Page 134 - Final Report Improving information and developing a repository of sustainable soil management practices in Asia

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12. MANAGING AREAS WITH SALINE SOIL FOR PLANTING EXPORTED HOM

MALI RICE AT THUNG KULA RONGHAI

1. General Information and description of best practice/technology

Information

Located in the southeast of the Korat Plateau, "Thung Kula Ronghai" is a large-scale plain.

The terrain is characterized by being a large pan basin with gradient less than 2%. There are

highlands around the edge of field which is gradually aslope to the middle region of the area. The
area stretches crosswise along the Moon river with the maximum length measured by 150

kilometers and the maximum width measured by 50 kilometers. There are several main rivers,
namely Lam Nam Siew, Lam Plub Pla and Lam Tao. The territory covers the areas of 51 sub-

districts, 12 districts in 5 provinces, namely Roi Et, Surin, Si Sa Ket, Yasothon and Maha
Sarakham accounting for 0.34 million ha. The area has physical, chemical and biological

environments which are not suitable for doing paddy farming. As a result, products of rice and

agricultural crops are very low. Therefore, Land Development Department entered the area to
make a survey to classify the soil, make plans for land use and study how to solve the problems of

soil, water and communication. The objectives for this are to develop the agricultural areas of
Thung Kula Ronghai to be suitable with doing paddy farming and other agricultures of other

aspects. It has been doing this since 1981 by initially establishing a pilot project in the area of 704

ha. This has been done by making a survey and designing the engineering infrastructure to be the
water-controlling canal system in the paddy field or so-called "land remodeling" in order to

mitigate flooding conditions. Water is drained from the area to reduce damages occurring to the
rice tree. Moreover, water in the water drainage canal can also be used sufficiently in production.

Ponds have been dug to store water to be used during the spell of rainy period. The soil and water

conservation system has been constructed and maintained, and distribution of areas with saline
soil has been reduced as follows:

1) The water-controlling system has been built to drain water at the soil surface and release
salt together with the water harvesting system -water from rainwater and water from canals;

2) The communication system in the paddy field or roads in the paddy field have been built
to be the economic route or roads connecting between communities with agricultural areas;

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