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

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

2.1 Short description of the Technology

Definition of the Technology:

Growing sunn hemp in rice paddy fields as a green manure increases organic matter, and generally improves and nourishes the soil.

2.2 Detailed description of the Technology

Description:

Planting sunn hemp (Crotalaria juncea) as green manure is an effective way to improve the fertility of the paddy fields in the irrigation zone of Chao Phraya River basin in the Central Plain of Thailand. Most farmers produce rice twice a year; some even grow 5 crops in 2 years. This is due to the fact that the water from the irrigation system is available also outside the rainy season. Continuous cropping without letting the land rest has a negative effect on the soil structure, because the soil has been prepared by small- to medium-sized machines, and preparation is done when there is moisture in the soil, leading to structural deterioration. As a result, its suitability for growing rice is reduced. In addition to this, the organic matter in the soil also decreases, resulting in low rice yields. Farmers solve the problem by increasing the amount of chemical fertilizers, but this increases costs. They therefore chose to grow sunn hemp instead which is a well known green manure - it is leguminous therefore it adds nitrogen to the soil and when it is ploughed in, and its bulky organic matter helps improve structure. At one stage, farmers experimented to know how to manage their paddy land by growing the sunn hemp as green manure crop appropriately. In the trial the land area being used was around one ha. Half of the land was under treatment Type 1 and the second half under Type 2.
Type 1 operation: Water was pumped into the paddy to moisten the soil. If a large amount of water was available, pumping would be done until the soil became well saturated or slightly flooded. The land would be left for a night. After that, the water was drained. On the following day, the sunn hemp seeds were sown.
Type 2 operation: The land was plowed at the start of the trial and the sunn hemp seeds were sown immediately. The sunn hemp plants were allowed to grow for 40-50 days or until the flowering was about 70-80%.
Then, the plots under both types were plowed over and were left idle for 15-30 days. Then, both plots were made muddy by plowing and harrowing for about 5-7 days; after that the rice seeds were sown.
Comparison between Type 1 and Type 2 showed they were not different in terms of production. However, Type 1 showed that some cash could be saved for plowing.

2.3 Photos 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

If precise year is not known, indicate approximate date:

• 10-50 years ago

2.7 Introduction of the Technology

Specify how the Technology was introduced:

• through land users' innovation

3.1 Main purpose(s) of the Technology

• improve production
• reduce, prevent, restore land degradation
• conserve ecosystem
• preserve/ improve biodiversity
• create beneficial economic impact

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

Land use mixed within the same land unit:

No

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:

No

3.4 Water supply

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

• mixed rainfed-irrigated

3.5 SLM group to which the Technology belongs

• integrated soil fertility management
• home gardens

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:

• reduce land degradation
• restore/ rehabilitate severely degraded land

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

Specify currency used for cost calculations:

• USD

4.3 Establishment activities

	Activity	Timing (season)
1.	After rice harvesting, prepare sunn hemp seed	March
2.	Pumping water into the paddy field	March
3.	Slightly flooding water out of land, then harvesting sunn hemp seeds	March
4.	The land plots were plowed over after sunn hemp growth was 40-50 days	January - February
5.	Sunn hemp plants were left idle for 15-30 days	February-March
6.	Muddy rice field by plowing and harrowing for about 5-7 days	April-May

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	seed harvesting	kg per ha	320.0	0.02	6.4
Other	pumping water	rai	10.0	30.0	300.0
Total costs for establishment of the Technology					306.4
Total costs for establishment of the Technology in USD					306.4

5.1 Climate

5.2 Topography

Indicate if the Technology is specifically applied in:

• not relevant

5.3 Soils

5.4 Water availability and quality

Is water salinity a problem?

No

Is flooding of the area occurring?

Yes

Comments and further specifications on water quality and quantity:

Soil was polluted by chemical agriculture during summer.

5.5 Biodiversity

5.6 Characteristics of land users applying the Technology

Indicate other relevant characteristics of the land users:

Main crop is rice and surrounding by other crops such as vegetable and fruits.

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

Water use rights:

• communal (organized)

Are land use rights based on a traditional legal system?

Yes

Comments:

there is irrigation system

5.9 Access to services and infrastructure

6.1 On-site impacts the Technology has shown

Socio-economic impacts

Production

Socio-cultural impacts

Ecological impacts

Water cycle/ runoff

Soil

Biodiversity: vegetation, animals

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)

Gradual climate change

Gradual climate change

	Season	increase or decrease	How does the Technology cope with it?
seasonal rainfall	winter	increase

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%

6.6 Adaptation

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

No

6.7 Strengths/ advantages/ opportunities of the Technology

Strengths/ advantages/ opportunities in the land user’s view
Government support for sunn hemp seeds to farmers every year.
Sunn hemp crops are easy to take care of and also growth rate is very good.
Sunn hemp crops are resisted to insects and diseases.

Strengths/ advantages/ opportunities in the compiler’s or other key resource person’s view
Rice production increases after sunn hemp was plowed over and was left idle for 15-30 days before sowing rice.
The flowering of sunn hemp is beautiful, therefore is attractive for tourists.
Sunn hemp crops are resisted to insects and diseases.
Sunn hemp crops reduce chemical fertilizer rate of application for rice.

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?
There is a sunn hemp seeds support for farmers every year, however there are not enough summ hemp seeds.	Should have the good plan for sunn hemp seeds production.
Land preparation costs are increased	Support farmer's groups for decreasing costs of Land preparation, which may be in the agricultural cooperative system.
Some farmers are in a hurry to grow rice, so they do not use this technology.	Promoting and training for this technology

Weaknesses/ disadvantages/ risks in the compiler’s or other key resource person’s view	How can they be overcome?
Soil are low moisture in some areas, then sunn hemp can not grow well.	Coordinate with irrigation department to provide irrigation system.

7.1 Methods/ sources of information

7.2 References to available publications

Title, author, year, ISBN:

Sunn hemp plowing and cooperating

Available from where? Costs?

Land Development Department

7.3 Links to relevant online information

Title/ description:

Sunn hemp production

URL:

http:\\www.1ldd.go.th/WEB_PSD/prnew/2561/sr1-61/sr2.pdf