A comparative assessment on the water footprint of wheat

According to 2022 data, the total sectoral water use in Turkey is approximately 57 billion m3, of which 44 billion m3 comes from agricultural irrigation (77%), 13 billion m3 from drinking and industrial use (13%). According to Falkenmark Indicator; The annual water potential per capita of 1000 m3, 500 m3 and < 500 m3 indicates water stress, water scarcity and absolute water scarcity, respectively. While the water potential per capita in Turkey was 1313 m3/year in 2022, it is expected that this potential will decrease to 757 m3/year until 2030 and accordingly, our country will become a water-poor country after this date. From this point of view, in this thesis study; The water footprint of wheat, which has a very important place in Turkey's agriculture in terms of economy, nutrition and socio-cultural aspects, has been examined. According to the calculations made for the years 2004, 2010 and 2023 throughout Turkey, the total water footprint of winter bread wheat production is 33.52 – 40.00 Mm3/year, and the water footprint of durum wheat is only 6.59 billion m3. According to the wheat water footprint calculations made at the level of Turkey, basin, region and provinces; The largest component of the total water footprint of wheat production is the green water footprint and therefore the blue-green water footprint is low. Turkey's winter bread wheat green water footprint; It has been calculated as 45billion m3 for Turkey in general, 3.36-3.63 billion m3 for the Fırat and Dicle basins, and 340 m3/ton and 1 billion m3 for the provinces of Sivas and Diyarbakır provinces. According to these findings, wheat production in Turkey is dependent on rain water, mainly due to dry agriculture conditions. In terms of wheat water footprints, there are usually differences within and between provinces and regions. This situation includes the soil structure of provinces and regions, water resources and their management, climatic conditions, agricultural practices, models used in calculating water footprints, etc. due to the change of factors. Keywords: Türkiye, agriculture, wheat, water footprint