About 61% of the Bosnian population lives in rural areas. Meanwhile almost 95% of the Republika Srpska entity’s territory is rural where 83% of the population lives. Rural tourism includes tourism products and services in rural areas in which the rural culture is a key component. The paper aims at analyzing the perceptions of villagers, service providers and rural tourism structures managers on rural tourism development potential in south-eastern Bosnia. Suggestions of local actors to attract more tourists to rural areas were discussed as well. The paper includes both secondary and primary data. A questionnaire survey was performed in summer 2012 with 120 rural tourism operators, service providers and villagers in 11 municipalities in the Republika Srpska (RS). Bosnia in general and the RS in particular have great potential for rural tourism development but it remains largely unexpressed. Rural tourism can provide new windows of opportunities for rural areas. Rural tourism is perceived by local actors as sustaining and creating local incomes, employment and growth; contributing to the costs of providing local economic and social infrastructure, amenities and services; encouraging the other sectors development; and contributing to environmental and cultural heritage conservation. Rural communities have increasingly turned to tourism as an alternative means of achieving sustainable economic growth and development through restructuring and greater diversification of economic activity. Rural tourism operators’ individual satisfaction is gained from interchange with visitors. Tourist feedback positively enhances locally exerted effects and stimulates operators to recognize local opportunities and potential within their rural communities. In order to transform local stakeholders’ enthusiasm into concrete and viable investments and ventures, the financial and institutional support of the entity government, especially ministries of tourism and agriculture, as well as international donors is highly needed.

This research aims to examine the yields of water lilies belonging to the Nymphaea sp. (hybrid) for flowering capabilities purposes: Nymphaea ‘Chalongkwan’, Nymphaea ‘Khaomongkol’, and Nymphaea ‘Chompoomamiew’. The randomized complete block design (RCB) was implemented in which three sets of five experiments each were carried out. The data were collected three months after the cultivars had been grown for one month at the experimental plot of Rajamangala University of Technology Thanyaburi. The research results revealed that N. ‘Chalongkwan’ was the cultivars with the highest monthly yield, i.e. 14.48 flowers per clump, each with a flowers diameter of 18.89 cm and a stalk diameter of 1.56 cm. This was followed by N. ‘Chompoomamiew’, which produced a monthly yield of 11.86 flowers per clump, each with a flower diameter of 16.06 cm and a stalk diameter of 1.31 cm. The cultivars with the lowest yield was N. ‘Khaomongkol’, i.e. only 9.91 flowers per clump, each with a flower diameter of 15.09 cm and a stalk diameter of 1.35 cm. In addition, N. ‘Chalongkwan’ produced the highest yield per rai of 5,792 flowers, followed by N. ‘Chompoomamiew’ at 4,741 flowers, and N. ‘Khaomongkol’at 3,962 flowers.

Agriculture still ranks among the most important sectors of Serbia’s economy, with significant contributions to economic and social stability. Primary production accounts for about 10% of the gross domestic product. Over half of the population is rural. Serbian agriculture and rural areas face many problems including an underdeveloped institutional infrastructure. The paper aims at analyzing governance of agricultural and rural development (ARD) in Serbia. The work is based on an extensive secondary data review. It focuses on ARD policy design, implementation and evaluation and organizations dealing with ARD in each phase of the policy cycle. Agricultural policy objectives are set by the Law on Agriculture and Rural Development (LARD). The LARD, implemented through specific measures included in the Agricultural and Rural Development Strategy, also provides a general rural policy framework. ARD policy effectiveness and efficiency is linked also to governance arrangements and coordination mechanisms adequacy. Many national, regional, provincial and local public institutions are involved in the ARD arena. The range of key actors includes also some civil society organizations. Bilateral and multilateral donors implemented many projects during last years. However, the ARD policy framework needs further adjustments to be aligned with the European legal framework. The Serbian agricultural policy requires fundamental reforms at all levels and in all stages of the policy cycle. More attention should be given to rural development. Collaborations between the sectors dealing with rural development can lead to substantial improvements and push for more innovation and cross-sectoral participation. Governance levers require government leadership at all levels - from national to local. Improved policies should maximize complementarities between public, civil society and private stakeholders.

