• Proceedings of the Korea Water Resources Association Conference
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• 2021.06a
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• pp.148-149
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• 2021

Food waste has increasingly become a global issue of concern among the researchers and policymakers due to its significant environmental and economic impacts, and other associated unsustainable use of resources, including water resources. While food wastage occurs at each stage of the supply chain with food loss at the upstream and food waste at the downstream, the impacts of food waste occurring at the consumption side are enormous due to the accumulated added values. In this study, the embedded water resources, greenhouse gas emissions, and economic loss of household food waste were investigated. The primary granular data of household food waste was collected through direct sampling from 218 selected households of the Buk-gu community in Daegu, South Korea from July 2019 to May 2020. The water footprint, which was based on the water footprint concept, i.e., indirect water use, and GHG emission potential factor for each of the food items were adopted from the literature, while the retail prices and disposal cost were used to assess the economic cost of wasted food items. The water footprint, GHG emission associated with environmental impacts, and the economic cost of 42 major identified wasted food items were conducted. The findings showed that an average of 0.73 ± 0.06 kg/household/day edible food waste was generated among the sampled households, with leafy vegetable, watermelon, and rice responsible for 10, 9, and 4%, respectively, of the total weight of the 42 food wasted items. The water footprint and environmental impact of the household food waste resulted in 0.46 ± 0.04 m³ and 0.71±0.05 kg CO2eq, respectively. Beef, pork, poultry, and rice accounted for 52, 9, 5, and 4% of the total water footprint, while beef, pork, rice, tofu/cheese had 52, 8, 6, and 6% of the total emissions, respectively, embedded in the food wasted. Furthermore, the average estimated economic cost associated with wasted food items was 3855.93±527.27 Korean won, with beef, fish, and leafy vegetable responsible for 21, 13, and 10%, respectively, of the total economic cost. A combined assessment using water-environmental-economic nexus indicated that animal-based food had the highest footprint impacts, with beef, pork, and poultry indicating high indices of 0.3, 0.08, and 0.06 respectively, on a scale of 0 to 1, compared to corn and lettuce with lowest impacts of 0.02. Other food items had moderate impact values ranging from 0.03 to 0.05. This study, therefore, provides insight into the enormity of environmental and economic implications of household food waste among Korean households.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Culture
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• v.22 no.2
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• pp.246-253
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• 2007

Mineral and volatile flavor compounds of Pimpinella brochycarpa N., a perennial Korean medicinal plant of the Umbelliferae family, were analyzed by inductively coupled plasma-atomic emission spectroscopy (ICP-AES) and simultaneous steam distillation extract (SDE)-gas chromatography mass spectrometry (GC/MS), head space solid phase micro-extraction (HS-SPME)-GC/MS. Mineral contents of the stalks and leaves were compared and the flavor patterns of the fresh and the shady air-dried samples were obtained by the electronic nose (EN) with 6 metal oxide sensors. Principal component analysis (PCA) was carried out using the data obtained from EN. The 1st principal values of the fresh samples have + values and the shady air-dried have - values. The essential oil extracted from the fresh and the shady air-dried by SDE method contain 58 and 31 flavor compounds. When HS-SPME method with CAR/PDMS fiber and PDMS fiber were used, 34 and 21 flavor compounds. The principal volatile components of Pimpinella brachycarpa N. were ${\alpha}$-selinene, germacrene D, and myrcene.

• Korean Journal of Soil Science and Fertilizer
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• v.46 no.6
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• pp.502-509
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• 2013

