• Korean Journal of Soil Science and Fertilizer
• /
• v.47 no.5
• /
• pp.374-380
• /
• 2014

To estimate greenhouse gas (GHG) emission, the inventory of rice cultivation at the farming without agricultural chemicals was established from farmers in Gunsan, Jeonbuk province in 2011~2012. The objectives of this study were to calculate carbon footprint and analyse the major factor of GHGs. To do this, we carried out a sensitivity analysis using the analyzed main factors of GHGs and estimated the mitigation potential of GHGs. Also we suggested agricultural methods to reduce GHGs that can be appled by farmers at this region. At the farming system without agricultural chemicals, carbon footprint of rice production unit of 1 kg was 2.15 kg $CO_2.-eq.kg^{-1}$. Although the amount of carbon dioxide ($CO_2$) emission was the largest among GHGs, methane ($CH_4$) emission had the highest contribution to carbon footprint on rice production system when it was converted to carbon dioxide equivalent ($CO_2-eq.$) multiplied by the global warming potential (GWP). Main source of $CO_2$ emission in the rice farming system without agricultural chemicals was combustion of fossil fuels used by agricultural machinery. Most of the $CH_4$ was emitted during rice cultivation practice and its major emission factor was flooded paddy field in anaerobic condition. Also, most of the $N_2O$ was emitted from rice cultivation process. Major sources of the $N_2O$ emission was application of fertilizer such as compound fertilizer. As a result of sensitivity analysis in energy consumption, diesel had the highest sensitivity among the energy inputs. With the reduction of diesel consumption by 10%, it was estimated that $CO_2$ potential reduction was about 2.0%. With reducing application rate of compound fertilizer by 10%, the potential reduction was calculated that $CO_2$ and $N_2O$ could be reduced by 0.5% and 0.9%, respectively. At the condition of 10% reduction of silicate and compost, $CO_2$ and $CH_4$ could be reduced by 1.5% and 1.6%, respectively. With 8 days more drainage than the ordinary practice, $CH_4$ emission could be reduced by about 4.5%. Drainage and diesel consumption were the main sources having the largest effect on the GHG reduction at the farming system without agricultural chemicals. Based on the above results, we suggest that no-tillage and midsummer drainage could be a method to decrease GHG emissions from rice production system.

• Korean Journal of Organic Agriculture
• /
• v.6 no.2
• /
• pp.81-106
• /
• 1998

This study aims to point out what is the basic idea and principle of weed control in or-ganic farming. The korean organic agriculture gets a point in dispute on weed control, be-cause 1) they do not practice the Basic Standard of IFOAM and FAO/WHO Codex Guidelines(draft), and 2) Korean organic farming is defined quite differently from internationally recognized core aspects for organic agriculture. Organic farming, in Korea, is taken to mean just the replacement of chemical fertilizer by organic manure and a-voidance of agricultural chemicals without practicing on rotation, cropping system and so on. As a consequence, organic farmers in Korea are suffering from hard labor to control the weed. In the paper it is discussed on organical weed control method which are required in the Basic Standard of IFOAM and guidelined in the Organic Production Principles of FAO/WHO Codex draft, and furthermore the single or combination effect of those method are also discussed. In conclusion it is suggest the necessity, purpose, and effect of the introduction of the basic stan-dard to korean organic agriculture including organical weed control.

• Korean Journal of Environmental Agriculture
• /
• v.32 no.1
• /
• pp.17-23
• /
• 2013

BACKGROUND: Today, environmentally friendly farming has become an important feature of agricultural policy. It promotes or sustains farming systems which protect and enhance the environment. This study was conducted to compare benthic invertebrate communities in an organic and a conventional paddy field in South Korea. METHODS AND RESULTS: Benthic invertebrates were collected at 11 regions of a rice paddy from June to August, 2009, 2010 and 2011. These comparisons undertaken using a community assessment approaches such as the number of individuals and species and community composition. Generally, the larger number of individuals and species of benthic invertebrates was observed in an organic paddy than in a conventional paddy field. Organic paddy fields could supported the wider range of species and abundance in aquatic invertebrates comparing to conventional paddy fields. Carrying capacity to support larger numbers of invertebrates also tends to be higher in organic paddy than in conventional paddy field. Specially, organic farming regions surrounded by forests were high quality habitat for benthic invertebrates than other surrounded regions such as grassland. CONCLUSION(S): We concluded that organic farming was more advantaged to benthic invertebrates than conventional farming. In order to improve biodiversity in rice paddy field, farming regimes without agricultural chemicals are recommended. The effect of organic management on biodiversity and abundance of benthic invertebrates could be maximized across highland farmland.

