Technologies

Planting sunn hemp as green manure for soil improvement [Thailand]

Por Toeng

technologies_4336 - Thailand

Completeness: 84%

1. General information

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

Key resource person(s)

SLM specialist:

Poonkasaem Pisan

Land Development Department (Regional 1)

Thailand

land user:

Choen Eium Num Kung

Good Agricultural Practices group, Ban Klong Raban

Thailand

land user:

Soop-Peug Yupa

Good Agricultural Practices group, Ban Klong Raban

Thailand

land user:

Soop-Peug Yupin

Good Agricultural Practices group, Ban Klong Raban

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

2. Description of the SLM Technology

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

Country:

Thailand

Region/ State/ Province:

Singburi province

Further specification of location:

50 Moo 3, Po ThaLae sub district, Bang-Rajan District,

Specify the spread of the Technology:
  • applied at specific points/ concentrated on a small area
Is/are the technology site(s) located in a permanently protected area?

No

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. Classification of the SLM Technology

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


Cropland

Cropland

  • Annual cropping
Annual cropping - Specify crops:
  • cereals - rice (wetland)
Annual cropping system:

Continuous wetland rice

Number of growing seasons per year:
  • 2
Is intercropping practiced?

No

Is crop rotation practiced?

Yes

If yes, specify:

green manuring

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

Cropland

Cropland

  • Annual cropping
Annual cropping - Specify crops:
  • cereals - rice (wetland)
Is intercropping practiced?

No

Is crop rotation practiced?

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

agronomic measures

agronomic measures

  • A1: Vegetation/ soil cover
  • A2: Organic matter/ soil fertility
  • A3: Soil surface treatment
  • A4: Subsurface treatment
  • A5: Seed management, improved varieties
  • A6: Residue management
A3: Differentiate tillage systems:

A 3.2: Reduced tillage (> 30% soil cover)

A6: Specify residue management:

A 6.3: collected

3.7 Main types of land degradation addressed by the Technology

chemical soil deterioration

chemical soil deterioration

  • Cn: fertility decline and reduced organic matter content (not caused by erosion)
  • Ca: acidification
biological degradation

biological degradation

  • Bc: reduction of vegetation cover
  • Bl: loss of soil life

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. Technical specifications, implementation activities, inputs, and costs

4.1 Technical drawing of the Technology

Author:

Mr. Pisan Poonkasaem

Date:

30/12/2018

4.2 General information regarding the calculation of inputs and costs

Specify how costs and inputs were calculated:
  • per Technology area
Indicate size and area unit:

4.45 ha

If using a local area unit, indicate conversion factor to one hectare (e.g. 1 ha = 2.47 acres): 1 ha =:

6.25 Rai

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. Natural and human environment

5.1 Climate

Annual rainfall
  • < 250 mm
  • 251-500 mm
  • 501-750 mm
  • 751-1,000 mm
  • 1,001-1,500 mm
  • 1,501-2,000 mm
  • 2,001-3,000 mm
  • 3,001-4,000 mm
  • > 4,000 mm
Specify average annual rainfall (if known), in mm:

1100.00

Specifications/ comments on rainfall:

Rainy season is from May-October

Indicate the name of the reference meteorological station considered:

Ministry of Meteorological

Agro-climatic zone
  • humid

hot and humid

5.2 Topography

Slopes on average:
  • flat (0-2%)
  • gentle (3-5%)
  • moderate (6-10%)
  • rolling (11-15%)
  • hilly (16-30%)
  • steep (31-60%)
  • very steep (>60%)
Landforms:
  • plateau/plains
  • ridges
  • mountain slopes
  • hill slopes
  • footslopes
  • valley floors
Altitudinal zone:
  • 0-100 m a.s.l.
  • 101-500 m a.s.l.
  • 501-1,000 m a.s.l.
  • 1,001-1,500 m a.s.l.
  • 1,501-2,000 m a.s.l.
  • 2,001-2,500 m a.s.l.
  • 2,501-3,000 m a.s.l.
  • 3,001-4,000 m a.s.l.
  • > 4,000 m a.s.l.
Indicate if the Technology is specifically applied in:
  • not relevant

