Farmers collecting leaf litter (Niki Rai)
Leaf litter collection, is the practice of collecting leaf litter from a designated forest area called sokshing and using it as bedding material for cattle. It then forms a constituent of farmyard manure which is applied to farmland. The term 'sokshing' comes from 'sok' meaning leaf litter and 'shing' meaning tree. The tradition of harvesting leaf litter from a designated forest area for agricultural use has been in practice for decades in the life of Bhutanese farmer (Chettri et al., 2012). According to BHUCAT, 2012, the use of sokshing is a widely used traditional farming practice in Bhutan with dominance in temperate regions but spreading into more humid subtropical areas. Leaf litter from the forests is used for the purpose of livestock bedding and then farmyard manure (FYM) production. Leaf litter as animal bedding is kept for a few months to almost a year. In Bhutanese society leaf litter is an important component of agriculture because of its contribution to manure production with most communities having designated specific forest management units for its production and collection for individuals or for communities. Sokshing is an important and highly relevant system and it continues to be important for villagers, even in the face of changing livelihood and institutional orientations. The government recognises sokshing and its institutions as a relevant mechanism for community forest management (Dorji et al., 2003).
Leaf litter, predominantly gathered during the winter when the leaves have fallen, is collected from the forest floor by cleaning the entire understorey. It is carried to the farm and stored before being used as bedding material for cattle, providing comfort and insulation from cold. It is then mixed with cattle manure to form farmyard manure (FYM), (BHUCAT, 2012). FYM and mineral fertilizers are the two main sources of plant nutrients in Bhutan. Farmers not only depend on forests for leaf litter but also for livestock feed and construction materials (Gautam, 2009). FYM is a mixture of animal dung, crop residues, and other organic materials and plays a vital role in enhancing soil fertility and improving crop productivity. Its application to agricultural fields provides numerous benefits. Recent research by Gupta et al. (2022) demonstrated the positive impact of FYM on soil health and crop yields. The study found that FYM application significantly increased soil organic carbon content, which is essential for soil structure, water holding capacity, and nutrient retention. Furthermore, FYM enhanced the availability of essential nutrients such as nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium, promoting optimal plant growth and development. Additionally, FYM improved soil microbial activity, leading to enhanced nutrient cycling and improved nutrient uptake by plants.
Leaf litter collection plays a role in ecosystem health and functioning. The accumulation of fallen leaves on the forest floor contributes to nutrient cycling, soil health, and moisture retention. Despite its benefits, the sokshing process exposes the forest's soil to erosion because all the leaves, debris, and undergrowth are removed. Nutrient mining occurs over time as a result of the annual removal of leaf litter, and many sokshing forests exhibit stunted growth and other signs of forest degradation. However, on balance, when used in conjunction with dairy production, sokshing offers a low-cost, readily available supply of bedding and then organic fertilizer, although it is labour-intensive.
In some situations, there may be specific benefits in removing the litter. A recent study by Jiang et al. (2021) emphasized the importance of leaf litter collection for mitigating the negative impacts of invasive species. The research found that invasive plants can alter the decomposition rates of leaf litter, disrupting nutrient cycling and leading to changes in soil properties. By collecting leaf litter, especially in areas where invasive species are prevalent, we can minimize their detrimental effects and help preserve the ecological balance.
Lieu: Punakha, Lingmukha, Bhutan, Bhoutan
Nbr de sites de la Technologie analysés: site unique
Diffusion de la Technologie: appliquée en des points spécifiques ou concentrée sur une petite surface
Dans des zones protégées en permanence ?: Non
Date de mise en oeuvre: il y a plus de 50 ans (technologie traditionnelle)
Type d'introduction
| Spécifiez les intrants | Unité | Quantité | Coûts par unité (Ngultrum) | Coût total par intrant (Ngultrum) | % des coût supporté par les exploitants des terres |
| Main d'œuvre | |||||
| person days | 15,0 | 800,0 | 12000,0 | 100,0 | |
| Equipements | |||||
| Spade | no. | 6,0 | 100,0 | ||
| crowbar | no. | 3,0 | 100,0 | ||
| pickaxe | no. | 2,0 | 100,0 | ||
| sickle | no. | 3,0 | 100,0 | ||
| wire | metre | 50,0 | 100,0 | ||
| knife | no. | 3,0 | 100,0 | ||
| Power chain | no. | 1,0 | 98,0 | ||
| Matériaux de construction | |||||
| nail | kg | 1,0 | 500,0 | 500,0 | 100,0 |
| Timber | nos. | 150,0 | 350,0 | 52500,0 | 100,0 |
| CGI sheet | nos. | 20,0 | 780,0 | 15600,0 | 100,0 |
| Autre | |||||
| Working Lunch and Refreshment | person day | 15,0 | 410,0 | 6150,0 | 100,0 |
| Coût total de mise en place de la Technologie | 86'750.0 | ||||
| Coût total de mise en place de la Technologie en dollars américains (USD) | 1'057.93 | ||||
| Spécifiez les intrants | Unité | Quantité | Coûts par unité (Ngultrum) | Coût total par intrant (Ngultrum) | % des coût supporté par les exploitants des terres |
| Main d'œuvre | |||||
| person | 10,0 | 800,0 | 8000,0 | 100,0 | |
| Equipements | |||||
| spade | nos | 5,0 | 100,0 | ||
| crowbar | nos | 3,0 | 100,0 | ||
| pickaxe | nos | 2,0 | 100,0 | ||
| sickle | nos | 3,0 | 100,0 | ||
| wire | metre | 20,0 | 100,0 | ||
| knife | nos | 3,0 | 100,0 | ||
| Engrais et biocides | |||||
| Urea | packets | 2,0 | 1300,0 | 2600,0 | 100,0 |
| Matériaux de construction | |||||
| Nail | kg | 0,5 | 250,0 | 125,0 | 100,0 |
| Timber change | nos. | 30,0 | 150,0 | 4500,0 | 100,0 |
| CGI sheet change | nos. | 8,0 | 780,0 | 6240,0 | 100,0 |
| Autre | |||||
| Working lunch and Refreshment | Per Person | 10,0 | 410,0 | 4100,0 | 100,0 |
| Coût total d'entretien de la Technologie | 25'565.0 | ||||
| Coût total d'entretien de la Technologie en dollars américains (USD) | 311.77 | ||||
Many of the household are average earned farmers so they are accessible to good infrastructure facilities.
After the SLM technology, crop production doubled in case of chili and cole crops.
The introduction of hybrid crops has enhanced crop quality, but it is challenging to quantify this improvement in terms of specific quantities.
Enhanced bedding materials and improved living conditions for livestock animals have led to increased product production.
well this is professional estimates.
They are continuing the traditional farming practices
Farm production costs are minimal as they can produce their own organic manure directly from the field
The integration of livestock and agriculture production provides farmers with various sources of income, including earnings from animal products
The impact of technology on food security or self sufficiency cannot be quantified however in their opinion there is increase in food production after the technology. Now they can commercialized their product as well as adequate for self consumption.
Soil moisture has been improved in the applied field where they are practising from olden days
The forest's land cover has reduced because of leaf litter collection.
