Increasing the Amount of Biomass in Field Crops for Carbon Sequestration and Plant Biomass Enhancement Using Biochar

The agricultural sector, especially in developing countries, is vulnerable to the effects of climate change partially caused by greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from agricultural areas. Field crops are capable of bio-sequestration in its aboveground and belowground biomass. Incorporating biochar as a soil amendment increases its potential to become an important bio-sequestration which makes the agricultural sector a key contributor to climate change mitigation. This chapter discussed and presented data obtained from research on biochar using to increase plant biomass for carbon sequestration purposes. The biochar was produced from cassava stems by pyrolysis using a patented retort that was especially designed for agriculturalists to produce a low-cost biochar for their own use. The ability to increase biomass of field crops for carbon sequestration is crucial towards reducing the GHG emissions. This research also shed light on an innovative agricultural method, in comparison to traditional farming, that leads to sustainable agriculture in the long run. The biochar research is also a way to transfer research knowledge from laboratory to practical use

Properties of Biochar Prepared from Acacia Wood and Coconut Shell for Soil Amendment

The biochar produced from the agricultural wastes was aimed to amend the extreme degraded soil. The properties of biochar prepared from Acacia wood and coconut shell were investigated by different pyrolysis conditions in order to identify the suitable initial biomass of biochar applied for sandy soil amendment. The slow pyrolysis was applied for preparing biochar under different conditions. The temperature was varied from 300, 400 and 500 oC meanwhile the pyrolysis times were varied to 1, 2 and 3 hours. The parameters indicating biochar property are SA, APD, elemental contents of C, H, O and N, pH, CEC, and WHC. The properties of Acacia biochar and coconut shell biochar were compared using paired T-test at 95% confident interval to analyze the significant difference. The results indicated that the types of the initial biomass and the pyrolysis conditions have an impact on the properties of biochar for both physical and chemical. The suitable temperature was 500 °C for 2 hours. The different types of biomass are significantly effect on the SA, C and O contents, pH, CEC and WHC of the prepared biochar (P<0.05). Properties of Acacia wood biochar indicate that it is more suitable than coconut shell biochar to be applied as sandy soil amendment due to its higher SA, higher CEC, and neutral pH. Meanwhile, coconut shell biochar also can be applied for the typical soil appropriate and increase crop yield.The biochar produced from the agricultural wastes was aimed to amend the extreme degraded soil. The properties of biochar prepared from Acacia wood and coconut shell were investigated by different pyrolysis conditions in order to identify the suitable initial biomass of biochar applied for sandy soil amendment. The slow pyrolysis was applied for preparing biochar under different conditions. The temperature was varied from 300, 400 and 500oC meanwhile the pyrolysis times were varied to 1, 2 and 3 hours. The parameters indicating biochar property are SA, APD, elemental contents of C, H, O and N, pH, CEC, and WHC. The properties of Acacia biochar and coconut shell biochar were compared using paired T-test at 95% confident interval to analyze the significant difference. The results indicated that the types of the initial biomass and the pyrolysis conditions have an impact on the properties of biochar for both physical and chemical. The suitable temperature was 500°C for 2 hours. The different types of biomass are significantly effect on the SA, C and O contents, pH, CEC and WHC of the prepared biochar (P < 0.05). Properties of Acacia wood biochar indicate that it is more suitable than coconut shell biochar to be applied as sandy soil amendment due to its higher SA, higher CEC, and neutral pH. Meanwhile, coconut shell biochar also can be applied for the typical soil appropriate and increase crop yield

Development of the Strategic Framework for Sustainable Development of the Special Economic Zones in ASEAN Economic Community: A Case Study of Savannakhet - Mukdahan

The study proposes a strategic sustainable development (SD) framework for the special economic zones in the ASEAN Economic Community (AEC) by investigating 11 key factors to the success of SD, using the concepts of Strategic Environment Assessment (SEA) and Sustainability Assessment (SA). The key factors are 1) public education, 2) educational system, 3) international SD standard, 4) policy, 5) management structure, 6) environmental management, 7) zoning, 8) expenditure, 9) public participation, 10) public health and 11) local business protection. The study use qualitative methods including a literature review as well as collection of primary data through a semi-structured interview form by face-to-face in-depth interviewing with 56 stakeholders selected through the triangulation and appreciative inquiry techniques. The data were qualitatively analyzed to present opinions, problems, needs and results according to SEA and SA. Using content analysis, an analysis was conducted of the state of SD in the target areas of Mukdahan and Savannakhet special economic zones. A strategic SD framework was designed for use in the AEC region. The study recommends further investigation of key factors to identify those that may be specific to each area