To estimate greenhouse gas (GHG) emission, we established inventory of conventional rice cultivation from farmers in Gunsan and Iksan, Jeonbuk province in 2011~2012. This study was to calculate carbon footprint and to analyse the major factor of GHGs. We carried out a sensitivity analysis using the analyzed main factors of GHGs and estimated the mitigation potential of GHGs. Also we tried to suggest agricultural methods to reduce GHGs that farmers of this case study can apply. Carbon footprint of rice production unit of 1 kg was 2.21 kg $CO_2.-eq.kg^{-1}$. Although amount of $CO_2$ emissions is largest among GHGs, methane had the highest contribution of carbon footprint on rice production system after methane was converted to carbon dioxide equivalent ($CO_2$-eq.) multiplied by the global warming potential (GWP). Source of $CO_2$ in the cultivation of rice farming is incomplete combustion of fossil fuels used by agricultural machinery. Most of the $CH_4$ emitted during rice cultivation and major factor of $CH_4$ emission is flooded paddy field in anaerobic condition. Most of the $N_2O$ emitted from rice cultivation process and major sources of $N_2O$ emission is application of fertilizer such as compound fertilizer, urea, orgainc fertilizer, etc. As a result of sensitivity analysis due to the variation in energy consumption, diesel had the highest sensitivity among the energies inputs. If diesel consumption is reduced by 10%, it could be estimated that $CO_2$ potential reduction is about 2.5%. When application rate of compound fertilizer reduces by 10%, the potential reduction is calculated to be approximately 1% for $CO_2$ and approximately 1.8% for $N_2O$. When drainage duration is decreased until 10 days, methane emissions is reduced by approximately 4.5%. That is to say drainage days, tillage, and reducing diesel consumption were the main sources having the largest effect of GHG reduction due to changing amount of inputs. Accordingly, proposed methods to decrease GHG emissions were no-tillage, midsummer drainage, etc.

• Journal of the Korea Organic Resources Recycling Association
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• v.26 no.2
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• pp.11-18
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• 2018

Biochar is a carbon-rich solid product obtained by the pyrolysis of biomass. It has been suggested to mitigate climate change through increased carbon storage and reduction of greenhouse gas emission. The objective of this study was to evaluate carbon dioxide ($CO_2$) and nitrous oxide ($N_2O$) emissions from soil after various biochars addition. The biochars were produced by pyrolysing pear branch, rice hull and bean straw at $400{\sim}500^{\circ}C$. The treatments were consisted of a control without input of biochar and three type biochars input as 5.0 Mg/ha. Emissions of $CO_2$ and $N_2O$ from upland soil were determined using closed chamber for 8 weeks at $25^{\circ}C$ of incubation temperature. It was shown that the cumulative $CO_2$ were 207.1 to $255.2g\;CO_2/m^2$ for biochar input treatments and $258.6g\;CO_2/m^2$ for the control after experimental periods. The cumulative $CO_2$ emission was slightly decreased in biochar input treatment compared to the control. It was appeared that cumulative $N_2O$ emissions were $2,890.6mg\;N_2O/m^2$ for control, 379.7 to $525.2mg\;N_2O/m^2$ for biochar input treatment at the end of experiment. All biochar treatments were found to significantly reduce $N_2O$ emission by 82~87%. Consequently the biochar from byproducts such as pear branch, rice hull and bean straw could suppress the soil $N_2O$ emission. The results from the study imply that biochar can be utilized to reduce greenhouse gas emission from the upland field.

• Korean Journal of Environmental Agriculture
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• v.32 no.3
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• pp.179-184
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• 2013

BACKGROUND: Accurate estimates of total direct $CH_4$ emissions from croplands on a country scale are important for global budgets of anthropogenic sources of $CH_4$ emissions and for the development of effective mitigation strategies. Methane production resulted by the anaerobic decomposition of organic compounds where $CO_2$ acts as inorganic electron acceptor. This process could be affected by the addition of rice straw, water management and rice variety itself. METHODS AND RESULTS: Rice (Oryza sativa L. Japonica type, var Samkwangbyeo) was cultivated in four plots: (1) Nitrogen-Phosphorus-Potassium (NPK) ($N-P_2O_5-K_2O$:90-45-57 kg/ha); (2) NPK plus 3 Mg/ha rice straw (RS3); (3) NPK plus 5 Mg/ha rice straw (RS5); (4) NPK plus 7 Mg/ha rice straw (RS7) for 3 years (2010-2012) and the rice straw incorporated in fall (Nov.) in Gyeonggi-do Hwaseong-si. Gas samples were collected using the closed static chamber which were installed in each treated plot of $152.9m^2$. According to application of 3, 5, 7 Mg/ha of rice straw, methane emission increased by 46, 101, 190%, respectively, compared to that of the NPK plot. CONCLUSION(S): We obtained a quantitative relationship between $CH_4$ emission and the amount of rice straw applied from rice fields which could be described by polynomial regression of order 2. The emission scaling factor estimated by the relationship were in the range of IPCC GPG (2000).

