1.2 Contact details of resource persons and institutions involved in the assessment and documentation of the Technology

Name of project which facilitated the documentation/ evaluation of the Technology (if relevant)

Book project: where people and their land are safer - A Compendium of Good Practices in Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR) (where people and their land are safer)

Name of project which facilitated the documentation/ evaluation of the Technology (if relevant)

Book project: where the land is greener - Case Studies and Analysis of Soil and Water Conservation Initiatives Worldwide (where the land is greener)

Name of the institution(s) which facilitated the documentation/ evaluation of the Technology (if relevant)

Land Development Department LDD (Land Development Department LDD) - Thailand

1.3 Conditions regarding the use of data documented through WOCAT

The compiler and key resource person(s) accept the conditions regarding the use of data documented through WOCAT:

Yes

1.4 Declaration on sustainability of the described Technology

Is the Technology described here problematic with regard to land degradation, so that it cannot be declared a sustainable land management technology?

No

Comments:

The technology is very well accepted by the land users.

1.5 Reference to Questionnaire(s) on SLM Approaches (documented using WOCAT)

2.1 Short description of the Technology

Definition of the Technology:

Planting a halophyte - Dixie grass (Sporobolus verginicus) - aims to increase the area of land usable by farmers and to prevent expansion of severely saline soils. Dixie grass can be utilised as cattle feed. The Land Development Department has been involved in developing and disseminating this technology.

2.2 Detailed description of the Technology

Description:

The Land Development Department (LDD) transfered the technology of planting a halophyte (Sporobolus virginicus: "Dixie grass") for the rehabilitation of severely saline soil to Mr.Charong Munkarn’s land in Buayai district, Nakhonratchasima province. The area is on a 0-2% slope, demonstrates high soil electrical conductivity and is classified as a severely saline soil. The land is salt crusted and barren. The climate is semi -arid, and rainfall is between 750 and 1,000 millimeters per year. The exotic halophyte, namely Sporobolus virginicus, (Dixie grass) is adapted to survive in severely salt- affected soil. The mechanisms of its tolerance includes osmotic adjustment within the plant, salt exclusion, ion accumulation and sequestration, and excretion of salt via glands in the plant’s leafs and stem. The benefits of planting this halophyte on such a severely saline soil are soil moisture conservation, salt accumulation prevention on the surface, and utilization as feed for livestock. The objectives of the technology are to 1) prevent expansion of severely saline soil, 2) maximize use of land for farmers, 3) use halophyte grasses as cover crop for rehabilitation of the ecosystem of severely salt-affected soil. Halophyte plantation has been supported by Land Development Department under the project: Promotion of Integrated Saline Soil Management. The stakeholders are researchers of LDD who have worked together with community volunteers, community leaders and farmers on soil improvement. The Land Development Regional Office 3 (Nakhonratchasima) supported Dixie grass planting material production, together with provision of compost and chemical fertilizer. Dixie grass cuttings (stolons) were planted at spacing of 20 x 20 centimeters on abandoned areas and on ridges between rows of Acacia ampliceps. After 3 years of planting Dixie grass, it has been found that this barren land was covered by plants and much improved in biodiversity by the evidence of many varieties of wild grass, dragonflies, small mammels and birds. Farmers can grow rice and they use Dixie grass as feed for livestock. Moreover farmers are able to increased their incomes. Migration for jobs to big cities has been reduced. Interviews showed that farmers are satisfied with this technology. Besides being lower in salinity (observed, and measured by scientists), farmers get better rice yields, and an improved environment and livelihoods. Although the planting of halophytes is an improvement to severely saline soil with low costs, the recovery time of saline soil is not as fast as that of engineering measure with higher investment. Furthermore, neighboring farmers often burn their rice straw after harvesting, and that damages the Dixie grass.

2.3 Photos of the Technology

2.4 Videos of the Technology

2.5 Country/ region/ locations where the Technology has been applied and which are covered by this assessment

2.6 Date of implementation

Indicate year of implementation:

2015

If precise year is not known, indicate approximate date:

• less than 10 years ago (recently)

2.7 Introduction of the Technology

Specify how the Technology was introduced:

• through projects/ external interventions

Comments (type of project, etc.):

Soil management on sub-watershed area, activity of rehabilitation severely salt-affected soil by planting salt tolerant trees and grass.

