Abstract

PENALOZA-SANCHEZ, Ana María et al. Water footprint of onion (Allium cepa L.) and husk tomato (Physalis ixocarpa Brot.) crops in the region of Atlixco, Puebla, Mexico. Tecnol. cienc. agua [online]. 2020, vol.11, n.5, pp.1-30.  Epub June 10, 2024. ISSN 2007-2422.  https://doi.org/10.24850/j-tyca-2020-05-01.

The production of vegetables and flowers under irrigation in the region of Atlixco, Puebla, requires large quantities of water. An indicator of these water requirements is found in their water footprint. This study aimed to estimate the water footprint of husk or green tomato (Physalis ixocarpa Brot.) and onion (Allium cepa L.) crops in the region. The water footprint for onion in spring-summer (SP-SU) and autumn-winter (A-W) and husk tomato crops for the A-W cycle were estimated for the year of 2017. Green and blue Water Footprints were calculated from evapotranspiration estimated using the CROPWAT version 8 program; together with climate and yield information, management practices and crop development inferred from interviews with regional producers. The gray water footprint was estimated based on the use of nitrogen and phosphoric fertilizers. The water footprint of the (SP-SU) onion crop was greater than that of the (A-W) onion and (A-W) husk tomato, which can be explained considering seasonal climatic changes and yields. It was concluded that onion and tomato crops result in a high level of water consumption in the region, as the water incorporated into their production processes in 2017 was 4 876 710.3 m3, which represents 5.2% of the water allocated to total water consumption and 6.8% of the water allocated to agriculture in the region.

Keywords : Atlixco; water footprint; onion; husk tomato.