Analysis of spatial distribution characteristics of virtual water content of maize in China

Research on virtual water content of crops can provide the basis for agricultural water resources management; help to improve the efficiency of agricultural water use. Maize is one of the most important food crop in China and also one of the largest water consumers, so it is important to study the virtual water content (VWC) of maize and the spatial distribution characteristics of the VWC of maize in China. In this paper, we assessed the VWC of maize in China including green, blue, grey water and analyze the spatial distribution characteristics of the VWC of maize of 30 regions of China. The percentages of green, blue, and grey water in the total VWC of maize in China were 47.5%, 18.9%, and 33.6%. The total VWC of maize generally showed a three-tiered distribution, and decreased from southeast to northwest. For the country as a whole the green water is the most important contributor. The percentage of grey water of maize was much larger than blue water. Blue water occupied the smallest component of the total virtual water content of maize.