The scientists looked at how water is used in farming in Zhangjiakou over ten years, focusing on six different ecological areas. They found that the water used for animal products, like milk and eggs, increased the most. Cereals used for food also took up a lot of water. In some high-altitude areas, more water was needed for crops compared to low-altitude places. This means the type of farming in each area affects how much water is used. In ecological zone III, the water used per area was much higher than usual, but the water used per person or per unit of food value was lower. This tells us that to improve farming practices, we need to consider a range of factors, not just how much water is used. The study aims to help officials make better decisions about water use in farming and planning for different ecological zones.