 This study explores the effect of three management practices on soil water balance and plant growth in relation to ebopotranspiration, ithy, and yield, y, and thus the consumptive water footprint, WF, of crops. The management practices include four irrigation techniques, four irrigation strategies, and three mulching practices. The study found that reducing the consumptive WF is essential for increasing competition for freshwater. The results show that drip or subsurface drip irrigation in combination with organic mulching can reduce the consumptive WF by up to 28%. Additionally, deficit irrigation increases the reduction in overall consumptive WF. The study also found that growing crops with sprinkler irrigation has the largest consumptive WF, while furrow irrigation has a smaller consumptive WF compared with sprinkler, even though the classical measure of irrigation efficiency for furrow is lower. This article was authored by A. D. Chicala, M. S. Kroll and A. Y. Hoekstra. We are article.tv, links in the description below.