Analytic Hierarchy Process for Stakeholder Participation in Integrated Water Resources Management

This paper focuses on the applied of the Analytical Hierarchy Process (AHP) with Integrated Water Resources Management (IWRM) to develop the model for water resources management in the Pranburi watershed by the stakeholder participation. The structure of the hierarchy model in Pranburi watershed was developed by the experts based on IWRM and classified in 4 criteria, 15 sub-criteria, and 3 alternatives. Questionnaire method is the tool for obtaining a score to the comparison between pairs of criteria by the representatives in the community. The finding revealed that the importance of criteria is the environmental factors. The highest ranked of the alternative is the strategy of watershed participation. These results implied that the community focused the stakeholder participation based on the decision-making process for water resources in Pranburi watershed. This research clearly presented the capability of AHP approach can integrate with an IWRM principle for water resources planning. The AHP approach can demonstrate the community representative’s relevant data before making the decision and reduce bias on decision making by applying pairwise comparison of AHP technique. More importantly, the government should support the collaborative with local officer and community in the decision making policy on water resources planning.This paper focuses on the applying the Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP) to Integrated Water Resource Management (IWRM) to develop a model for water resource management in the Pranburi watershed by using stakeholder participation. The hierarchy model structure of the Pranburi watershed was developed by the experts based on IWRM and classified into 4 criteria, 15 sub-criteria, and 3 alternatives. The questionnaire method was the tool used for obtaining a weighing for comparison between the pairs of criteria obtained from community representatives. The finding revealed that the important criteria are the environmental factors. The highest ranked of the alternatives is the watershed planning strategy. These results implied that community focused stakeholder participation in the decision-making process for water resources in Pranburi watershed gave a positive outcome. This research clearly presented the capability of the AHP approach integrates with IWRM principle for water resource planning. The AHP approach can analyze the community representative’s relevant data before decision making, by applying pairwise comparison of the AHP technique, can reduce bias during decision making. More importantly, the government should support collaboration with local officers and the community in the decision making policy on water resource planning

Optimization of Biochar Preparation from Acacia Wood for Soil Amendment

Abstract. Biochar was prepared from Acacia wood by slow pyrolysis process under different conditions in order to determine the optimum condition of the pyrolysis temperature and time. The temperature was varied from 300 - 500oC meanwhile the time was varied from 1 - 3 hours. The regression analysis was applied to investigate the relationship between surface area, APD, and pH of biochar (response variables) and the independent factors (temperature and time). The response surface methodology was used for determining the optimum condition of biochar preparation from Acacia wood. The relationship between all response variables and the pyrolysis temperature and time is fit to the first order linear regression model. The pyrolysis temperatures have the significant impact (at 95% confident interval) on the surface area and APD of biochar meanwhile the pyrolysis times do not. The optimum condition for preparing biochar from Acacia wood using the laboratory electrical furnace is at 434.8oC, 1 hour of pyrolysis temperature and time. In addition, the proposed range of the optimum pyrolysis temperature is 413 – 450oC and the range of the optimum pyrolysis time is 1 – 2 hours.Biochar was prepared from Acacia wood by slow pyrolysis process under different conditions in order to determine the optimum condition of the pyrolysis temperature and time. The temperature was varied from 300 - 500oC meanwhile the time was varied from 1 - 3 hours. The regression analysis was applied to investigate the relationship between surface area, APD, and pH of biochar (response variables) and the independent factors (temperature and time). The response surface methodology was used for determining the optimum condition of biochar preparation from Acacia wood. The relationship between all response variables and the pyrolysis temperature and time is fit to the first order linear regression model. The pyrolysis temperatures have the significant impact (at 95% confident interval) on the surface area and APD of biochar meanwhile the pyrolysis times do not. The optimum condition for preparing biochar from Acacia wood using the laboratory electrical furnace is at 434.8oC, 1 hour of pyrolysis temperature and time. In addition, the proposed range of the optimum pyrolysis temperature is 413 - 450oC and the range of the optimum pyrolysis time is 1 - 2 hours