3.1 Main purpose(s) of the Technology

• reduce, prevent, restore land degradation
• conserve ecosystem
• preserve/ improve biodiversity

3.2 Current land use type(s) where the Technology is applied

Land use mixed within the same land unit:

Yes

Specify mixed land use (crops/ grazing/ trees):

• Agro-pastoralism (incl. integrated crop-livestock)

Comments:

Saline soil areas should be rehabilitated using low investment technology by planting highly adapted salt tolerant species such as Dixie grass.

3.3 Has land use changed due to the implementation of the Technology?

Has land use changed due to the implementation of the Technology?

• Yes (Please fill out the questions below with regard to the land use before implementation of the Technology)

Land use mixed within the same land unit:

Yes

Specify mixed land use (crops/ grazing/ trees):

• Agro-pastoralism (incl. integrated crop-livestock)

3.4 Water supply

Water supply for the land on which the Technology is applied:

• rainfed

Comments:

Grass planting area by farmers is outside the irrigated area.

3.5 SLM group to which the Technology belongs

• pastoralism and grazing land management
• improved ground/ vegetation cover
• ecosystem-based disaster risk reduction

3.6 SLM measures comprising the Technology

3.7 Main types of land degradation addressed by the Technology

3.8 Prevention, reduction, or restoration of land degradation

Specify the goal of the Technology with regard to land degradation:

• prevent land degradation
• restore/ rehabilitate severely degraded land

Comments:

Dixie is planted to prevent the spread of salt in the area.

4.1 Technical drawing of the Technology

4.2 General information regarding the calculation of inputs and costs

Specify how costs and inputs were calculated:

• per Technology area

other/ national currency (specify):

Baht

If relevant, indicate exchange rate from USD to local currency (e.g. 1 USD = 79.9 Brazilian Real): 1 USD =:

32.0

4.3 Establishment activities

	Activity	Timing (season)
1.	Dixie grass nursery	May-July 2015
2.	Land preparation for planting	May-July 2015
3.	Fertilizer application	May-July 2015

4.4 Costs and inputs needed for establishment

	Specify input	Unit	Quantity	Costs per Unit	Total costs per input	% of costs borne by land users
Labour	Labor cost for planting Eucalyptus (labor wage per day = 300 baht, 1 rai required to labor cost = 1200 baht)	Rai	1.0	1200.0	1200.0
Plant material	Dixie seedling cost 1600 trees/rai, 1 baht for each seedling	seedling	1600.0	0.5	800.0
Fertilizers and biocides	Compost cost 3.5 baht/kg, 0.2 kg/pit	kg	320.0	3.5	1120.0
Fertilizers and biocides	Rice husk cost 4 baht/kg, 0.4 kg/pit	kg	640.0	4.0	2560.0
Fertilizers and biocides	Chemical fertilizer 15-15-15 cost 20 baht/kg, 6.25 kg/pit	kg	10.0	20.0	200.0
Total costs for establishment of the Technology					5880.0
Total costs for establishment of the Technology in USD					183.75

If land user bore less than 100% of costs, indicate who covered the remaining costs:

Land Development Department

Comments:

Labor cost for land preparation, planting and seedlings covered by LDD Chemical fertilizer 15-15-15; compost and rice husks are from farm by-products.

4.5 Maintenance/ recurrent activities

	Activity	Timing/ frequency
1.	No maintenance activities because Dixies grasses can glow well and be multiplied extensively by themselves

4.6 Costs and inputs needed for maintenance/ recurrent activities (per year)

	Specify input	Unit	Quantity	Costs per Unit	Total costs per input	% of costs borne by land users
Labour	No labor cost for maintenance	0

4.7 Most important factors affecting the costs

Describe the most determinate factors affecting the costs:

The government policy on minimum labor wage is an important factor affected cost of the project.

5.1 Climate

5.2 Topography

Indicate if the Technology is specifically applied in:

• not relevant

Comments and further specifications on topography:

The geography is that of the lower basin of Korat plateau in the Northeast Thailand

5.3 Soils

If available, attach full soil description or specify the available information, e.g. soil type, soil PH/ acidity, Cation Exchange Capacity, nitrogen, salinity etc.

Texture of top soil is fine loamy and more than 20 cm below the surface is sandy loam or sandy clay loam, pH = 7 and increasing with depth up to 8.5, salinity is moderately to highly soil affected identified by percentage of the salt crust on the surface, very low P and K.

5.4 Water availability and quality

Is water salinity a problem?

Yes

Specify:

Slightly saline

Is flooding of the area occurring?

No

Comments and further specifications on water quality and quantity:

Shallow saline groundwater exists because of low lying discharge area and salt source beneath under the ground.