A growing body of evidence shows that agriculture is no more sufficient to ensure sustainable rural development in Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH) therefore rural livelihoods diversification is crucial. Farm activity diversification issue can be considered in terms of resources (land, labor or capital), location (on-farm or off-farm) and output (farm or non-farm). Well-developed financial systems are associated with more rapid and inclusive rural development and foster rural economy diversification. The paper aims at analyzing rural livelihoods diversification in south-eastern BiH with a particular focus on the influence of household financial management. The paper is based on an extended literature review and a questionnaire survey performed in March 2013 with 147 randomly selected rural households from nine municipalities in south-eastern BiH. The majority of the surveyed rural households (68.7%) have mixed (farm and non-farm) livelihoods. Household sources of income are quite diversified and many rural households have different non-farm income sources. More than two-fifths of the surveyed households had an activity on development or started new non-farm businesses in the last five years. However, about a half of these gave up because of many problems such as the lack of financial resources and time. Weak business skills are also a limiting factor. Financial literacy is often lower in rural areas. Moreover, it is positively associated to education level and negatively correlated to age. It comes no surprise that well educated and young rural people are those who started more new diversification businesses during the last five years. They find it less difficult to deal with paperwork, bureaucratic procedures and administrative documentation needed to make request for loans. Effective household financial management, depending mainly on household head financial skills, plays a significant role in determining livelihoods strategies and diversification endeavors success.

A survey of insect pest from community forests including Kok Soke Hin (Ban Fang district) and Phu Wat (Mancha khiri district) community forests, Khon Kaen province, were carried out from May to September 2013. Insect samples were collected by manual collecting and light trap. Fifty eight species were identified representing 34 families relating to 9 insect orders. The diversity of insects in Kok Soke Hin community forest consisted of Coleopterans (3.63%), Lepidopterans (3.63%), Hemipterans (0.52%), Homopterans (3.63%), Orthopterans (0.36%) and Hymenopterans (3.63%). The diversity of insects in Phu Wat community forest consisted of seven orders of insect including Orthopterans (29.49%), Coleopterans (24.36%), Lepidopterans (24.36%), Hemipterans (3.85%), Homopterans (16.67%), Dipterans (3.63%) and Hymenopterans (1.28%). Among the insects identified, insect pests were about 61.54 percent. The community forests of this study are considered to have a low diverse and numerous insect fauna in the area. Order Coleoptera was found abundant and dominant among other orders.

Serbia doesn’t have many competitive advantages in relation to the competition it faces. The growing demand for food has led to the fact that agricultural production relies mostly on the use of chemicals, which endanger human health and disrupt nature balance, and all in order to achieve a higher yield and profit. However, in the process of globalization, the only thing Serbia could rely on, except trained staff, are the natural resources. Favorable climate, large areas of arable land and forests, a healthy environment are the main prerequisites for the development of organic production (OP) in Serbia. This paper aims at giving an overview of the current situation of the Serbian organic sector especially potential, animal and crop production, governance, legal framework and market. Some solutions to overcome the main barriers to OP development are discussed. This paper is based on a secondary data review and exploratory semi-structured interviews - dealing mainly with reasons for converting to organic; marketing channels; problems; impacts; access to agricultural extension - conducted in summer 2013 with 40 organic producers randomly chosen from cities/municipalities all over Serbia. Statistical methods, SWOT (Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities and Threats) analysis, induction and deduction, as well as the technique of comparative analysis were used. The results indicate the advantages which increase in the organic production could bring to Serbia, such as economic growth, increased exports, reduced trade deficit, sustainable natural resources management and rural development. For allowing OP to express all its potential, domestic market should be further developed, legal framework and governance enhanced and institutional and financial support secured. Due to high prices of organic food in the world market organic production can be a key generator of economic growth and socio-economic development in Serbia, especially in rural areas.

