Abstract
This research introduces an approach to analyze the nexus of water, energy and rice production system at the watershed scale. The nexus relationship equations, developed to suit the local scale facilitating analysis in the rice production sector, were integrated with a Material Flow Analysis tool to expand the visualization capability. Moreover, the nexus flow was linked with the selected resource security, eco-efficiency and economic indicators, taking into account the spatial and temporal effect of water availability. The study covers the nexus resource flows not only in the rice production sector but also all other sectors in the whole watershed to assess local resource security. The tool covers wider implications, trade-offs and synergy impacts that were not much covered in previous studies. The tool was applied to evaluate the trade-offs and synergies of the impacts from proposed scenarios of alternative agricultural practices and land-use change options. The scenarios applying land-use change, and changing non-suitable and low-suitable rice cultivation areas to sugarcane and cassava, can reduce water use significantly resulting in reducing the nexus energy while the impact on economics, food security and direct energy use is small.
Highlights
Increases in world population, economic development, and urbanization and international trade have led to increasing demand for food production and, in turn, water and energy resources to produce food [1]
Energy consumption in the basin is separated into three types, firstly, fuel and electricity energy that has been used directly in paddy cultivation and rice production process, secondly, energy utilization in other agriculture sectors, and lastly, the energy used in other sectors which consist of household, livestock, and industry
In the year 2016, the energy sub-system flow of the Chaopraya basin results showed that the basin mainly relies on fossil energy consumption (82%) and more than 90% of these fuel supplies were imported from other countries which resulted in higher dependency level of energy and lower self-sufficiency of the basin as well as at the national scale
Summary
Economic development, and urbanization and international trade have led to increasing demand for food production and, in turn, water and energy resources to produce food [1]. Walker et al applied Multi-sectoral Systems Analysis (MSA) and MFA for estimating flows (nutrients, water, and energy) in the urban area and analyzing interrelationships among them and evaluating the synergy effect of implementing water and wastewater management innovations on fertilizer and energy production. Water-energy-food nexus in rice production in Japan was conducted in great detail with the future projection of different management practices by Lee et al [37]. Water-energy-food nexus in rice production in Japan was conducted in great detail with the future projection of different management practices by Lee et al Su[s3ta7i]n.aNbileitvy e2r0t1h9,e1le1,s5s8,5w2 ater availability characteristics of each watershed with different space and t4imofe effect were not taken into account in the previous studies. The bar charts show the data of the total area demand ovbearsetdhoensyueaprplylyavianilatbhleewyaetearrw2i0th1o5u.t lMoookirnegoavtethr,etshpeatibaal arncdhtaemrtpsosrahloewffectths.e data of the total area based on yearly available water without looking at the spatial and temporal effects
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