You asked, we answered:
How does cotton cultivation impact water resources in China, especially in Xinjiang?
You care about sustainability. You care about water use. Our experts offer clear tips that rest on solid data.

🔍 Water Use

Cotton farming in China uses a lot of water. China, which produces 25.4% of the world’s cotton (USDA 2021), faces water challenges every day.

• China needs about 2,490 m³ of water to grow one ton of cotton (Zhang et al., 2021).
• In Xinjiang, 65% of China’s cotton comes from one region. There, crop water use jumped from 10.4 to 37.2 billion m³ between 1989 and 2018 (Li & Deng, 2022).
• In Xinjiang, over 95% of water goes to agriculture, leaving less for nature (Li et al., 2022).

🚩 Water Scarcity Footprint:
Cotton production in China carries a water scarcity cost of 1,440 m³ per ton (Zhang et al., 2021).
Source: Zhang et al., 2021

Expert Tips to Reduce Water Use

• Try drip irrigation under degradable film. This method makes water flow smartly into the soil (Zhang et al., 2021).
• Shift some cotton growing to Inner Mongolia and Qinghai. This change eases pressure on Xinjiang’s water (Zhang et al., 2021).
• Use water-saving planting methods that match local crop needs (Li & Deng, 2022).
• Support policies that boost irrigation efficiency. This step cuts waste (Feike et al., 2017).
• Adjust fertilizer use to prevent extra water pollution.

🔍 Carbon Emissions

Cotton’s carbon cost comes partly from fuel and fertilizer. Diesel burns in farm work and energy goes into making fertilizers. In China, farmers use fertilizer three times more per hectare than in the U.S. (USDA, 2019).

Zhang et al. (2021) link fuel and fertilizer to health risks and ecosystem harm.

Expert Tips for Carbon Reduction

• Use renewable energy and make smart energy choices on farms. This shift cuts diesel fumes (Zhang et al., 2021).
• Apply fertilizers precisely. Tools from precision agriculture help stop waste.
• Return straw to the fields. This practice lets the soil keep more carbon (Zhang et al., 2021).
• Try low-carbon cotton and better input management.
• Use life cycle assessments to find where to make improvements.

🔍 Chemical Inputs

Overusing fertilizers and pesticides harms water quality. China applies nitrogen and phosphate fertilizers at levels three times higher than in the U.S. (USDA, 2019).
Extra chemicals leak into streams and disrupt natural cycles (Zhang et al., 2016).

This harm raises the water footprint by adding pollution costs.

Expert Tips to Manage Chemicals Better

• Use integrated pest management to reduce reliance on pesticides.
• Test the soil first and then set fertilizer types and doses.
• Try biofertilizers and organic tools to keep soil healthy.
• Check water quality regularly near cotton fields.
• Teach farmers the risks of overuse and show best practices.

🔍 Recycling

Cotton can break down naturally. Still, recycling cotton fabric can cut the need for new fiber. This step saves water and lowers chemical use.

Better practices have reduced cotton’s water footprint by 37–48% per unit (Demeke et al., 2024). Yet, overall water use rose by 5% as production grew.
Flax needs less water. It can serve as a helpful fiber alternative (Demeke et al., 2024).

Sustainable cotton needs better farming practices and smart recycling steps.

Expert Tips to Promote Recycling

• Support textile recycling programs that work with cotton waste.
• Encourage brands to use recycled cotton in clothes.
• Show consumers how to care for garments so they last longer.
• Invest in research for blends that break down and can be recycled.
• Urge labels that share water and energy costs on textiles.

❓ FAQ

Q: Can Xinjiang sustain current water use for cotton?
A: Xinjiang uses most of its water for cotton. With over 95% of water going to farming, systems like drip irrigation and water reuse are needed. Shifting some production may also help (Li et al., 2022; Zhang et al., 2021).

👉 Want to dive deeper?

Visit Design Delight Studio: Environmental Impact of Cotton for more on green choices.

References & Further Reading:

• Zhang, T., et al. (2021). Life cycle assessment-based water footprint analysis on China’s cotton production. Journal of Cleaner Production. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jclepro.2021.127925
• Li, Y., Deng, M. (2022). Changes in crop water consumption in Xinjiang of China (1989–2018). Frontiers in Environmental Science. https://doi.org/10.3389/fenvs.2022.1069002
• Demeke, B.W., et al. (2024). Spatiotemporal dynamics of the water footprint and virtual water trade in global cotton production. Cleaner Production Letters. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.clpl.2024.100074
• USDA Reports (2019, 2021)
• Feike, T., et al. (2017). Irrigation water productivity in China. [Journal source]

This newsletter offers clear data, expert views, and useful tips to help you choose greener cotton.

Design Delight Studio is your trusted partner in sustainable textiles, committed to transparency and eco-innovation. Learn more at designdelightstudio.myshopify.com