Spatio-Temporal Assessment of Wheat Water Footprints under Agroforestry-Based Treatments

Abstract

Understanding the water footprint of wheat cultivation is essential for ensuring sustainable water resource management in semi-arid regions. The study was conducted in a semi-arid region of central India, characterized by low and erratic rainfall and high evaporative demand. This study presents a spatio-temporal assessment of green, blue, grey, and total water footprints of wheat grown under different agroforestry-based land use treatments during the cropping years 2017–18 and 2018–19. Five agroforestry-based treatments were evaluated in a randomized block design with four replications over two consecutive wheat seasons (5 treatments × 4 replications × 2 years). The treatments were: 100% Dalbergia sissoo (T1), 75% Emblica officinalis + 25% D. sissoo (T2), 25% E. officinalis + 75% D. sissoo (T3), 50% E. officinalis + 50% D. sissoo (T4), and 100% E. officinalis (T5). Treatment effects on wheat yield and green, blue, grey and total water footprints were assessed using analysis of variance (ANOVA) at a significance level of p < 0.05. Results revealed significant variation in water footprint components across treatments and years. The total water footprint of wheat ranged from 1.73 to 1.88 m³/kg, with T5 (100% E. officinalis) showing the lowest mean value and T3 (25% E. officinalis + 75% D. sissoo) the highest. Among components, the blue water footprint dominated, followed by grey and green contributions. Statistical analysis confirmed that treatment effects were significant (p < 0.05) for most components, while inter-annual variation reflected climatic influences. The findings indicate that agroforestry-based treatments can substantially influence water use efficiency in wheat production. Among the tested configurations, the Emblica officinalis-based agroforestry system emerged as the most water-efficient option, exhibiting the lowest total water footprint while sustaining competitive wheat yields. Adoption of E. officinalis-based systems can thereby support sustainable intensification of wheat cultivation under water-limited conditions.