Water Footprint of Local Herbs in Thailand Using the Water Footprint Network Methodology

Information from the abstract

This study quantified the water footprint (WF) of four economically important Thai medicinal herbs: Curcuma longa, Kaempferia parviflora, Andrographis paniculata, and Momordica charantia using the Water Footprint Network (WFN) methodology together with Thailandspecific climatic and cultivation data. The assessment covered green, blue, and gray WF components and incorporated basin-level water scarcity characterization. The results show that Curcuma longa had the lowest total WF (535 m³ ton⁻¹), driven primarily by green water use, while Momordica charantia had the highest WF (2,152 m³ ton⁻¹), reflecting substantial blue and gray water requirements. Kaempferia parviflora and Andrographis paniculata presented intermediate WFs of 1,088 and 1,869 m³ ton⁻¹, respectively. Spatial analysis revealed strong provincial variability linked to rainfall patterns and irrigation demand, particularly for Momordica charantia in northern and lower-central regions. Sensitivity analysis identified crop yield as the most influential parameter across all herbs, followed by Kc and ET0. The findings provide a robust evidence base for optimizing irrigation practices and guiding sustainable water management strategies within Thailand’s herbal cultivation sector.

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Related topics: Environmental Impact and Sustainability · Hydrology and Watershed Management Studies · Plant Water Relations and Carbon Dynamics