5.5 Biodiversity

Comments and further specifications on biodiversity:

Before planting Dixie grass, species richness was low and the habitat was poor. After 3 years, field crabs, field rats, dragonflies, earthworms, weasels, snakes, local weeds and wildflowers which had disappeared are now found again.

5.6 Characteristics of land users applying the Technology

Indicate other relevant characteristics of the land users:

Diligent farmers seeking more income burn firewood from Acacia tree, catch field rats and harvest bamboo shoots.

5.7 Average area of land used by land users applying the Technology

5.8 Land ownership, land use rights, and water use rights

Land ownership:

• individual, titled

Land use rights:

• individual

• Rainfed

5.9 Access to services and infrastructure

6.1 On-site impacts the Technology has shown

Socio-economic impacts

Production

Water availability and quality

Income and costs

Socio-cultural impacts

Ecological impacts

Water cycle/ runoff

Soil

Biodiversity: vegetation, animals

Climate and disaster risk reduction

6.2 Off-site impacts the Technology has shown

6.3 Exposure and sensitivity of the Technology to gradual climate change and climate-related extremes/ disasters (as perceived by land users)

Climate-related extremes (disasters)

Climatological disasters

	How does the Technology cope with it?
drought	not well
forest fire	moderately
land fire	moderately

Hydrological disasters

	How does the Technology cope with it?
flash flood	moderately

Biological disasters

	How does the Technology cope with it?
insect/ worm infestation	moderately

Other climate-related consequences

Other climate-related consequences

	How does the Technology cope with it?
extended growing period	not well
reduced growing period	not well

6.4 Cost-benefit analysis

How do the benefits compare with the establishment costs (from land users’ perspective)?

How do the benefits compare with the maintenance/ recurrent costs (from land users' perspective)?

6.5 Adoption of the Technology

• 1-10%

Of all those who have adopted the Technology, how many did so spontaneously, i.e. without receiving any material incentives/ payments?

• 0-10%

Comments:

Farmers and land users acknowledge the benefits of the technology that decreases salinity: planting Dixie grass.

6.6 Adaptation

Has the Technology been modified recently to adapt to changing conditions?

Yes

6.7 Strengths/ advantages/ opportunities of the Technology

Strengths/ advantages/ opportunities in the land user’s view
Dixie grass is very highly salt tolerant and after planting the salinity obviously decreased.
The better environment that encourages the return of other plant species.
Secondly instead of leaving the land barren the land user can sell the Dixie shoots for propagation to Land Development Department.

Strengths/ advantages/ opportunities in the compiler’s or other key resource person’s view
Only halophytes especially Dixie can grow well on severely salt affected land.
After planting Dixie for few years, the soils are less saline that induces biodiversity of both fauna and flora such as birds butterflies, rats, earthworms and native flowers.
The farmers can use their land more extensively rather than leave it barren.
Dixie grasses can be used as cattle feed that the land user can get higher incomes.

6.8 Weaknesses/ disadvantages/ risks of the Technology and ways of overcoming them

Weaknesses/ disadvantages/ risks in the land user’s view	How can they be overcome?
The land user lack of knowledge on halophytes and there is no other choice for better income than Dixie grass.	The SLM officers should visit them and provide better knowledge.
The neighboring farmers get used to the burning of rice straw after harvest causing death of Dixie grass nearby.	Public relation is needed to stop burning.

Weaknesses/ disadvantages/ risks in the compiler’s or other key resource person’s view	How can they be overcome?
Not all the researchers and SLM workers understand the mechanism of halophyte and the importance of the Dixie grass to the project flow chart’s work plans.	They need to be well trained at various levels.
The farmers are not well approached and many of them know nothing about the project.	The officers should be trained and get better knowledge about the project.
The project follows up and evaluation is insufficient and ineffective.	The concerned project officers should pay more awareness on weakness and on obstacles of the success of the project.

7.1 Methods/ sources of information

7.2 References to available publications

Title, author, year, ISBN:

Land Development Department

Available from where? Costs?

http://www.ldd.go.th/

7.3 Links to relevant online information

Title/ description:

where the land is greener - Case Studies and Analysis of Soil and Water Conservation Initiatives Worldwide

URL:

https://www.wocat.net/library/media/27/

Title/ description:

where people and their land are safer - A Compendium of Good Practices in Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR) (where people and their land are safer)

URL:

https://www.wocat.net/en/projects-and-countries/projects/drr