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)

Decision Support for Mainstreaming and Scaling out Sustainable Land Management (GEF-FAO / DS-SLM)

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

When were the data compiled (in the field)?

01/10/2018

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 environmentally suited and very well accepted by the land users.

1.5 Reference to Questionnaire(s) on SLM Approaches

2.1 Short description of the Technology

Definition of the Technology:

Eucalyptus camaldulensis variety H4 is salt tolerant and has the ability to lower shallow saline groundwater levels; as a result salinity is controlled. Planting eucalyptus on one or two sides of the rice bund in an east-west direction (in single or double rows) at a spacing of 2 m between trees is the most effective technique and well accepted by farmers.

2.2 Detailed description of the Technology

Description:

Eucalyptus camaldulensis cultivation on rice bunds to lower shallow saline groundwater levels in low-lying areas is a technology used on salt-affected land. The LDD Perennial Tree Planting project to promote the technology of planting Eucalyptus camaldulensis on rice bunds has been implemented since 1996. The land user interviewed cultivates a moderately salt-affected rice field at Ban Muang Pia District, Khon Kaen Province. The land is used for rice production both glutinous (variety RD 6) and non-glutinous fragrant rice (Hom Mali 105). The average yield of rice is 200-250 kg/rai (1 ha = 6.25 rai). The farmers have planted eucalyptus on bunds in the rice cultivated areas on about 10,000 rai in more than 10 years with the objectives of remedying and preventing salination by lowering shallow saline groundwater levels, through "bio-drainage" as well as increasing income and better utilization of lands on rice bunds for growing trees.
The technology of eucalyptus cultivation on rice bunds has been implemented in farmers' fields in the low-lying salt-affected rice area common in the Northeast of Thailand. It is widely accepted by farmers through the joint partnership between the Land Development Department (LDD), Siam Forestry Co., Ltd. and the local district administration. Eucalyptus seedlings are provided by LDD and are planted in a single or double rows - double rows with trees planted on two sides of the rice bunds in a zigzag manner following an east-west direction to prohibit a shadow effect. The spacing between the trees in a row is 2 m: the rice bund was adapted to be 1.5 m wide and 0.5 m high. This provides more space and convenient access to the rice field. The project provides labour costs for farmers to prepare the land before planting. Many farmers outside the project transplanted their own eucalyptus seedlings on the bunds of 0.5 m or more in width. Farmers buy the seedlings at 1 THB each and plant in pits of 0.3 x 0.3 x 0.3 m with 0.5 kg compost and 0.5 kg rice husks from farm by-products. This technology is well accepted by farmers because of the effective control of salinity in the rice fields as well as the higher income obtained from selling eucalyptus wood. Farmers observed the dead patchy spots of rice plants with salt crusts before planting eucalyptus: after 2 cutting cycles no salt patches were observed anymore, and rice yields increased noticeably. There was also extra income from selling poles of eucalyptus every 4 years. The average yield of eucalyptus trees of 2.5-3.0 inches in diameter was 16 tons per rai for the first cutting.
Based on 7 years (2 crops of eucalyptus coppicing), the average additional income was 1,087 THB/rai/yr (according to the farmers' and Siam Forest's information). The main investment was in the first year of planting; later on, the maintenance cost was on labour for weeding, pruning and thinning to 3 stems after coppice/cutting, including adding 15-15-15 fertilizer for each tree. The average income is increased through better rice yields. The benefits of the technology according to interviews are creating a cooler microclimate from eucalyptus trees and changes in biodiversity through better soil quality resulting in more species of flora and fauna such as grasses, wildflowers, dragonflies, earthworms in the rice field and on the bund. Some farmers wanted more trees by planting at closer spacing of 1 m, but this resulted in too great a density of trees thus consuming more surface water and competing with rice for water consumptive use.

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:

1996

2.7 Introduction of the Technology

Specify how the Technology was introduced:

• through projects/ external interventions

• by other land users

Comments (type of project, etc.):

The project initiated by the government (Land Development Department) collaborated with private enterprises (Siam Forestry Co., Ltd.), local administration, communities and land users.

3.1 Main purpose(s) of the Technology

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

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

Comments:

Planting eucalyptus for additional income and more intensive utilization of land on the rice bunds.

If land use has changed due to the implementation of the Technology, indicate land use before implementation of the Technology:

Before planting eucalyptus, rice was the only crop. Due to the shallow saline groundwater of the area, rice had shown symptoms of being salt-affected; however after planting eucalyptus trees, these symptoms disappeared.

