resources and Environment, 22(7): 138–143.

Zhao W Z, Zhuang Y L. 2008. Study on the stability of oases in the arid areas in China. Arid Zone Research, 25(2): 155–162.

Zhou H, Qin J L, Wei J Y. 2002. Estimated calculation to annual runoff values of Tarim River affected by human activities. Arid Land Geography, 25(1): 70–74.

Zhou X M, Chen Y N, Li W H, et al. 2008. Analysis of socio-economic factors related to ecosystem degradation in the lower reaches of the Tarim River in the last 50 years. Re-sources Science, 30(9): 1389–1396.

Zhu X M. 2001. Adapting new measures to strengthen comprehensive rehabilitation in Tarim River Basin in the new situation. China Wa-ter Resources, 9: 50−52.

Zuo Q T. 2006. The strategically important green corridor in the down-stream of Tarim River was almost destroyed. Scientia Geographica Sinica, 26(5): 564–568.

 
 
[1] ZHAO Xuqin, LUO Min, MENG Fanhao, SA Chula, BAO Shanhu, BAO Yuhai. Spatiotemporal changes of gross primary productivity and its response to drought in the Mongolian Plateau under climate change[J]. Journal of Arid Land, 2024, 16(1): 46-70.
[2] Mitiku A WORKU, Gudina L FEYISA, Kassahun T BEKETIE, Emmanuel GARBOLINO. Projecting future precipitation change across the semi-arid Borana lowland, southern Ethiopia[J]. Journal of Arid Land, 2023, 15(9): 1023-1036.
[3] QIN Guoqiang, WU Bin, DONG Xinguang, DU Mingliang, WANG Bo. Evolution of groundwater recharge-discharge balance in the Turpan Basin of China during 1959-2021[J]. Journal of Arid Land, 2023, 15(9): 1037-1051.
[4] MA Jinpeng, PANG Danbo, HE Wenqiang, ZHANG Yaqi, WU Mengyao, LI Xuebin, CHEN Lin. Response of soil respiration to short-term changes in precipitation and nitrogen addition in a desert steppe[J]. Journal of Arid Land, 2023, 15(9): 1084-1106.
[5] ZHANG Hui, Giri R KATTEL, WANG Guojie, CHUAI Xiaowei, ZHANG Yuyang, MIAO Lijuan. Enhanced soil moisture improves vegetation growth in an arid grassland of Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region, China[J]. Journal of Arid Land, 2023, 15(7): 871-885.
[6] ZHANG Zhen, XU Yangyang, LIU Shiyin, DING Jing, ZHAO Jinbiao. Seasonal variations in glacier velocity in the High Mountain Asia region during 2015-2020[J]. Journal of Arid Land, 2023, 15(6): 637-648.
[7] GAO Xiang, WEN Ruiyang, Kevin LO, LI Jie, YAN An. Heterogeneity and non-linearity of ecosystem responses to climate change in the Qilian Mountains National Park, China[J]. Journal of Arid Land, 2023, 15(5): 508-522.
[8] Reza DEIHIMFARD, Sajjad RAHIMI-MOGHADDAM, Farshid JAVANSHIR, Alireza PAZOKI. Quantifying major sources of uncertainty in projecting the impact of climate change on wheat grain yield in dryland environments[J]. Journal of Arid Land, 2023, 15(5): 545-561.
[9] Sakine KOOHI, Hadi RAMEZANI ETEDALI. Future meteorological drought conditions in southwestern Iran based on the NEX-GDDP climate dataset[J]. Journal of Arid Land, 2023, 15(4): 377-392.
[10] Mehri SHAMS GHAHFAROKHI, Sogol MORADIAN. Investigating the causes of Lake Urmia shrinkage: climate change or anthropogenic factors?[J]. Journal of Arid Land, 2023, 15(4): 424-438.
[11] ZHANG Yixin, LI Peng, XU Guoce, MIN Zhiqiang, LI Qingshun, LI Zhanbin, WANG Bin, CHEN Yiting. Temporal and spatial variation characteristics of extreme precipitation on the Loess Plateau of China facing the precipitation process[J]. Journal of Arid Land, 2023, 15(4): 439-459.
[12] Adnan ABBAS, Asher S BHATTI, Safi ULLAH, Waheed ULLAH, Muhammad WASEEM, ZHAO Chengyi, DOU Xin, Gohar ALI. Projection of precipitation extremes over South Asia from CMIP6 GCMs[J]. Journal of Arid Land, 2023, 15(3): 274-296.
[13] ZHAO Lili, LI Lusheng, LI Yanbin, ZHONG Huayu, ZHANG Fang, ZHU Junzhen, DING Yibo. Monitoring vegetation drought in the nine major river basins of China based on a new developed Vegetation Drought Condition Index[J]. Journal of Arid Land, 2023, 15(12): 1421-1438.
[14] CAO Yijie, MA Yonggang, BAO Anming, CHANG Cun, LIU Tie. Evaluation of the water conservation function in the Ili River Delta of Central Asia based on the InVEST model[J]. Journal of Arid Land, 2023, 15(12): 1455-1473.
[15] YAN Xue, LI Lanhai. Spatiotemporal characteristics and influencing factors of ecosystem services in Central Asia[J]. Journal of Arid Land, 2023, 15(1): 1-19.