Evaluation of the value of Thung Sumrit area utilization for Economic Crops management

Abstract

The objective of this study is to analyze the use of Tungsamrit area for soil management on growth and the production of economic crops, as well as to assess carbon dioxide emissions and soil organic carbon sequestration for economic crops proceeding in the low suitable area for rice growing (S3), Thung Samrit area at Nakhon Ratchasima Province. The Randomize Complete Block Design (RCBD) experiment was designed with 6 experimental treatments, 4 replications. The results showed that rice and cassava planting affect the chemical properties of the soil. Soil pH was acidic to severe acidic. EC of the soil was evaluated as low to moderate salinity. Quantity of organic matter and nutrients, phosphorus and potassium were in the range of low to very low. Regarding the growth and the production of rice, it was found that chemical fertilizer application according to soil analysis values together with organic fertilizer, gypsum, and bio-extract; the highest yield of rice was 274 kilograms per rai, and the highest cassava yield was 4,680 kilograms per rai. When compared to the control recipe using fertilizer application according to soil analysis values together with gypsum, bio-extract through farmer methods; resulting for the highest organic carbon storage in the soil, equaled to 0.30 percent for rice cultivation and 0.86 percent for cassava plantation. For carbon dioxide emission, both rice and cassava cultivation had similar values which as 559.45 ppm, and 524.83 ppm, respectively which were not statistically different at the 95 percent confidence level. Net income for rice cultivation of all recipe had negative income (a loss), the net income of the control recipe was the lowest as -932.00 baht per rai. Some recipe of cassava cultivation had either positive or negative income.