3.3 Further information about land use

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

• rainfed

Comments:

Average annual rainfall is 1,200-1,300 mm.

Number of growing seasons per year:

• 1

Specify:

Land use is for rice production; the technology is planting Eucalyptus camaldulensis on rice bunds.

Livestock density (if relevant):

Only few cattle, swine, and boar are in the land user's farm.

3.4 SLM group to which the Technology belongs

• agroforestry
• ground water management

• desalination

3.5 Spread of the Technology

Specify the spread of the Technology:

• evenly spread over an area

If the Technology is evenly spread over an area, indicate approximate area covered:

• 1-10 km2

Comments:

The technology has spread over the area of 10,000 rai (1 ha = 6.25 rai) owned by farmers/land users both under and outside the supported project of planting eucalyptus on rice bunds.

3.6 SLM measures comprising the Technology

Comments:

Eucalyptus camaldulensis H4 is the salt-tolerant variety used for lowering shallow saline groundwater.

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

Comments:

Decreased saline groundwater levels to control salinity distribution in rice cultivated areas.

4.1 Technical drawing of the Technology

4.2 Technical specifications/ explanations of technical drawing

1. Seedling of Eucalyptus camaldulensis H4, a salt-tolerant variety, were planted. The age of seedlings was 3-month old. The rice bund was regulated to 0.5 m wide for planting eucalyptus in single row or 1.5 m wide for planting in double rows (in a zigzag manner), 0.5 m high with a spacing of 2 m between the trees along an east-west direction. The number of trees was 80/rai or 500/ha for double rows planting.
2. Planting technique: 0.5 kg of compost mixed with 0.5 kg of rice husks was applied at the bottom of a pit of 0.3 x 0.3 x 0.3 m before seedlings were planted.

4.3 General information regarding the calculation of inputs and costs

Specify how costs and inputs were calculated:

• per Technology area

other/ national currency (specify):

THB

Indicate exchange rate from USD to local currency (if relevant): 1 USD =:

32.0

4.4 Establishment activities

	Activity	Type of measure	Timing
1.	Site selection of salt-affected area	Structural	May-July
2.	Land preparation; bunds construction and seedling preparation	Structural	May-July
3.	Public hearing, joint meeting between farmers and researchers	Other measures	May-July
4.	Demonstration plot	Agronomic	May-July
5.	Model establishment (Eucalyptus planting method)	Agronomic	May-July
6.	Joint monitoring, evaluation and follow up for planting	Other measures	After planting

Comments:

No irrigation water therefore the planting time depends on the period of early rainy season which will be from May to July.

4.5 Costs and inputs needed for establishment

	Specify input	Unit	Quantity	Costs per Unit	Total costs per input	% of costs borne by land users
Labour	Labour cost for planting eucalyptus (labour wage per day = 300 THB, 1 rai required a labour cost of 600 THB)	Rai	1.0	600.0	600.0
Plant material	Eucalyptus seedling cost (80 trees/rai), 1 THB for each seedling	Seedling	80.0	1.0	80.0
Fertilizers and biocides	Compost cost 3.5 THB/kg, 0.5 kg/pit	kg	40.0	3.5	140.0
Fertilizers and biocides	Rice husk cost 4 THB/kg, 0.5 kg/pit	kg	40.0	4.0	160.0
Total costs for establishment of the Technology					980.0

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

Land Development Department

Comments:

Labour cost for land preparation and planting borne by LDD and seedlings borne by Siam Forestry Co., Ltd.; compost and rice husk were from farm by-products.

4.6 Maintenance/ recurrent activities

	Activity	Type of measure	Timing/ frequency
1.	Thinning and pruning after first year of planting	Agronomic	2 times/rain season
2.	Weeding after first year of planting	Agronomic	2 times/rain season
3.	Fertilizer application after first year of planting	Agronomic	2 times/rain season
4.	Cutting and selling logs	Agronomic	4th and 7th year

Comments:

Four years after planting, the poles will be cut and sold. After cutting, the tree coppices, then thinning is needed in order to leave not more than 3 stems, necessary for better growth of the tree trunks. Weeding is important during rainy season to control competition for fertilizer.