From the last century, landuse was drastically changed in both urban and rural areas. Design and planning are needed for sustainable development in not only rural area but also urban area kept being harmony with ecosystems and biodiversity. Ecosystem provides various goods and services for the human society. We carried out quantitative assessments of ecosystem services in both urban and rural areas in Japan. In a rural area, material circulations (water, carbon and wood) were estimated by a process-based ecosystem model. In an urban area, ecosystem services were estimated calculated by maps of land use classified from digital maps. From the results, both rural and urban ecosystems study areas were deeply affected by land use, provisioning service changes directly related to societal demands. Urban ecosystems might provide complementary functions for urban area residents in the condition of decreased value of provisioning service. Types of rural ecosystem services also may change for social and economic reasons. The information may be useful for environmental planning for each area but also for more large regions including urban and rural areas.

The aim of this research is to investigate basic engineering properties of soil mixture materials and adobe bricks for earth structures. The soil mixture materials consist of soil, sand and rice husks. Samples of soil mixture materials and adobe bricks were collected from three villages (i.e. sources) in northeastern Thailand with adobe brick earth structures. The raw materials obtained from the three sources are: (1) soil, sand and rice husks from Baan Sikha Thai village of Nakhon Ratchasima province, (2) soil and rice husks from Baan Sai Rung village of Chaiyaphum province, and (3) soil and rice husks from Baan Thep Pana village of the province of Chaiyaphum. The physical properties of soil mixture materials and the mechanical characteristics in terms of adobe bricks and wall bearing strength (prism strength) were carried out. According to ASTM D-2487 of the Unified Soil Classification System, the soils from the three sources are of sand-poorly graded (SP) type. PI of soils and the horizontal compressive strength (σ_c) of adobe bricks from the first, second and third sources were 7.93, 6.02 and 2.88%; and 21.76, 15.76 and 13.48 kg/cm² (ksc), respectively. The findings indicate a positive relationship between plasticity index (PI) from Atterberg’s limits test and horizontal σ_c. A comparison was made between the horizontal σ_c of adobe bricks of three sources and those specified in the Uniform Building Code (UBC) Standard 21-1. The horizontal σ_c of the first, second and third sources relative to the UBC standard (17.6 ksc) were 21.76, 15.76 and 13.48 ksc, equivalent to 123.65%, 89.57% and 76.57% of the standard, respectively. The horizontal flexural strengths (f_b) of adobe bricks from the three sources were 5.86, 3.24 and 4.27 ksc. Thus, no indefinite relationship exists between f_b and PI as well as horizontal σ_c. In addition, a comparison between the horizontal σ_c of adobe bricks from three sources and the wall bearing strength (prism strength) of walls made from the identical three sources was performed. The wall bearing strength values of the first, second and third sources were 9.44, 6.39 and 3.63 ksc, respectively. The results show a positive relationship of prism strength to PI and to horizontal σ_c. The performance of adobe bricks in terms of greater strength and lower shrinkage could be enhanced by inclusion of appropriate quantities of sand and rice husks in the mixture.

A vacuum-assisted (VA) sampling system in gas chromatography (GC) with a thermal conductivity detector has been developed to analyze low-pressure hydrogen-balanced nitrogen gas (H₂/N₂) sample. The objective is to determine hydrogen-balanced nitrogen gas by GC assembled with the vacuum-assisted (VA) gas sampling system comparison to the conventional system, pressure reduced to zero (PRZ) gas sampling system. The results show that both systems were not significantly different at the 95% confidence level. The developed sampling system was applied to analyses the quality of the low-pressure-volume gas.