• KOREAN JOURNAL OF CROP SCIENCE
• /
• v.40 no.4
• /
• pp.437-443
• /
• 1995

Concerns on use of excess amount of chemical fertilizier and pesticide in current farming system turns both of the producer and consumer of agricultural products to an organic farming which use a less chemicals and more natural manure. Rice-duck farming system is one of the strategy to meet the purpose and this experiment was carried out to find the effect of the rice-duck farming system on the quality and yields of rice. 20day-old rice seedling were mechanically transplanted in sandy-loam paddy field and 21 day-old ducks were raised from 3 weeks after transplanting with population of 30 heads per 10a. The plots were consists of reduce fertilizer(70%) with and without duck-raising. The conventional fertilizer treatment without duck-raising was used as check. The results obtained are summarized as follows. The weeds population of test plots which were raised with duck for 3 consecutive years was less than that of test plots without duck-raising, though a speciffic population of Echinochola crusgallis were increased. The weed control effect was higer in duck-raising than in check at the maximum tillering stage but, not at later stages of rice plant. It was found that the small animals and insects inhibiting in the rice field were reduced by duck-treatment, however, there were also damages of grass leaf roller at booting stage in the plots of duck-raising. In rice-duck plot, dark green leaf color were found: 41.8 of SPAD value than 38.6 of SPAD in check plot. Higher root activity and surface soil oxidation were also observed in rice-duck plot than check plot. 3% of the increase in yield was observed by duck-treatment. However, the expected increase of the palatability wsa not observed. This may be due to the unfavorable weather conditions during the rice growing in this expriment.

• KOREAN JOURNAL OF CROP SCIENCE
• /
• v.41 no.1
• /
• pp.115-122
• /
• 1996

One of the most laborious work in rice farming is transplanting of rice seedling which has been required preparation of nursery bed and care of seedling during one month period. In this research, direct seeding in dry paddy(DS) and direct seeding in wet paddy(WS) were practiced to compare with traditional transplanting(TP) in Suwon. Growth stages in direct seeding were delayed as its planting time was about 21 days later than those of TP. Heading stage of direct seeding at Suwon was delayed about 9 days as compared to transplanting culture. Rice yield was not different between the seeding practises. Working-hour saving was about 17％(DS) and 28％(WS). Production cost of direct seeding was decreased 20％(DS) and 32％(WS), respectively. Amount of rice production per a unit working-hour in direct seeding could increase 14％(DS) and 39％(WS) compared to that of TP, respectively. Therefore, direct seeding could save significantly working hour and production cost without reducing rice yield. WS was more effective than DS in saving labor and production cost. Direct seeding was not efficient method in input of farming energy and agricultural chemicals.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
• /
• v.24 no.1
• /
• pp.130-136
• /
• 2011

Methane is known to be one of the major greenhouse gases. On a global scale, livestock farming may contribute 18% of total greenhouse gas emissions. Though methane contribution is less than 2% of all the factors leading to global warming, it plays an important role because it is 21 times more effective than carbon dioxide. Methane emission is a direct result of the fermentation process performed by ruminal microorganisms and, in particular, the archael methanogens. Reducing methane emission would benefit both ruminant production and the environment. Methane generation can be reduced by electron-sink metabolic pathways to dispose of the reducing moieties. An alternative way for methane control in the rumen is to apply inhibitors against methanogens. Generating methane from manure has considerable merit because it appears to offer at least a partial solution to two pressing problems-environmental crisis and energy shortage. An obvious benefit from methane production is the energy value of the gas itself. Control of methane emission by rumen microbes in Korea has mainly been focused on application of various chemicals, such as BES and PMDI, that inhibit the growth and activity of methanogens in the rumen. Alternatives were to apply long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids and oils with or without organic acids (malate and fumarate). The results for trials with methane reducing agents and the situation of biogas production industries and a typical biogas plant in Korea will be introduced here.

