Water Footprint and Virtual Water Trade of Maize in the Province of Buenos Aires, Argentina

Agriculture is the largest fresh water consuming sector, and maize most produced consumed crop worldwide. The footprint (WF) methodology quantifies evaluates volumes polluted by a given crop, as well its impacts. In this work, we quantified for first time green WF (soil from precipitation that evapotranspired) virtual exports of Buenos Aires province, Argentina, during 2016–2017, due to relevance region in world trade. Furthermore, at local level, green, blue (evapotranspired irrigation), grey (volume needed assimilate pollution load) pilot basin. province ranged between 170 730 m3/ton, with highest values south following pattern yields. contribution terms international trade reached 2213 hm3/year, allowing some water-scarce nations ensure water-dependent food security avoid further environmental impacts related water. At Napaleofú basin scale, total rainfed was 358 m3/ton (89% 11% grey) 388 (58% 25% blue, 17% irrigated showing there not only behind exported maize, but also Nitrogen-related WF.