Recent techniques in Precision Agriculture in Asia  Byungkyun Chung

Introduction  In a broad sense agriculture includes cultivation of the soil, growing and harvesting crops, breeding and raising of livestock, dairying, and forestry  Modern agriculture depends heavily on engineering and technology and on the biological and physical sciences for successful farming.

Introduction  Began farming 4000 yr ago in Asia  At present, SE Asia produces 150 M tons of paddy per year ( 25% of world production ), of which 95% is consumed within the region.  While per capita demand is expected to decrease in the future, total demand for rice in SE Asia is increased

Introduction  SE Asia year Population, millions Rice production, million tons Per capita consumption, kg

Techniques in Agriculture in Asia  By hand  By using animal  Using terrace  Using small machinery  Using zero-burn

By hand

By using animal

By using terrace

Using small tractor

By zero-burning  To convert biomass into plant available nutrients  For poor farmer on acid upland soils  Low cost

Why they keep these techniques  Small farm land of local farmer in Asia  Poor money  Lack of knowledge  Developing country

Closed Field System (Hydroponic system)  The average farm size in East Asia is not large and cost efficiency for open field agriculture  Closed field systems ( Hydroponic system ) is for energy savings with zero emission –Greenhouses

Greenhouses  Advantages –Is to protect crops ( vegetables ) from unfavorable growing conditions ( bad weather, insects and birds ) –Use natural and renewable energy (solar, wind, biomass) –Higher yield and lower costs

Greenhouses  Disadvantages –Generated Chloride gas from PVC if it is burn ( 180 ˚C ) –Plastic wastes-burn, recycling –Accumulation of undesirable salts in system ( Dumping entire solution which plants need )

Greenhouses  Mulching → row covers → small tunnels → plastic houses

Greenhouses  More than half of the world area of plastic greenhouses is in Asia and again China has the largest area  Framed and Floating- Tunnels and Floating Mulching ( Okinawa, Japan )

Greenhouses  Use material as PVC, EVA, PE, PET ( long wave radiation ), Rigid polyester rigid and so on  Glass greenhouse is best ( $126/m 2 cost ) China, ha Japan, ha

Adapting Techniques in Precision agriculture in Asia  Integrating the elements necessary for fertilization recommendation system.  Pest management system  Developing machinery for yield monitoring and mapping system  Field-based remote sensing system  Variable-rate pesticide spraying system  Variable-rate fertilizing system

Conclusion  Precision agricultural techniques have lots of benefits.  Rice and Wheat price are lower in California, USA than in Korea.

Conclusion In USA, precision agriculture techniques have researched for 10years and recommend the techniques However, in Asia researchers begin to find suitable techniques for small farming area.

Reference    Ernst Mutert and T.H. Fairhurst “Developments in Rice Production in Southeast Asia”. Better Crops International. Vol 15. Special Supplement. pp    ctrl/cuc-chap1.pdf

Reference  ejournal.tamu.edu/Submissions%5CInvited%20Ov erview%20Fu-ming%20Lu%202Feb2004.pdf  itc/html/areas/agri_further_info.htm itc/html/areas/agri_further_info.htm itc/html/areas/agri_further_info.htm  /ma03194.pdf  ejournal.tamu.edu/%5CSubmissions%5CTakakura %2018Oct2002.pdf

Thank you ~!