The satellite provides insights into greenhouse gases dynamics in rice paddies, which not only emit methane (CO₂) from the atmosphere.

The satellite provides insights into greenhouse gases dynamics in rice paddies, which not only emit methane (CO₂) from the atmosphere.

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Rice cultivation is currently regarded as a significant source of greenhouse gas emissions, particularly methane.

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However, in the agricultural sector, the proportion of greenhouse gas emissions is not high. Nevertheless, it covers over 150 million rai of Thailand's land, with rice paddy area being the largest area, accounting for more than 46% of the total agricultural land, or approximately 60 million rai. Rice paddies are considered the largest source of greenhouse gas emissions in the agricultural sector in terms of carbon dioxide equivalent (CO₂-eq).

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Additionally, space technology has the capacity to analyze and monitor crop cultivation through the use of advanced technologies. Rice plants have been detected to emit methane and absorb CO₂ from the atmosphere while they are still growing.

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Panu Nueangjumnong, Head of Agricultural Management Division at GISTDA, explained that GISTDA has been utilizing space technology in the agricultural sector for more than a decade. In recent years, there has been a significant amount of research and development on the subjects of greenhouse gas emissions monitoring and carbon absorption in agricultural areas. Furthermore, the development plan for the ECO-PLANT platform includes the monitoring of greenhouse gas emissions in the agricultural sector. GISTDA is in the process of creating an updated version of this platform, which is scheduled to be finalized by 2026.

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However, rice cultivation area is regarded as one of the primary sources of greenhouse gas emissions in Thailand. But space technology can be employed to monitor the growth of rice, allowing the plants to absorb CO₂ from the atmosphere before harvest. Using this data, GISTDA will continue to monitor rice cultivation areas across the country on the same platform. The monthly emission or absorption of carbon dioxide by rice cultivation will be estimated by the platform. This information will be beneficial for displaying on a national scale that rice paddies have the capacity to absorb carbon dioxide, in addition to emitting greenhouse gases into the atmosphere.

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Regarding methane emissions from rice paddies, many studies discuss promoting low-carbon rice through alternate wetting and drying (AWD) techniques. Currently, GISTDA uses radar satellite data to analyze and classify the water management regime in rice paddies throughout the growing season. Methane emissions are highly increased when rice paddy fields are continuously flooded. In contrast, AWD, which is the alternation of wetting and drying, aids in the reduction of methane emission. Using satellite data to identify water regime in rice cultivation across the country, Thailand can more accurately measure methane emissions in accordance with the guidelines of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC).

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Policy agencies and operation agencies will be able for finding target areas and promote appropriate practices by having access to the data and map on the ECO-PLANT platform. This will enable farmers to adapt their practice methods with the aim to reduce methane emissions. GISTDA has previously collected data on the water regime in a rice field and monitored methane emissions in pilot areas in the central region.

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Panu provided details on the absorption and emission of CO₂ from rice cultivation. In collaboration with Kasetsart University, GISTDA applies space technology and ground sensors that are installed and measured in pilot rice paddies in Roi Et and Chai Nat provinces. A model can be developed for assessing the absorption and emission of CO₂ from rice paddies by utilizing data collected from ground sensors and satellites. This has the potential to generate a national map, which will ultimately show the amount of CO₂ that is absorbed from the atmosphere in Thailand each year during the rice growing season.

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On the ECO-PLANT platform, it is expected that this map will be completed in 2026. Initially, the plan will focus on rice paddies, as sensors are presently only installed in rice fields. However, sensor installation will be added to other crop areas, including sugarcane, cassava, and maize, in order to develop a model for greenhouse gases tracking for agricultural areas.

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