Jutharat Klinkul. Application of life cycle assessment in organic rice production. Master's Degree(Technology of Environmental Management ). Mahidol University. Mahidol University Library and Knowledge Center. : Mahidol University, 2009.
Application of life cycle assessment in organic rice production
Abstract:
This research studies the environmental impacts which arise from organic
rice production process. Every organic rice production process contributes to global
warming, eutrophication and species extinction. In addition, the research also focuses
on the nutrient balance during the life cycle of organic rice production through the
application of life cycle assessment as the unit of analysis, and the collection of data
reguarding the production factors of organic rice (one ton) by farmers in Nakhon
Sawan province.
The findings are that 1) global warming and species extinction have the
tendency to arise from in the soil preparation process (30.83% and 61.40%,
respectively), 2) Eutrophication arises mainly from the soil fertility process (34%), 3)
surpluses of nitrogen and potassium exists in the system (3.5 and 0.9 kg,
respectively) The causes of all environmental impacts are due to the use of stubble
and rice straw together with organic fertilizer in high amounts which generate the
surplus nutrients in the system. As for the preliminary recommendations, the farmers
should refrain from the use of stubble and rice straw as a supplement for soil
improvement before production as well as the excess use of organic fertilizer to the
detriment of rice plants which will result in reducing the environmental impacts