Crop protection strategies in organic horticulture aim to prevent insect pest and plant disease problems through utilization of non-chemical based control means. In order to develop a model for management of plant diseases and insects in organic cucumber cultivation, we compared efficacies between chemical pesticide spraying system and biological control means in semi-forcing and retarding cucumber cultivation during 2005 and 2006. Conventional chemical spray program using various chemical pesticides was applied 5 - 10 days intervals, while two different non-chemical pesticide application programs using two formulated biopesticides Topseed™ and Q-fect™， Suncho™, and Sangsungje™(biocontrol agents 1) and using egg-yolk and cooking oil(EYCO)， Bordeaux mixture, Suncho™, and ‘Sangsungje™(biocontrol agents 2) were applied 5 - 7 days intervals during entire cucumber cultivation period. Efficacy of both biocontrol agents programs was effective to comparable to conventional chemical pesitice spray program to control plant diseases such as powdery mildew and downy mildew as well as insect pests such as aphids and thrips which are known as major threats in cucumber organic cultivation. In this study, we established and evaluated an effective and economic crop protection strategy using various biological resources can be used to control plant diseases and pests simultaneously in organic cucumber cultivation field.

This study was carried out to investigate the effect of soil covering materials such as rice bran, rice hull and saw dust on garlic growth through a field experiment in wintertime. Rice bran was the smallest in term of particle size, but it recorded the highest level of bulk density. The missing plant rate after winter season was relatively high, 59.3%, and that of soil covering materials stood at the low level of 10%. Other growth factors recorded the highest level during application of rice bran. In terms of chemical properties of soil-covering materials, rice bran recorded the highest level of 1.84, 2.34 and 0.16% in the content of N, P, and K, respectively. The subsoil temperature was higher by application of rice bran as compared to that of other materials which stood at the lowest temperature (-90 C).

For the development of Boxthorn organic cultivation techniques, we investigated effect of several organic compost as a foundation fertilizer and growing plant fertilizer. And we adopted partly opening rain shelter greenhouse to protect anthracnose. In organic compost applying test yield characteristics of ‘Mixed organic compost’ treatment was the best but in betaine content measurement of dried fruit, ‘Mixed organic compost and nitrogen guano ’ treatment was the best and it’s chlorophyll and 100 fruit weight were also betfer than the other treatments.

The initial investment of rice cultivation by mechanical technique was high. This was only due to the cost of planting machine. We analysed the overall cost (without machine cost) and benefits of the two methods, it manifested that the mechanical method is very much beneficial over traditional rice cultivation technique. We observed that the requirement of soil, irriigation water, number of seeds etc. decreased in mechanical cultivation technique while net income increase by 13.07% with 80% government subsidy. Furthermore, the initial rooting was quicker, growth and development of pot raised seedlings was better than the traditional technique. Hence, this technique can give better return to the farmers with the help of government subsidy.

To investigate a comparison of rice yield and quality between organic and conventional cultivation, study for occurrence of rice diseases carried out in rice (Oryza sativa L.) field of Noahn and Bannam region. The results obtained as following: 1) Bactericide and insecticide were applied twice and four times at Noahn and Bannam region in conventional cultivation (C.C) of rice field, respectively, it was applied twice at two region in organic cultivation (O.C). Rice strip virus, leaf blast, neck blast, sheath blight, bacterial leaf blight, rice water weevil, rice leaf folder, and plant hoppers were occurred mainly in rice field. Leaf blast, neck blast, and rice leaf folder were occurred highly at O.C compared with C.C. 2) Growth level of rice in clum and panicle length was lower at O.C than C.C. Number of panicles per hill was by 0.6 higher at O.C than C.C. Number of panicles per hill was by 0.6 higher at O.C than C.C in Noahn region. Number of spikelets per panicle, grain filling ratio, brown/rough rice ratio, and weight of 1,000 grains was lower at O.C than C.C. Number of panicles per hill was by 0.8 lower at O.C than C.C in Bannam region. Number of spikelets per panicle and grain filling ratio was higher at O.C than C.C while brown/rough rice ratio was lower at O.C. Total yield percentage of rice in O.C was level of 84% at Noahn region and 94% at Bannam region compared with C.C. 3) Head rice percentage was lower at in O.C than C.C at two region. Protein and palatability (Toyo value) were lower at O.C than C.C in Bannam region causing occurrence of neck blast and rice leaf folder by oversupply of nitrogen fertilizer. Protein, whiteness, and palatability (Toyo value) were adequate level at O.C in Noahn region by lower nitrogen fertilizer.

This study evaluated the effect of organic fertilizer on the yield of sesame and the movement of nitrogen and carbon in soil under mulching cultivation. The seven fertilizer treatments investigated are as follows: 1) 8-4-9 kg N-P2O5-K2O 10a-1-control, 2) 80% of control treatment N from mixed expeller cake (MEC)-MEC 80%, 3) 100% of control treatment N from MEC-MEC 100%, 4) 80% of control treatment N from mixed organic fertilizer (MOF)MOF 80%, 5) 100% of control treatment N from MOF-MOF 100%, 6) 80% of control treatment N from latex coated urea complex fertilizer (LCU)-LCU 80%, and 7) no nitrogen. The soil mineral N available in the applied organic MEC and MOF fertilizers was less than the available N in the applied urea fertilizer during the early growth stage of sesame but the amount was observed to increase with time. The concentration of nitrate-N in leached solution 35 days after application was highest at 75 mg l-1 in the control, followed in descending order by MEC 100%, MOF 100%, LCU 80%, MOF 80% and MEC 80%. The concentration of nitrate-N in the leachate in all treatments was observed to rapidly decrease 45 days after fertilizer application and recorded at less than 20 mg l-1 65 days after application. The concentration of dissolved organic carbon in the leached solution and organic carbon in the soil of the organic fertilizer plots was higher than in the urea- and LCU-fertilized plots during the whole growing period. The yields of sesame applied with MEC and MOF organic fertilizers were 2 to 7% higher than those fertilized with urea. The amount of retained mineral N or organic carbon in the soil is higher in the LCU and organic fertilizer plots than in the urea-fertilized treatments, which resulted in the reduction of nitrate leaching, increasing N efficiency and sesame yield.