• Korean Journal of Soil Science and Fertilizer
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• v.45 no.6
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• pp.1173-1178
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• 2012

Water competition among domestic, industrial and agricultural sectors has been gradually heightened recently in Korea as the lack of water supply is expected in the near future. About 46% of nation's water use is consumed in paddy farming to produce rice. And the conservation of water resource and quality in agricultural sector is a pending issue in the nation's long term water management plan. New paddy rice farming techniques that use significantly less irrigation water are urgently required. System of Rice Intensification (SRI) that is now well known to produce more rice with less water consumption has not been tried in Korea yet. And environmental effect of SRI on greenhouse gases (GHGs) has not been well investigated. The objective of this study was to measure the effect of SRI on GHGs as well as water use and rice yield in a Korean paddy condition. Three experimental runoff plots $5{\times}15m$ in size were prepared at an existing paddy field. Runoff, GHGs emission and water quality were measured during the 2011 growing seasons while a Japonica rice variety was cultivated. Rice plants grew better and healthier in SRI plots than in continuously flooded (CF) and intermittently drained (ID) plots. Rice yield from SRI plots increased 112.8 (ID)~116.1 (CF)% compared with CF and ID plots. Irrigation requirement of SRI plots compared to CF plot reduced by 52.6% and ID plot reduced by 62.0%, meaning that about 37.9~47.4% of irrigation water could be saved. GHGs emission from SRI plots reduced by 71.8% compared to that from CF plot and by 18.4% compared to that from ID plot, meaning that SRI could help contribute to ease the greenhouse gas accumulation in the atmosphere. It was believed that SRI is a promising paddy farming technique that could increase rice yield, and reduce irrigation water requirement and GHGs emission not just in Korea but also other rice farming countries all over the world. However, it was recommended that long term studies under different conditions including rice variety, soil texture, water source, climate need to be conducted for reliable data for the development of environmental policies related to GHGs emission control and management.

• Journal of Korean Society of Environmental Engineers
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• v.30 no.3
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• pp.278-285
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• 2008

This research was performed to evaluate the landfilling method of organic sludge from mix of pre-treated organic sludge (OS) and municipal solid waste(MSW). Organic sludges were dried, composted, and solidified as pre-treatment and the OS and MSW were mixed in ratios of 2 to 8 and 4 to 6. Approximately 1,800$\sim$2,500 L of landfill gas(LFG) was generated in the lysimeter with solidified-OS, which was higher than 1,150$\sim$1,650 L of the dried- and composted- ones. Maximum H$_2$S concentration was found in the following order : Composted-20(80 ppmv) > Composted-40(55 ppmv) > Dried-20(30 ppmv) > Dried-40 $\fallingdotseq$ Solidified-20 $\fallingdotseq$ Solidified-40 (20 ppmv). BOD$_5$ at initial leachate generation period was 38,000 mg/L for Composted-40, 28,000 mg/L for Dried-40, 26,000 mg/L for Dried-20, 21,000 mg/L for Composted-20 and Solidified-40, and Solidified-20 for 17,000 mg/L. In the final period of experiment, BOD$_5$ was low as 300$\sim$500 mg/L in the lysimeter with solidified-OS and MSW and showed 2,000$\sim$3,500 mg/L in dried- and composted- ones. As the results, landfilling by mix of solidified-OS and MSW was evaluated as the most appropriate method for biodegradable organics. Direct landfilling of OS is permitted for landfill site with CDM facility. Therefore, mixed landfilling of solidified-OS and MSW should be considered for much more LFG generation as methane.