4.7 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	Labour cost of weeding, pruning, thinning, and fertilizer application for 150 THB/time, 2 times/rai/yr, based on the labour wage of 300 THB/day	Time	2.0	150.0	300.0
Fertilizers and biocides	Cost of 15-15-15 chemical fertilizer (13 THB/kg, application rate 50 g/tree; 50 g x 80 trees per rai = 4 kg/rai	kg	4.0	13.0	52.0
Total costs for maintenance of the Technology					352.0

Comments:

Land users do the job by themselves without hiring labourers. Furthermore, the fertilizer application will be the same fertilizer and timing as is used for rice. No extra fertilizer needed for trees because the trees will consume fertilizer from the rice field.

4.8 Most important factors affecting the costs

Describe the most determinate factors affecting the costs:

Maintenance cost of weeding, pruning, thinning and fertilizer application was 428 THB/rai/yr. Calculation is based on 7 years of planting. Four years after planting, the logs were sold for additional income 5,714.3 THB/rai. On the 7th year, the logs were sold at 4,285.7 THB/rai.

(Income from 2 times of Eucalyptus sale; 4th year = 40,000 THB, 7th year = 30,000 THB. Therefore, total income for 7 years = 10,000 THB/rai. Benefit from Eucalyptus planting = 10,000–2,388 (planting cost + 4 years of maintenance cost) = 7,612 THB/7 years = 1,087 THB/rai/yr.)

Compost and rice husk are from farm by-products and the labour costs are from land users. The income thereore will be higher than 1,087 THB/rai as estimated.

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 in the lower basin of Korat Plateau in the Northeast of 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 sandy loam and more than 20 cm below the surface is sandy clay loam; pH = 7 and increasing with depth up to 8.5; soil salinity is moderately to highly affected which is identified by the salt crusts on the soil 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 the low-lying discharge area and the source of the salt is under the surface of the land.

5.5 Biodiversity

Comments and further specifications on biodiversity:

Before planting eucalyptus, species and habitat were low. After 7 years, dragonfly, earthworms, birds, rats, and wildflowers that were not seen before now are found.

5.6 Characteristics of land users applying the Technology

Indicate other relevant characteristics of the land users:

Diligent farmer seeking more income by raising few cattle, swine, and boar.

5.7 Average area of land owned or leased 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

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)?

Comments:

The cost of planting trees in the first year was the only main cost. The maintenance cost starts from second year on until the year of cutting and selling logs. After coppicing, maintenance cost starts again until the next cutting. Therefore the benefits will be higher with more cycles of cutting.

6.5 Adoption of the Technology

• 10-50%

If available, quantify (no. of households and/ or area covered):

1,600 ha

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

• 10-50%

Comments:

Farmers and land users acknowledge the benefit of the technology that results in decreasing salinity, increasing rice production, and additional income from trees.

6.6 Adaptation

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

Yes

other (specify):

closer spacing of trees

Specify adaptation of the Technology (design, material/ species, etc.):

Planting eucalyptus has been adapted from growing eucalyptus on rice bunds of 1.5 m wide to 0.5 m wide to save labor cost of land preparation and plant the seedlings on one row instead of 2 rows.

6.7 Strengths/ advantages/ opportunities of the Technology

Strengths/ advantages/ opportunities in the land user’s view
Decrease saline groundwater level resulting in rice yield increase.
Get higher income from increasing rice yield and eucalyptus poles.
The microclimate in the area has been improved and the air is cooler and the land is greener.
Increased indirect returns due to land is greener and used as animal fodders for cattle, swine, and boar.

Strengths/ advantages/ opportunities in the compiler’s or other key resource person’s view
Decreased saline groundwater level then prevented further salination as a result to protect the land degradation.
Increasing farmer's income.
To establish better environment for more biodiversity especially earthworms used to disappear now are found and their activities induce better soil properties.

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?
More birds and rats damage rice yield.	No solution
The officers do not visit whenever the land users need help.	The officers need to contact the land users and give advice more often.

Weaknesses/ disadvantages/ risks in the compiler’s or other key resource person’s view	How can they be overcome?
Farmers do not understand how eucalyptus trees could decrease saline groundwater level.	Explain, illustrate and demonstrate the cause and effect of salinity.
There are pros and cons of planting eucalyptus because the leaves may damage the soil and their shading effect may decrease rice yield.	Organize farmer group visit to some successful sites that no adverse effects have been found.

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 information which is available online

Title/ description:

Planting Eucalyptus on bunds: Better way for the Northeast farmers

URL:

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

Title/ description:

Eucalyptus : New opportunity by Siam Forestry

URL:

http://www.scgpackaging.com/others/forestry/eucalyptus/TH