BUKU ABSTRAK - Universiti Putra Malaysia

Agriculture
Keywords: Durian shell, characteristics, biofilter
Characteristics of Durian Shell as Support Media in Biofilter
Dr. Puziah Abdul Latif
Nur Hidayah Abdul Latip
Faculty of Environmental Studies, University Putra Malaysia,
43400 UPM Serdang, Selangor, Malaysia.
+603-8946 6744; puziah@env.upm.edu.my
Malaysia is an agriculture-based country that produces a lot of agricultural by-products every year. There
are potential agriculture by-products yet to be investigated, which can be used as biofilter carriers. This study
investigates the physical and chemical characteristics of Durian Shell (DS), an agricultural waste, in assessing
its potential to be used as a biofilter media for removing toxic vapors. Ultimate analysis was performed using an
elemental analyzer. The presence of functional groups in samples was determined by Fourier Transform Infrared
(FTIR) spectroscopy. The powdered DS was mixed with calcium hydroxide (Ca(OH)2) in 23:1 ratio (w/w) dry
basis for pH adjustment to be within pH 7-8. The sample was then prepared into a pellet (30 mmØ) by hydraulic
hand pressure (5 psi). The specific surface area and average pore size were measured based on the Brunaueremmet-Teller
(BET) method and surface morphology was determined by Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM)
analyzer. The results showed that DS has a potential alternative to other carriers, especially peat in terms of
characteristics, which is not available at a low price or in large quantities in Malaysia.
Fusion SPOT-5 and Radarsat-1 Images for Mapping Major Bee Plants in Marang
District, Malaysia
Prof. Dato’ Dr. Mahdzir Mardan
Mohammad Mehdi Saberioon, Laili Nordin and Alias mohammad Sood
Faculty of Agriculture, University Putra Malaysia,
43400 UPM Serdang, Selangor, Malaysia.
+603-8946 4101; makhdzir@gmail.com
Melaleuca Cajuputi and Acacia Auriculiformis trees are major sources of nectar and pollen for A. dorsata
and the colonies are a major source of honey to the rural poor honey hunters. Honey is a supplementary income
to many of these people (including school children) in the Marang district, Terengganu. Apis dorsata colonies
are hunted during the honey season in flowering period between May to October. Increase in the number of
honey hunters in Marang area shows the importance of Apis dorsata and its honey for local people. To make any
decision for improving honey products from Apis dorsata, vegetation mapping is essential to provide information
about trees and flowers which are sources of nectar and pollen for Apis dorsata.In this study, Marang area with
270 square kilometers was chosen as pilot study area in Terengganu state for mapping Melalueca Cajuputi and
Acacia auriculiformis as two dominant species in low land secondary forest. To inventory and produce land use
map of Melaleuca forest in Marang area, in this study, SPOT-5 satellite image in multispectral mode with 10
meter resolution which acquired in 2007 as optical satellite were utilised. Most images from optical satellites had
some null data from ground because of clouds and shadow of clouds. To solve this problem, Hue, Saturation and
Value (HSV) and Principal Component Analysis (PCA) were used as fusion techniques to replace null data with
microwave data which taken from Radarsat-1 image in C-band with 25 meter resolution image. Accordingly,
fusiontechniques which were used in this research show that statistically fusion technique has better results than
color related technique for mapping Melaleuca forest.
Keywords: Fusion, optical, SAR, RADARSAT-1, SPOT-5, Marang, Malaysia
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