• Korean Journal of Soil Science and Fertilizer
• /
• v.44 no.6
• /
• pp.1195-1206
• /
• 2011

This study was conducted to apply LCA (Life cycle assessment) methodology to lettuce (Lactuca sativa L.) production systems in Namyang-ju as a case study. Five lettuce growing farms with three different farming systems (two farms with organic farming system, one farm with a system without agricultural chemicals and two farms with conventional farming system) were selected at Namyangju city of Gyeonggi-province in Korea. The input data for LCA were collected by interviewing with the farmers. The system boundary was set at a cropping season without heating and cooling system for reducing uncertainties in data collection and calculation. Sensitivity analysis was carried out to find out the effect of type and amount of fertilizer and energy use on GHG (Greenhouse Gas) emission. The results of establishing GTG (Gate-to-Gate) inventory revealed that the quantity of fertilizer and energy input had the largest value in producing 1 kg lettuce, the amount of pesticide input the smallest. The amount of electricity input was the largest in all farms except farm 1 which purchased seedlings from outside. The quantity of direct field emission of $CO_2$, $CH_4$ and $N_2O$ from farm 1 to farm 5 were 6.79E-03 (farm 1), 8.10E-03 (farm 2), 1.82E-02 (farm 3), 7.51E-02 (farm 4) and 1.61E-02 (farm 5) kg $kg^{-1}$ lettuce, respectively. According to the result of LCI analysis focused on GHG, it was observed that $CO_2$ emission was 2.92E-01 (farm 1), 3.76E-01 (farm 2), 4.11E-01 (farm 3), 9.40E-01 (farm 4) and $5.37E-01kg\;CO_2\;kg^{-1}\;lettuce$ (farm 5), respectively. Carbon dioxide contribute to the most GHG emission. Carbon dioxide was mainly emitted in the process of energy production, which occupied 67~91% of $CO_2$ emission from every production process from 5 farms. Due to higher proportion of $CO_2$ emission from production of compound fertilizer in conventional crop system, conventional crop system had lower proportion of $CO_2$ emission from energy production than organic crop system did. With increasing inorganic fertilizer input, the process of lettuce cultivation covered higher proportion in $N_2O$ emission. Therefore, farms 1 and 2 covered 87% of total $N_2O$ emission; and farm 3 covered 64%. The carbon footprints from farm 1 to farm 5 were 3.40E-01 (farm 1), 4.31E-01 (farm 2), 5.32E-01 (farm 3), 1.08E+00 (farm 4) and 6.14E-01 (farm 5) kg $CO_2$-eq. $kg^{-1}$ lettuce, respectively. Results of sensitivity analysis revealed the soybean meal was the most sensitive among 4 types of fertilizer. The value of compound fertilizer was the least sensitive among every fertilizer imput. Electricity showed the largest sensitivity on $CO_2$ emission. However, the value of $N_2O$ variation was almost zero.

• The Korean Journal of Pesticide Science
• /
• v.7 no.2
• /
• pp.139-148
• /
• 2003

The purpose of this study was to investigate damages of garlics occurred under cold storage and farmhouse storage condition, influence of cultural and environmental factors on storage spoilage of garlics, and to establish control strategies to reduce damages occurred under storage of garlics. Decays of garlics were highly related with cultural condition (paddy field or upland soil), ventilation, storage temperature and relative humidity, continuous cropping years, and harvesting stage. Early-harvested garlics were more decayed than late-harvested garlics. Garlics cultivated on paddy field were less decayed than ones cultivated on upland soil under farmhouse storage condition. The densities of Penicillium spp. and Fusarium spp. were higher on plot with long term continuous cropping cultivation history than on plot with short term continuous cropping cultivation history. However there is no relation between continuous cropping years and percent of decay of garlics. As a result of investigating influence of environmental factors on decay of garlics, P. hirsutum caused severe spoilage under high relative humidity condition, while F. oxysporum and Stemphyllium botryosum were not related with relative humidity. The three postharvest pathogens grew well above woe. In addition when P. hirsutum and S. botryosum were cultured for two months, they grew even at $-1^{\circ}C$. Except for environmental factors, wounds occurred through farming works. had an effect on storage spoilage of garlics. Garlics only hurt with a toothpick without inoculation of pathogens were decayed more severe than those inoculated with pathogens without wounds. Seven agro-chemicals showed highly suppressive effect were selected by measuring mycelial growth of three major pathogens of garlics on potato dextrose agar amended with 0.1% (v/v) of each fungicide. When they were foliar-sprayed on garlics 30 days before harvesting, it was confirmed that they suppressed storage spoilage of garlics. Also when garlics were sprayed with and drenched into the suspension of Benoram WP very after harvesting garlics, garlic damages by postharvest pathogens were reduced remarkably.