Nitrate pollution of river water and groundwater in agricultural areas is a serious problem in many countries, and many people are unconcerned with, or ignorant of, the problem. In recent years, environmental education on the relationship between agriculture and water has been provided to the general public in many areas in Japan. In this report, the nitrate nitrogen (NO₃-N) concentration in river water at the normal water level was evaluated in two agricultural areas in Eastern Hokkaido. The concentration results obtained using an official analytical method were compared with those obtained using simplified methods. By focusing on the differences in the results of the measurement methods, the applicability of simplified methods for NO₃-N concentration to water environmental education was examined. The investigation was carried out in two agricultural areas in Eastern Hokkaido in late August 2006. NO₃-N concentration was measured using an official method and two simplified methods. The comparison between the two results showed the NO₃-N concentration values measured by using the simplified methods to be 64% to 72% of those measured by using the official analytical method. The values obtained from the simplified methods were slight underestimates. However, there was a significant positive correlation between the two sets of values. Even though some consideration is necessary regarding the accuracy of the simplified methods, it can be said that the use of such methods in water environmental education is sufficiently effective. It is also expected that by actively introducing experience-based environmental education in which river water quality is measured by learners using simplified methods, it will be possible to make environmental education truly useful in the conservation of desirable watersheds in which sustainable agricultural and forestry are developed and desirable water quality is maintained.

The Namphong river catchment in NE Thailand, part of the Mekong River catchment, has agro-industrial activities, dry land farming, rice cultivation and river cage aquaculture. Most utilize irrigation while larger industrial activities extract groundwater. The tropical wet and dry seasons cause variation in river flow. Potential effects of water quality may arise annually from constituents introduced by agricultural and other practices. Nutrients are added to soil to improve agricultural production and directly to the river in cage aquaculture from fish feed. The seasonal variations were considered from heavy metals (cadmium, copper, iron, manganese, lead and zinc) and nutrients in the Namphong River during one annual cycle and their relationships to water quality. Water samples were collected from 10 sites along the Namphong River in January 2012 (dry season mean flow 8 sec/m) and 9 sites in September 2012 (wet season mean flow 28 sec/m). Labile metals estimated by the Diffusive Gradient in Thin Films (DGT) technique showed no toxicity to aquatic biota. Most metals showed concentration and location consistency in both seasons. Iron and manganese in pulp mill discharge and vegetable cultivation downstream showed high concentrations in September indicating a groundwater or saturated soil seepage source from reducing conditions. Nutrients decreased by half from January to September; total N was higher at upstream sites in January while nitrate and orthophosphate were not significant and pH and electrical conductivity were consistent for both seasons. Hardness and alkalinity increased in September and were highest in pulp mill discharge indicating a groundwater source. Total and suspended solids were affected by wet season runoff. Variations in metals and nutrients in January and September were attributed to differences in Namphong River flow and from seasonality and agricultural activities. Large agro-industries, particularly pulp, contributed the highest concentrations of nutrients and metals to the river.

This study evaluated the performance of the Rice Assistance Program for Institutional Development (RAPID) in selected municipalities of the province of Bohol, Philippines. There were 240 farmer beneficiaries of the program who served as respondents for the normative survey conducted. Seed was commonly availed by the beneficiaries and respondents revealed that delivery of inputs was on time and repayment was also on time. During the implementation of the program beneficiaries observed problem which is the failure of the Community Organizers to visit farmer’s field. With regards to the performance of the farmer beneficiaries, majority affirmed that their attendance to meetings and involvement in the activities have increased after the program was implemented. There was also an observed increase of members in the organization. On the impact to the environment majority affirmed that the project resulted to having increased soil fertility and fewer pest incidences in their crops. On the economic aspect, respondents revealed that there was an increase of their yield and income after the program. The results of the study made the researchers to recommend the following: 1) the project should be institutionalized in the Municipal Local Government Unit. This means the local government must allocate funds for its sustainability especially for the travelling expenses of the technicians who will do the monitoring and evaluation of the project. Once institutionalized, 2) the project shall not be confined to the irrigated and compact areas so that farmers with small landholdings and those in rainfed areas can also avail of the assistance of the project.

