Effects of land use changes on green water along upper and middle reaches of Huaihe River Basin

Study region: The Upper and Middle Reaches of the Huaihe River Basin Study focus: The examination of the ramifications of alterations in land utilization on terrestrial water resources holds paramount importance in the realm of agricultural water resource management. Despite progress in understanding the cumulative impacts of land use on terrestrial water bodies, the understanding of the exact impacts of a single land use on terrestrial water bodies is still insufficient. In this investigation, the SWAT model was employed to meticulously delve into the ramifications of modifications in land use on the quantity of green water in the middle and upper stretches of the Huaihe River, with a focus on simulating the hydrological cycle. Furthermore, this inquiry introduces a novel coefficient of impact to scrutinize the repercussions of specific land use changes on terrestrial water bodies. New hydrological insights for the region: The outcomes of the study unveil that albeit the spatial expanse of certain land use categories is restricted, their repercussions on terrestrial water bodies reverberate extensively. Ultimately, the classification of forest land and agricultural acreage underwent refinement, incorporating considerations of vegetation cover and crop typology. The inquiry establishes that the extent of forest land and the genre of crops cultivated on agricultural land stand as pivotal determinants of terrestrial water dynamics.