Study on carrying capacity of water resources in inland arid zone of Northwest China

The carrying capacity of water resources in key areas of the inland arid zone in Northwest China was quantitatively estimated based on the analysis of productivity of water resources.In accordance with the characteristics of the fragile ecological system in the inland arid zone,the main content,characteristics and influencing factors of carrying capacity of water resources were firstly discussed,then the index system,flow chart of calculation and boundary conditions of carrying capacity of water resources were proposed,and finally the productivity of the water resources was analyzed and calculated.The study result indicated that on condition that shortages of farm produce of the central Shaanxi plain and Qaidam Basin are compensated by surplus of farm produce of Xinjiang,Hexi and Ningxia and shortages of industrial products of Hexi and Ningxia are compensated by surplus of industrial products of Xinjiang,the central Shaanxi plain and Qaidam Basin,in the target year2020,an expected population of63.84million can be supported in the key areas of Northwest China,and a wealthy living condition of per capita400kg grain and RMB20000yuan income can be ensured.