In Cambodia, 71% of labor force engage in agricultural sector and contribute 36% on 2010 of Gross Domestic Products. Recently, conventional farming based on agro-chemicals application is a major farming practice in the country. However, the application of agricultural inputs, especially chemical pesticides are not appropriate from a point of view of sustainable farming practice. As the mainstream farming systems based on agro-chemicals are not only deteriorating natural environment and ecosystem but also affecting human health. For preventing these impacts, attention has been paid to sustainable farming systems. For promoting sustainable farming systems based on natural resource circulation, Institute of Environment Rehabilitation and Conservation (ERECON) and Tokyo University of Agriculture implemented project in Samroung commune of Kampong Cham province, Cambodia since April 2011. From previous studies, it was concluded that extension approaches which are applied in Samroung commune is effective in order to change farmer’s awareness for converting their farming system. In addition, the farmers in Samroung commune have motivation and potential for converting from conventional farming systems to sustainable farming systems. However, for understanding participation level of farmers properly, this study evaluate participation level of farmers from 2011 to 2013 and examine appropriate incentive for improving participation level based on the questionnaire and interview survey. This study concluded that participation level of farmers was improved through project activities year by year and there are some incentives for improving farmer’s participation level. It can be said that participation level was improved according to change of interests and build incentives related to project activities.

Traditional and typical products have gained during the few last decades an important role in strategies for the development of remote rural regions. Herzegovina region is widely recognized and well-known for a unique gastronomic product; cheese in a suck. Uniqueness of this product derives from one phase of the production process - the ripening phase. The cheese ripens in sheep skin bags. Justification for choosing skin bag as a container for ripening and keeping cheese lies in history. The present research was carried out as the legal protection of a product with a Geographical Indication requires proofs of the historical existence of that product on a certain territory as well as the description of production technology and the mapping of the geographical area where product is made. The paper is based on an extended secondary data analysis and a field survey. Field research was carried out in 2011 using semi-structured interviews with a sample of 35 producer households - with a particular focus on women and the elderly - in the territory of Herzegovina. A checklist dealing mainly with the product history, the production area and the production technology and process of this typical Herzegovinian product was prepared for semi-structured interviews. Obtained results have proved that cheese in a suck has a long history and dates back to the 14^th century in Herzegovina region. Usage of sheep skin bag as a packing material during the ripening process is a unique method itself. Cheese in a suck is a typical product connected with Dinara mountains in Herzegovina. Protection of cheese in suck will foster its contribution to the development of Herzegovinian rural areas.

Sundew (Drosera spatulata Labill.) has become a favorite ornamental plant because of their carnivorous nature, the beauty of their glistening traps and their value as medicinal herb. It is also because of their low propagation rate in their natural environment that in vitro propagation of carnivorous plants is pursued. The objective of this research was to cultivate sundew in vitro to increase its propagation rate. The tetraploid of D. spatulata was induced by the colchicine treatment, providing valuable plant material for further breeding programs. Plantlets of D. spatulata were cultured on MS agar medium (pH 5.4-5.8), and growth and survival rates were observed. The results showed the highest survival of 100 percent in an MS (pH 5.6) medium. Results observed after nine weeks showed that a 1/3MS (pH 5.6) medium promotes the highest growth with an average plant diameter of 25.95 mm. For tetraploids induction, plantlets were immersed in aqueous solutions of colchicine (6 and 12 mg l^-1) for the duration of one week. The effects of different concentrations on survival and growth were recorded. Putative polyploids were identified by stomata density and stomata size. The ploidy level was determined by chromosome counting. The survival rate of treated plantlets decreased in all treatments. The most efficient colchicine concentrations were in the range from 6 to 12 mg l^-1. The chromosome number of the tetraploid plants was 2n = 4x = 40, while that of the control diploid plants was 2n = 2x = 20. The diameter of the tetraploid plants increased, and the length of the leaves and number of inflorescences were more than those of the diploid. The tetraploid plants derived from exposure to colchicine exhibited variations, such as larger stomata and lower density of stomata.