• Korean Journal of Food Science and Technology
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• v.37 no.6
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• pp.882-888
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• 2005

Procedure for analysis of methylmercury in fish was developed, involving addition of HCl, extraction with toluene, and clean-up using L-cystein solution. Obtained extract is analyzed by gas chromatography with electron capture detector using Ulbon HR-Thermon-Hg column. Detection limit and recovery of the method were 0.005mg/kg (expressed as Hg), 98-107 (103%), respectively. Total mercury and methylmercury concentrations in 175 commercial fish samples ranged from [mean-max (mean), unit: mg/kg]: 0.014-1.200 (0.270) and 0.006-0.901 (0.168) in tuna-fish, 0.020-0.934 (0.323) and 0.012-0.553 (0.149) in martin-fish, 0.082-0.782 (0.391) and 0.040-0.436(0.201) in shark, 0,023-0.031 (0.026) and 0,013-0.018 (0.015) in salmon, 0.098-0.193 (0.133) and 0.031-0.015(0.090) in tilefish, and 0,031-0.214 (0.089) and 0.016-0.093 (0.042) in canned tuna respectively. No sample of analyzed fish exceeded 1.0mg/kg wet wt., limit for methylmercury established by Codex. In all species examined, estimated weekly intake was lower than Provisional Tolerable Weekly Intake recommended by the JECFA (the Joint FAO/WHO Expert Committee on Food Additives).

• Korean Journal of Soil Science and Fertilizer
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• v.41 no.6
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• pp.399-407
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• 2008

Importance of climate change and its impact on agriculture and environment has increased with a rise of greenhouse gases (GHGs) concentration in Earth's atmosphere, which had caused an increase of temperature in Earth. Greenhouse gas emissions such as methane($CH_4$) and nitrous oxide($N_2O$) in the field need to be assessed. GHGs fluxes using chamber systems in the fields(2004~2005) with pepper cultivation were monitored at the experimental plots of National Academy of Agricultural Science(NAAS), Rural Development Administration(RDA) located in Suwon city. $N_2O$ emission during pepper growing period was reduced to 74.0~82.1% in sandy loam soil compared with those in clay loam soil. Evaluating $N_2O$ emission at different levels of soil water conditions, $N_2O$ emission at -50 kPa were lowered to 13.2% in clay loam soil and 40.2% in sandy loam soil compared with those at -30 kPa. $CH_4$ emission was reduced to 45.7~61.6% in sandy loam soil compared with those in clay loam soil. Evaluating $CH_4$ at different levels of soil water conditions, $CH_4$ emission at -50 kPa was lowered to 69.6% in clay loam soil and 55.8% in sandy loam soil compared with those at -30 kPa. It implied that -50 kPa of soil water potential was effective for saving water and reducing GHG emissions. From the path analysis as to contribution factors for $N_2O$ emission, it appeared that contribution rate was in the order of mineral N(51.2%), soil temperature (25.8%), and soil moisture content(23.0%) in clay loam soil and soil moisture content(39.3%), soil temperature (36.4%), and mineral N(24.3%) in sandy loam soil.

• Journal of Korean Society of Environmental Engineers
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• v.33 no.12
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• pp.913-921
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• 2011

This study examined the overall feasibility of low carbon green village formed in rural area. The check method is analyzing its environmental and economic feasibility and energy self-reliance. The biomass of the villages was set as 28 ton/day of livestock feces and 2 ton/day of cut fruit tree branches which make up the total of 30 ton/day. The facility consisted of a bio gasfication facility using wet (livestock feces) biomass and combined heat power generator, composting facility and wood boiler using dry (cut fruit tree branches) biomass. When operating the system, 540,540 kWh/yr of electricity and 1,762 Gcal/yr of heat energy was produced. The region's electricity energy and heat energy self-reliance rate will be 100%. The economic feasibility was found as a loss of 140 million won where the facility installation cost is 5.04 billion won, operation cost is 485.09 million won and profit is 337.12 million won. There will be a loss of about 2.2 billion won in 15 years but in the environmental analysis, it was found that crude replacement effect is about 178 million won, greenhouse gas reduction effect is about 92 million won making up the total environmental benefit of 270 million won. This means, there will be a yearly profit of about 130 million won. In terms of its environmental and economic feasibility and energy self-reliance, this project seemed to be a feasible project in overall even if it manages to get help from the government or local government.