Page 150 - Final Report Improving information and developing a repository of sustainable soil management practices in Asia

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13. TECHNOLOGY OF PLANTING HALOPHYTES (DIXIE GRASS) FOR RESTORING

HIGHLY SALINE SOIL

1. General Information and description of best practice/technology

Introduction

Dixie grass (Sporobolus virginicus) is a halophyte plant. The objective of growing is to

increase suitable land use change for farmers and to prevent saline soil distribution. Dixie grass

can be used as fodder. Land Development Department has been trying to propagate Dixie grass to
cover the area severely affected by salt. Growing halophytic grasses (Dixie grass) aims to make

farmers able to utilize land and to decrease distribution of areas with saline soil. Dixie grass can
be used as a plant, fodder for cattle.

Land Development Department has brought the technology of planting halophytes for

restoring areas with highly saline soil to be used in the area of Mr. Chalong Munkarn residing at
the address: 6, Moo 8, Kud Jok sub-district, Bua Yai district, Nakhon Ratchasima province. The

area is a plateau with the steep slope of 0-2%. The soil has an electrical conductivity of more than
16 dS/m. The area has soil with high salinity and a semi-arid-climate. The amount of rainfall

accounts for 751-1,000 mm. per year. Most farmers grow crops based solely on rainwater. This is
due to the fact that the area has a condition of highly saline soil, making farmers obtain low

productivity. Halophytes are plants which grow and give good yields at the level of high salinity

especially for Dixie grass (Sporobolus virginicus) with the ability to survive accounting for 100%
in the salinity of 40 ppt (NaCl). Dixie grass has adapted itself to have smaller vascular bundles and

has adjusted the osmotic pressure. There is salt excretion at the glands on the leaves. Planting
halophytes is to utilize areas with saline soil and to grow cover crops. This helps control moisture

at the soil surface and prevent salt accumulation at the soil surface. This also includes being fodder
for farmers conducting livestock farming whereby there is excreted salt on the leaves of the grass

which cows like to eat them. The grass has qualities similar to other fodder plants.

Operating facility Ban Don Pae, No. 5, Moo 8, Kud Jok sub-district, Bua Yai district, Nakhon
Ratchasima province

Land user Mr. Chalong Munkarn

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