The aim of this research is to use Para-rubber (vulcanized latex) as an admixture for improving the properties of EVA plastic waste concrete block. In mix design, cement per EVA plastic waste per quarry dust per water ratio is 1:0.5:4:1.6 by weight, vulcanized latex per cement ratios are 0.00, 0.05, 0.10, 0.15, 0.20, 0.25, 0.30, 0.35, 0.40, and 0.45 respectively (by weight of cement), no charge surfactant is 4% (by weight of vulcanized latex). The suitable ratio of vulcanized latex per cement in this testing is 0.15 (by weight of cement). The properties are obtained as follows. 1) The average density in 14 days is 1,169.59 kg/m³. 2) The average water absorption in 14 days is 9.33%. 3) The average compressive strength in 28 days is 25.74 ksc. 4) The coefficient of thermal conductivity is 0.1527 W/m.K. 5). The sound absorption coefficient at 2,000 hertz is 0.38. 6) The noise reduction coefficient is 0.3. It can be seen that many properties are better than normal EVA plastic waste concrete blocks.

This paper explores the current labour restructuring in Svay Rieng province which is basic for proposing main solutions to stipulate the process of labour restructuring of the study area. Results show that labour is the decisive factor in the organization and effective use of sources of capital, natural resources and technologies. If it is not based on the high development of physical labor, level of education, technical knowhow and management experience, it can lead to a waste of money or depletion and destruction of other resources. The province of Svay Rieng has the advantage of an abundant and young workforce. However, in recent years the use and promotion of the workforce for economic development has not really proved effective. One of the factors leading to this situation is that the province’s labour restructuring is not identical with the provincial economic restructuring; therefore, Svay Rieng province should take measures to take actions that impacts on the processes of labour restructuring, marking contributions to the effective use of this workforce and the improvement of the province’s socio-economic development.

Bang-tabun Bay, the estuarine area is situated close to the Phetchaburi river mouth, Phetchaburi Province. Petchaburi River flows in the west of the Kingdom and exits into the Gulf of Thailand. This research study was conducted with sample collection of aquatic environmental quality from September 2011 to May 2012. The results indicated the increasing level of NH₄⁺, NO₂^-+NO₃^-, Si(OH)₄ and PO₄^3- in this area, which lead to the phytoplankton bloom phenomenon, thus, implied the mesotrophic to eutrophic status of the area. Three phyta and 54 genera of phytoplankton were discovered in the river mouth. The dominant groups were diatoms (Thalassionema), cyanobacteria (Trichodesmium), and dinoflagellates (Ceratium). In this study, Ceratium was classified to be the dominant group. Analysis of DIN:P and Si:P molar ratios of surface water were applied to examine the factors influencing the abundance of phytoplankton in the estuarine systems. Thus, the change of phytoplankton abundance should be considered to assess the water quality, and thereby more efficient aquatic environmental conservation of Bang-tabun Bay further.

The public participation on resources management in Lao PDR: case study Banhome village, Hadsayfong district, Vientiane. This area is very important for promoting sustainable agricultural production, and tends to accelerate human health such as the activation of financial securities, water supplies and how to avoid flood and droughts in the future by introducing environment friendly policies close to the conservation area. The purpose of this study was to determine the level of public participation and factors affecting participation of farmers in water resource management in Vientiane, Lao PDR. The participation of villagers was very useful. This survey research was carried out by using randomized model practices in relation to voluntary participation and the Government to the water resource management and cooperative in rural development. Data were collected by questionnaires and descriptive statistics were used to analyze the data. The results found that the level of public participation involved in water resource management was low. Recommendations from this research are that the Government and community should cooperate together to manage water resources and allow farmers to join all processes of water management and solving problems. Information and activities were promoted directly to people via well-selected media in order to create a positive point of view in water resource management participations. Moreover, in this area, the point of view for water resource management should be improved starting with changing the ways that farmers make decisions.

