Page 71 - Final Report Improving information and developing a repository of sustainable soil management practices in Asia

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Geographical location

Latitude 102.03417 Longitude 15.23985

Operation Start Date

The operation started in 2004.

2. Classification of the best practice/technology

The Northeast of Thailand covers the area of 17.12 million ha. This region has the most

area of rice farming in the country. However, the ratio of yields per hectare is still low when
compared with other regions. It must rely on rain water whereby the amount of rain distribution is

not constant. Soil fertility is low. The organic matter in soil is decreased rapidly due to poor texture

soil. Another 17% of the area consists of saline soils. A method of maintaining the fertility level
of soil, this is to the increase of crop yield under the saline soil by increasing organic matter and

plant nutrients in soil, especially nitrogen nutrition in soil. Due to the fact that nitrogen fertilizers
currently costs so expensive, Land Development Department, Ministry of Agriculture and

cooperatives, has the project of soil amendment with green manure plants (Crotalaria juncea) and

the campaign project of plowing up and over to cover straw stubble and green manure plants for
soil amendment to reduce global warming in every area of Thailand from the area of farmers

growing rice. This area also has limitations from land use which are having saline soil with a slight
salinity to moderate salinity, low organic matter and low fertility and pH values in soil with a slight

acidity and alkalinity. In the area of Non Thai district, Nakhon Ratchasima province, it faces the
problem of water shortage in the dry season. The area is also outside the irrigation zone. Farmerss

and officers of Land Development Department have transferred knowledge regarding increasing

organic matter in the areas with degraded soils whereby volunteer soil doctors and farmers in the
area implement the technology including applying it together with soil and water conservation in

cultivation areas.
Mr. Mana Siangsunthia, volunteer soil doctor of Non Thai district, Nakhon Ratchasima

province, is a farmer who understands, reaches and is ready to learn problem solving in his own
area made use for occupation by having cooperated with officers of Area 3 Land Development

Office, Land Development Department since 1997 in receiving supports such as production

factors, PD microorganisms, green manure plants, vetiver and water resources in the paddy field.

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