5.3 Soils

Soil depth on average:
  • very shallow (0-20 cm)
  • shallow (21-50 cm)
  • moderately deep (51-80 cm)
  • deep (81-120 cm)
  • very deep (> 120 cm)
Soil texture (topsoil):
  • fine/ heavy (clay)
Soil texture (> 20 cm below surface):
  • medium (loamy, silty)
Topsoil organic matter:
  • medium (1-3%)

5.4 Water availability and quality

Ground water table:

5-50 m

Availability of surface water:

good

Water quality (untreated):

for agricultural use only (irrigation)

Water quality refers to:

surface water

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

Species diversity:
  • medium
Habitat diversity:
  • medium

5.6 Characteristics of land users applying the Technology

Sedentary or nomadic:
  • Sedentary
Market orientation of production system:
  • mixed (subsistence/ commercial)
Off-farm income:
  • > 50% of all income
Relative level of wealth:
  • average
Individuals or groups:
  • individual/ household
Level of mechanization:
  • mechanized/ motorized
Gender:
  • women
Age of land users:
  • middle-aged
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

  • < 0.5 ha
  • 0.5-1 ha
  • 1-2 ha
  • 2-5 ha
  • 5-15 ha
  • 15-50 ha
  • 50-100 ha
  • 100-500 ha
  • 500-1,000 ha
  • 1,000-10,000 ha
  • > 10,000 ha
Is this considered small-, medium- or large-scale (referring to local context)?
  • medium-scale
Comments:

Land owner is 60% and rent is 40%

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

health:
  • poor
  • moderate
  • good
education:
  • poor
  • moderate
  • good
technical assistance:
  • poor
  • moderate
  • good
employment (e.g. off-farm):
  • poor
  • moderate
  • good
markets:
  • poor
  • moderate
  • good
energy:
  • poor
  • moderate
  • good
roads and transport:
  • poor
  • moderate
  • good
drinking water and sanitation:
  • poor
  • moderate
  • good
financial services:
  • poor
  • moderate
  • good

6. Impacts and concluding statements

6.1 On-site impacts the Technology has shown

Socio-economic impacts

Production

crop production

decreased
increased

product diversity

decreased
increased

production area

decreased
increased

land management

hindered
simplified

Socio-cultural impacts

food security/ self-sufficiency

reduced
improved

health situation

worsened
improved

land use/ water rights

worsened
improved

cultural opportunities

reduced
improved
Comments/ specify:

religion activities decrease

recreational opportunities

reduced
improved
Comments/ specify:

activities decrease

community institutions

weakened
strengthened

SLM/ land degradation knowledge

reduced
improved

conflict mitigation

worsened
improved
Comments/ specify:

increase good relationship

situation of socially and economically disadvantaged groups

worsened
improved

Ecological impacts

Water cycle/ runoff

water quantity

decreased
increased

harvesting/ collection of water

reduced
improved

excess water drainage

reduced
improved
Soil

soil moisture

decreased
increased

soil cover

reduced
improved

soil loss

increased
decreased

soil accumulation

decreased
increased

soil compaction

increased
reduced

soil organic matter/ below ground C

decreased
increased
Biodiversity: vegetation, animals

Vegetation cover

decreased
increased

biomass/ above ground C

decreased
increased

plant diversity

decreased
increased

habitat diversity

decreased
increased

6.2 Off-site impacts the Technology has shown

water availability

decreased
increased

reliable and stable stream flows in dry season

reduced
increased

downstream flooding

increased
reduced

downstream siltation

increased
decreased

groundwater/ river pollution

increased
reduced

buffering/ filtering capacity

reduced
improved

wind transported sediments

increased
reduced

impact of greenhouse gases

increased
reduced

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)?
Short-term returns:

positive

Long-term returns:

positive

How do the benefits compare with the maintenance/ recurrent costs (from land users' perspective)?
Short-term returns:

positive

Long-term returns:

positive

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. References and links

7.1 Methods/ sources of information

  • field visits, field surveys

10

  • interviews with land users

4

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

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