Current Situation, Pressure, and Mitigation Paths of Agricultural Water and Land Resources Utilization in Jiangxi, Eastern China

Water and land resources serve as the fundamental cornerstone for human survival and social advancement. Scientifically alleviating pressure on agricultural water and land resources is conducive to the harmonious development of regional economies, societies and environments. Mitigating the pressure on agricultural water and land resources is pivotal to fostering the harmonious development of regional economy, society, and the environment. From the perspective of virtual water and virtual cultivated land, this paper evaluates the utilization status of agricultural water and land resources in Jiangxi Province from 2013 to 2022. Results show that: (1) The total virtual water volume of crops exhibits a stable pattern with minor fluctuations. Among all crop types, food crops account for the largest share of total virtual water, while tea has the highest virtual water content per unit area; (2) Jiangxi Province is a net outflow area of agricultural virtual water, with food crops accounting for the largest proportion of exports, which intensifies the pressure on water resources; (3) The virtual cultivated land content per unit generally shows a downward trend, with relatively high values for cotton and oil crops, while that for food crops keeps decreasing; (4) Cultivated land resources in Jiangxi have remained in a state of long-term net output, with food crops, sugar crops, and vegetables being the main output categories. Optimizing the planting structure, establishing an ecological compensation mechanism and deepening virtual water trade cooperation can effectively alleviate the pressure on regional water and land resources and promote the sustainable development of agriculture.