Penilaian Jejak Air dalam Penanaman Padi di Kawasan Muda Malaysia

Abstract

Water footprint (WF) can be used as a comprehensive indicator of the use of freshwater resources and as a measurable metric to determine the amount of water used per unit of crop. Rice cultivation uses large amounts of water to increase crop yields. Since water is the most important component for rice cultivation, it is important to understand how much water is used during agriculture and the quantity of water in the rice crop per ton of product. The aim of this study is to evaluate the water footprint of rice crops in the Muda area regulated by the Muda Agricultural Development Board, for five consecutive years from 2018 to 2022. CROPWAT 8.0 computer programming, meteorological data such as (rainfall, temperature, speed wind, relative humidity, and solar radiation) and rice crop yield data are used to estimate water evapotranspiration (ET) for the blue and green water components, and continue the water footprint calculation. Methodological framework according to crop water requirements options based on the water footprint assessment manual. The water footprint calculation focuses on the blue, green, and grey water footprint components. The findings of the study show that the three components of the water footprint differ significantly from each other. In the Muda area, the average value of the green water footprint (WFgreen ) is 1102.3 m3/ton (56.6 %) higher than the blue water footprint (WFblue ) which is 506.4 m3/ton (26 %), and the value of the grey water footprint (WFgrey ) is 337.4 m3/ton (17.3 %). 57 % green water footprint indicates that there is enough rain to support rice growth. Water footprint assessment provides more comprehensive understanding of the environmental sustainability of rice crops. Data from the assessment can be used to formulate policies that promote sustainable rice cultivation and the best cultivation methods.