Water-centric nexus assessment and critical land-use thresholds for economic crops in central Thailand
Issued Date
2026-06-01
Resource Type
eISSN
26659727
Scopus ID
2-s2.0-105031263808
Journal Title
Environmental and Sustainability Indicators
Volume
30
Rights Holder(s)
SCOPUS
Bibliographic Citation
Environmental and Sustainability Indicators Vol.30 (2026)
Suggested Citation
Suksaroj T.T., Kowsuvon N., Suksaroj C., Maprasit S., Srisook A., Suriyawongpaisal W., Puttrawutichai S., Samanmit P., Namin N. Water-centric nexus assessment and critical land-use thresholds for economic crops in central Thailand. Environmental and Sustainability Indicators Vol.30 (2026). doi:10.1016/j.indic.2026.101193 Retrieved from: https://repository.li.mahidol.ac.th/handle/123456789/115569
Title
Water-centric nexus assessment and critical land-use thresholds for economic crops in central Thailand
Corresponding Author(s)
Other Contributor(s)
Abstract
This research develops a water-centric nexus assessment framework for Thailand's major crops: rice, sugarcane, and cassava, within shared cultivation areas. The framework examines interaction among water use, agricultural productivity, and economic performance, positioning water as the central analytical dimension. A 10-year monthly dataset (2013–2022) from official sources was examined, and farmer interviews confirmed the relevance of variables, cost structures, and adaptive capacity. Applying a system-thinking approach using VENSIM software to construct causal loop diagrams and perform scenario-based analyses rather than full dynamic simulations. The framework integrates three normalized components: water mass productivity, economic water productivity, and water security, into a composite nexus index. Results indicate that sugarcane has the highest water productivity (0.010 tons/m<sup>3</sup>), followed by cassava (0.004 tons/m<sup>3</sup>) and rice (0.00031 tons/m<sup>3</sup>). Sugarcane also demonstrates superior economic water productivity, yielding higher profits per unit of water consumed. Sensitivity analysis reveals that expanding cultivation areas generally reduces water security; however, productivity and water-use efficiency improvements can offset these impacts up to crop-specific land-use thresholds. The sustainable annual expansion rates are estimated at 0.68% for sugarcane and 0.75% for cassava, while rice requires a 0.26% reduction in cultivated area to sustain a positive Water–Economy–Food nexus. Beyond these thresholds, the nexus turns unfavorable. Overall, the findings highlight the importance of demand-side water management, strategic crop allocation, and farmer adaptability in sustaining a stable water-centric nexus. The proposed framework provides a practical decision-support tool for integrated agricultural water management and policy development in Thailand.