Agricultural water footprint and sustainability in Cerrado and Cerrado-Amazon irrigation hubs, Brazil

Brazil's agricultural sector consumes substantial freshwater resources, particularly in Mato Grosso state, which hosts one of the nation's largest irrigation complexes within the Cerrado and Amazon biomes. Given the finite nature of these resources and their intensive agricultural use, quantifying water consumption patterns can inform policy development for sustainable resource management. This study estimated the water footprint of rainfed soybeans, off-season corn, and winter beans across the Cerrado biome and Cerrado-Amazon transition zone in Mato Grosso state. Green and blue water footprints were determined through crop evapotranspiration calculations to assess water demand, whereas gray water footprint estimation incorporated nitrogen fertilizer application rates and soil leaching parameters. Results showed average water footprints in the Cerrado region of 1,486 m³ ton⁻¹ for soybeans, 1,016 m³ ton⁻¹ for corn, and 2,084 m³ ton⁻¹ for beans. The Cerrado-Amazon transition zone exhibited values of 1,476 m³ ton⁻¹ for soybeans, 1,052 m³ ton⁻¹ for corn, and 1,898 m³ ton⁻¹ for beans. These water footprint indicators reveal patterns of water appropriation in crop cultivation, providing quantitative metrics for evaluating agricultural water use sustainability.