Although soils generally contain a large amount of total P, only a small proportion is immediately available for plant uptake making it a major constraint on crop production in many tropical countries. Free-living bacteria and fungi can mobilize orthophosphate from either organic or inorganic P sources such as Phosphate Rock (PR). These phosphate-solubilizing microorganisms (PSM) are characterized by their capacity to solubilize precipitated forms of P, the main P ingredient in PR and could be good bio-fertilizers for improving phosphorus plant nutrition. The present study examined phosphate solubilising bacteria (PSB) isolated from cassava, groundnut, rubber tree, sunchoke, rice, rice-soybean, rice-soybean-corn and rice-chili fields and vermicast of earthworm varieties in Northeast of Thailand, where soils are mainly sandy and P-deficient. PSB isolates were tested by using different P sources [Tri-calcium Phosphate (Ca₃(PO₄)₂), Ferric Phosphate (FePO₄) and Aluminium Phosphate (AlPO₄)] on specific culture media (National Botanical Research Institute Phosphate Growth Medium, NBRIP). Our results showed that five of the PSB isolates from economic crops and vermicast of earthworm varieties solubilised a significantly (P ≤ 0.01) higher amount of AlPO₄ and FePO₄ over the uninoculated control. The highest activity of solubilization was achieved for AlPO₄ followed by FePO₄ which are the main forms of insoluble phosphates in acidic sandy soils. We found that PSB isolated from vermicast of earthworm varieties Pheretima posthuma and Eudrilus eugeniae were able to solubilize both AlPO₄ and FePO₄ at relatively high rates (up to 1,918.49 mgP/l), in contrast, PSB isolated from cassava, rice-soybean and groundnut field soil tended to have lower solubilisation rates for FePO₄. None of the isolates tested were able to solubilize CaPO₄. Finally, IAA production was observed only in PSB isolated of E. eugeniae vermicast and rice-soybean field soil. These results highlight variability of specific PSB isolates from different rhizospheres and vermicast of earthworm varieties and provide essential information for the management of soil fertility.

A trend of demand for organic products in both domestic and international has dramatically grown in both rate and expansion. Organic agriculture does not only provide rich nutrition and toxic free soil but is also have low in production cost. The use of vermicompost is an alternative way to add organic material in farming and alter the soil properties in a positive way; for instance, by increasing the soil nutrient availability. To make use of vermicompost efficiently, it is important to recognize that the quality of the vermicompost may change due to the duration of its storage. This study utilized vermicompost, which had been maintained for different periods (0, 1 and 3 months) to study changes in its biological and chemical qualities. The study found that the amount of living bacteria and fungi when storing the vermicompost at a 1 month period and the storage would remain stable until the third month. The changes in soil chemistry indicated that the pH and EC values decreased during storage in the first month from 8.53 to 7.50 and from 1.25 ds/cm to 0.84 ds/cm respectively, and increased again during storage in the third month, which were 8.33 and 2.18 ds/cm respectively. The changes in amount of nutrients indicated that nitrogen (TN) and calcium (Ca) were not different throughout the storage period of three months. On the other hand, the amounts of potassium (TK) and magnesium (Mg) decreased during storage in the first month and increased in the third month whereas the amount of phosphorus (TP) increased during the first month of storage period and stabled in the third month. The changes in both biological and chemical parameters proved that the vermicompost could be kept up to 3 months with good quality.

Currently, palm oil is popular in consumption, and vitamin E in palm oil has been used to indicate the quality. In addition to complexity processing of crude palm oil to edible oil that loses vitamin E, the use of high-heat for cooking, can cause vitamin decay. Therefore, this research aims to study the limit of how much heat affects on vitamin E decomposition; and this result will bring useful information to apply in cooking. This investigation was performed with oil having vitamin E concentration at 80 mg l^-1 to be heated. Samples were collected when the oil was heated and started smoking and samples were collected every 15 minutes. Then, the samples were analyzed for the vitamin E through the extraction process of a solid phase extraction (SPE), which uses C18 as solid sorbent and dichloromethane as eluent Gas chromatography equipped with flame ionization detector (GC- FID) was operated under the temperature programming mode for quantitative analysis. The results show that the percentage of vitamin E degradation would continuously increase in temperatures ranging from 210 °C to 278 °C and this degradation rate still constant after a half of hour expansion for oil heating at 278 °C. So, it’s concluded that longer time used in the heating process could affect less to the vitamin E decomposition than increasing the temperature.

