Planting a Halophyte (Sporobolus virginicus, "Dixie grass") to rehabilitate severely saline soil. (Pirach Pongwichian)
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.
Lugar: Bann Donpae, 6 Bann Donpae Moo 8 Kut Chok Sub-district Bua Yai District Nakhon Ratchasima Province., Tailandia
No. de sitios de Tecnología analizados: un solo sitio
Difusión de la Tecnología: aplicada en puntos específicos/ concentrada en un área pequeña
¿En un área de protección permanente?: No
Fecha de la implementación: 2015; hace menos de 10 años (recientemente)
Tipo de introducción
| Especifique insumo | Unidad | Cantidad | Costos por unidad (Baht) | Costos totales por insumo (Baht) | % de los costos cubiertos por los usuarios de las tierras |
| Mano de obra | |||||
| 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 | |
| Material para plantas | |||||
| Dixie seedling cost 1600 trees/rai, 1 baht for each seedling | seedling | 1600,0 | 0,5 | 800,0 | |
| Fertilizantes y biocidas | |||||
| Compost cost 3.5 baht/kg, 0.2 kg/pit | kg | 320,0 | 3,5 | 1120,0 | |
| Rice husk cost 4 baht/kg, 0.4 kg/pit | kg | 640,0 | 4,0 | 2560,0 | |
| Chemical fertilizer 15-15-15 cost 20 baht/kg, 6.25 kg/pit | kg | 10,0 | 20,0 | 200,0 | |
| Costos totales para establecer la Tecnología | 5'880.0 | ||||
| Costos totales para establecer la Tecnología en USD | 183.75 | ||||
| Especifique insumo | Unidad | Cantidad | Costos por unidad (Baht) | Costos totales por insumo (Baht) | % de los costos cubiertos por los usuarios de las tierras |
| Mano de obra | |||||
| No labor cost for maintenance | 0 | ||||
