Climate change has been posited as the biggest threat to crop productivity in agro-systems, yet its impact on the water footprints of crop production for many regions remains uncertain. This study sought to determine evidence of historical climate change (1980–2010) and its resultant impact on the blue water footprint of winter wheat production in Zimbabwe. The analysis involved assessing the impact of climate change on wheat yield and crop water requirements, the key factors determining the blue water footprint. The CROPWAT model and the global water footprint assessment (WFA) standard were used to calculate the blue water footprint. Multiple linear regression was used to correlate climate variables to wheat yield, crop water requirements and the blue water footprint. Results show a significant (p < 0.05) warming of temperatures in the country's main wheat growing areas. Crop water requirements for winter wheat decreased by 4.88%, due to positive and negative trends in humidity and wind speed respectively. Between 1980 and 2000 the coupled effects of solar radiation at anthesis and maximum temperatures in July, August and September reduced wheat yields by 6.65%. The cumulative effects of climate change on crop water requirements and wheat yields increased the blue water footprint by 4%. The results of the study suggest that climate change and agricultural management factors might be equally responsible for the increase in the blue water footprint.

气候变化被认为是对农业系统中农作物生产力的最大威胁，但是它对许多地区农作物生产的水足迹的影响仍然不确定。本研究试图确定历史气候变化的证据（1980-2010年）及其对津巴布韦冬小麦生产的蓝色水足迹的影响。分析涉及评估气候变化对小麦产量和作物需水量的影响，这是决定蓝色水足迹的关键因素。CROPWAT模型和全球水足迹评估（WFA）标准用于计算蓝色水足迹。使用多元线性回归将气候变量与小麦产量，作物需水量和蓝色水足迹相关联。结果显示显著（p <0.05）该国主要小麦产区的温度升高。冬小麦的作物需水量下降了4.88％，这分别归因于湿度和风速的正负趋势。在1980年至2000年之间，花粉和最高温度的太阳辐射在7月，8月和9月的耦合作用使小麦单产降低了6.65％。气候变化对作物需水量和小麦产量的累积影响使蓝色水足迹增加了4％。研究结果表明，气候变化和农业管理因素可能同样是造成蓝色水足迹增加的原因。