Tea seed cake is common used in fish and shrimp farms in Thailand for controlling pond predators such as fish, shellfish or tadpole due to its applicable and affordable price. Climbing perch (Anabas testudineus (Bloch)) is one of several problems in aquaculture because it can lead to threatening diseases, the displacement of native species, causing changes to the water quality. Moreover they may effect as destroy or decrease of the productivity. So, acute toxicity of tea seed cake on climbing perch was studied. Statistic bioassay method (48-hr LC₅₀) was a technique to determine the median lethal concentration of the tea seed cake to kill climbing perch within 48 hours. The results showed that limitation of the 48-hr LC₅₀ concentration at 95% confidence of tea seed cake on climbing perch (size of approximately 5±2 cm) was 33 (31.16-36.10) ppm. The slope function was 1.361(0.88-2.11) ppm and safe concentration was 1.65 ppm. This result can be used to apply for controlling of fish predator as fish which have accessory respiratory organs for farming application.

Mixteca Region’s land resources are being affected by several degradation processes caused by mismanagement of farming systems, deforestation and cattle overgrazing. For assessing the land degradation conditions in a local level, this study was carried out in El Jicaral Village based on the analysis of several variables observed on topographical maps and satellite images. To confirm the reliability and accuracy of the analysis, in the present study a land degradation assessment was carried out through field observation. Along with the assessment, a questionnaire survey was conducted for understanding more the local situation. The questionnaire survey consisted of 24 questions which were divided into three sections: the basic information of local farmers, the application of agricultural chemicals and the current problems in the farming systems. There were 69 households interviewed. Although the results of both assessments were compared, significant difference was not observed between the remote and the field assessments. In addition, it was considered that land degradation information obtained through the remote assessment may be useful for small areas as an alternative method when a field assessment is not possible to be conducted. According to the remote assessment as well as the survey in the research area, it may be concluded that El Jicaral Village is facing a serious land degradation process due to land use conditions in the village, such as crop cultivation under steep slope conditions, deforestation and cattle overgrazing. Furthermore, no soil conservation practices are applied and chemical products are being used without understanding of their negative effects. Due to these conditions, land degradation is a continuing process in El Jicaral Village.

To support the needs of the booming ecotourism of Bohol province, construction of an international airport across four island villages was to commence in the latter part of 2013. The mega structure would reduce into concrete some 233 hectares of natural habitat and displace its dependent fauna in the impact zones. A biodiversity assessment is one of the requirements in securing the Environmental Compliance Certificate (ECC). This study primarily aimed to assess the biodiversity status in the site. Data were gathered through field surveys employing purposive sampling techniques. The global positioning system (GPS) device was used to get the exact location and elevation of the 350 floral plots and faunal sampling stations. Faunal surveys involved mist-netting and light traps. Ecological parameters analyzed included species diversity, dominance and evenness. Floral results yielded a total of 167 species of plants in 136 genera and 41 families in the project site. Out of 167 plant species, 76 were trees species; 28 shrubs; 24 herbs; 18 grasses; 14 vines; 6 sedges and 1 fig species. Threatened species include Vitex parviflora and Diospyros pilosanthera. Some 51 species of weeds belonging to 42 genera under 16 families were identified. Results showed a total of 26 avifauna species, 4 bats species and 6 anurans. Of the 26 birds, 20 were endemics. The arthropods survey yielded a total of 84 insect species in 14 Orders and 49 families. It was concluded that species diversity of both flora and fauna was moderate to high. There is an urgent need of an enrichment tree planting of indigenous trees in the rest of the island to harbor the fauna that would soon be displaced from the “wipeout zone”.