Applying the New Theory to Assessment Criteria of Agricultural Water Management Schemes for Sustainable Rain-fed Agriculture in Thailand

This paper describes the selection of assessment criteria to assess agricultural water management schemes for on-farm ponds to support sustainable rain-fed agriculture, guided by the New Theory of His Majesty King Bhumibol Adulyadej. The candidate set of criteria was obtained from several international and national sources related to sustainable rain-fed agriculture and the New Theory. The criteria were reviewed and modified by the expert team based on the goals of the New Theory in order to define an initial site-specific set of criteria that conform with the context of socio-topographical conditions of Thailand. The team screened, assessed, and prioritized the criteria using three multiple criteria decision-making (MCDM) techniques- ranking, rating and pairwise comparisons- in order to attain the final locality set of the assessment criteria. The process resulted in selection of a set of three criteria, with 15 sub-criteria. This final locality set of criteria was used to conduct a sustainability assessment of agricultural water management schemes of on-farm ponds. Criterion 1 (The pursuit of self-reliant agriculture based on limited agricultural land and water resources) was given the highest weighting, followed by Criterion 3 (The pursuit of sustainable rain-fed agriculture) and Criterion 2 (Self-sufficiency of household daily consumption and income generation). At the sub-criterion level, sub-criterion 1.1 (Land use efficiency) and sub-criterion 1.5 (Water use efficiency) of Criterion 1; sub-criterion 2.1 (Food self-sufficiency) of Criterion 2; and sub-criterion 3.1 (Mixed farming) of Criterion 3 were given the highest weightings. Further research is needed to examine the applicability and reliability of the assessment criteria in field situations

Land–Water–Population Model: Developing an Agricultural Resources Management in the Upper Part of Pranburi Watershed

This research proposes the application of the Land-Water-Population (LWPM) concept in the upper part of the Pranburi watershed. The objective of the study is to develop a model for agricultural resources management under the Sufficiency Economy Philosophy (SEP). The methodology is divided into three parts; 1) evaluate the soil quality in agricultural areas, 2) analyze water quality in agricultural land; and 3) assess farmer practice in agricultural resources management using a questionnaire. The study findings point to problems in soil and water conservation, suggesting that in the area should prioritize agricultural management, as advocated under the SEP, which provides guidelines for practicing agriculture under the New Theory on land and water management. Adoption of this model under the SEP will facilitate integrated natural resource management and sustainable agriculture by stakeholder participation at community level

Assessment of Elephant Dietary Biomass at the Adjoining Area of Kaeng Krachan Natural Park, Thailand

This study investigated the dietary diversity and biomass of the elephants (Elephas maximus) ranging in the area adjoining Kaeng Krachan Natural Park, Pa Deng Sub-district, Kaeng Krachan District, Petchaburi Province, Thailand. The investigation was conducted by recon-naissance survey transect (Recce) combined with concentric sample plots with 3 different radii to observe vegetation and collect data on trees, saplings, seedlings, and undergrowth from 89 locations in the study area. Six transects along elephant feeding trails were surveyed at 200 m intervals within 15 m from the center of both sides of each line. The vegetation comprised in all 57 families and 140 plant species, of which 28 families and 51 species formed part of the elephant diets. The average biomass in the study area ranged from 8,314-65,863 tons km-2, with an average of 25,000 tons km-2. Huay Rae - Hub Pla Kang trail found the greatest amount of biomass which is 65,863 tons km-2

A Review of the Analytical Hierarchy Process (AHP): An Approach to Water Resource Management in Thailand

The analytical hierarchy process (AHP) is an approach for decision making with complex problems that can be applied in water resources management. This paper reviews the literature on application of AHP in water resource management from 2009-2013 in 46 peer reviewed journal articles, analyzes the strengths and limitations of the technique using SWOT analysis, and then focuses on its utility when integrated with other methods for water resource management in Thailand. The findings indicate that AHP can be utilized for all types of water resource management focused on criteria concerning social, economic and environmental factors. Furthermore, the efficacy of AHP can be enhanced when integrated with other techniques. Application of AHP in Thailand could be combined with the Delphi technique to identify key criteria for resolving bias problems regarding goal and criteria