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 (Land Development Department) - Thailand

Name of the institution(s) which facilitated the documentation/ evaluation of the Technology (if relevant)

Centre of Excellence for Soil Research in Asia (CESRA)

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

1.5 Reference to Questionnaire(s) on SLM Approaches (documented using WOCAT)

2.1 Short description of the Technology

Definition of the Technology:

Sunn hemp (Crotalaria juncea) has been promoted by the Land Development Department as a green manure plant with the objectives of increasing soil organic matter, improving soil fertility and reducing salinity levels.

2.2 Detailed description of the Technology

Description:

The Northeast of Thailand has the largest area dedicated to rice production in the country. However, the average yield per hectare remains low. Here, rice production heavily depends on rainfall, but distribution is inconsistent. Additionally, soil fertility is low, with a rapid decline in soil organic matter (SOM). Another significant threat to productivity in this area is salinity, with 17% of the rice production area affected.
The Land Development Department (LDD) of the Ministry of Agriculture and Cooperatives has promoted the use of soil amendments, such as green manure plants - including sunn hemp (Crotalaria juncea) - to enhance organic matter and restore soil fertility under saline conditions. Green manures are ploughed under, and incorporated into the soil to achieve their effect.
In the Non Thai district of Nakhon Ratchasima province, farmers face water shortages during the dry season, as the area lies outside the irrigation zone. Farmers, along with officers from the Land Development Department, have worked to increase SOM in degraded soils through knowledge transfer. Volunteer soil doctors and local farmers have adopted technologies that combine SOM improvement with soil and water conservation measures.
One notable example is Mr. Mana Siangsuthia: since 1997, he has collaborated with LDD officers, receiving beneficial microorganisms (PD microorganisms), green manure plants, vetiver grass, and water resources for his paddy fields. He has implemented LDD guidelines to develop his 1.12 hectare rice plot. Previously, this land was unproductive due to soil degradation caused by long-term monoculture of industrial crops and excessive use of synthetic fertilizers.
Fermented bio-extracts from banana shoots and chemical fertilizers were applied according to recommended guidelines. In 2004, rice yields averaged 1,125–1,550 kg/ha. Continuous implementation of these practices raised yields to 2,500 kg/ha by 2011. Over 16 years, using sunn hemp as a soil amendment significantly improved soil aggregate stability and reduced salinity. This success led to a shift towards natural agriculture practices in 2013, where chemical fertilizers were no longer used.
Farmers in the area now employ weather observation techniques and efficient water management strategies during dry spells. Green manure plants are sown every two years, complemented by the cultivation of salt-tolerant rice varieties, which also exhibit drought and pest resistance. These practices have resulted in rice yields of 3,125–3,750 kg/ha.
After rice harvesting, rice straw and stubble are ploughed in together with banana shoot PD 2 bio-extract. After approximately 2 weeks of decomposition, sunn hemp is sown at the rate of 31.25 kg/ha. When sunn hemp reaches 120 days, its seeds are collected. Then sunn hemp stems of around 1.2 meters height are ploughed in order to obtain more biomass.
Water conservation remains a focus in the cultivation area. During the rainy season, excess rainwater is stored for use during dry periods. Additionally, farmers employ techniques to wash salt from the soil surface into drainage channels. Water quality is enhanced using fermented bio-extracts, ensuring adequate water for dry-season cultivation.

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

Indicate year of implementation:

1999

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
• through projects/ external interventions

Comments (type of project, etc.):

The technology arises from land users’ innovation and is supported by external interventions and government agencies that acknowledge the value of technology to the community by providing resources, funding and supporting research and development.

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

Comments:

Rainfed lowland rice can be supported by small ponds for irrigation.

3.5 SLM group to which the Technology belongs

• improved ground/ vegetation cover
• integrated soil fertility management

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:

• prevent 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

If relevant, indicate exchange rate from USD to local currency (e.g. 1 USD = 79.9 Brazilian Real): 1 USD =:

34.0

4.5 Maintenance/ recurrent activities

	Activity	Timing/ frequency
1.	Planting is conducted in between after harvesting rice yields so that Crotalaria juncea ( Sunn hemp) can thrive and give out high biomass.	February-April
2.	Plough and ferment rice stubble together with using PD 2 bio-extracts to create bacterial process in the soil accelerating decomposition taking about 2 weeks. Then, sunn hemp is sowed at the rate of 31.25 kg/ha in the soil with appropriate moisture throughout the plot in order to bring about regular germination.	February-April
3.	Ploughing up and over to cover sunn hemp stubble at the age of 120 days after collecting seeds of sunn hemp whereby the stem of sunn hemp is at the average of more than 1.2 meters resulting in obtaining more biomass. After that, during the period of preparing the area for planting rice, rice can be sowed in May or when there is enough amount of water.	May-August
4.	When the seeds are kept to be used in the following season, the seed coat of sunn hemp is used as material incorporated with soil to make compost for soil amendment in growing vegetables.	May-August

Comments:

Ban Kok Phrom Village, Non Thai sub-district, Non Thai district, Nakhon Ratchasima province

4.6 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	Plow to prepare plots	Time	1.0	14.71	14.71	100.0
Labour	Sow rice	Time	1.0	17.65	17.65	100.0
Labour	Pump water	Time	2.0	58.82	117.64	100.0
Labour	Harvest yield	Time	1.0	183.82	183.82	100.0
Plant material	Rice seeds	Kilogram	8.0	0.53	4.24	100.0
Fertilizers and biocides	Weight	Liter	40.0	0.29	11.6	100.0
Fertilizers and biocides	Green Manure	Kilogram	5.0	0.68	3.4	100.0
Other	Oil costs for farm truck	Time	1.0	58.82	58.82	100.0
Total costs for maintenance of the Technology					411.88
Total costs for maintenance of the Technology in USD					12.11

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

The Land Development Department does not provide financial support but instead supports agricultural production inputs, such as green manure seeds and raw materials for compost production.

Comments:

Calculation of costs and expenses
Expenses are calculated per areas using technology (Unit of size and area: 1.12 ha)
The currency used to calculate expenses with the unit as Baht
Exchange rate (to US. dollars) 1 US. Dollars = 34.0 Baht
Average wage in hiring labor per day is 8.82 USD

4.7 Most important factors affecting the costs

Describe the most determinate factors affecting the costs:

1. Labour costs
2. Fuel costs

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?

Yes

Is flooding of the area occurring?

No

5.5 Biodiversity

5.6 Characteristics of land users applying the Technology

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

Are land use rights based on a traditional legal system?

Yes

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

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?
annual temperature		increase	moderately

Climate-related extremes (disasters)

Climatological disasters

	How does the Technology cope with it?
heatwave	moderately
drought	moderately

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

• 11-50%

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

• 11-50%

Comments:

The land users are responsible for covering the costs themselves. The Land Development Department provides support by supplying green manure seeds to demonstrate and test whether growing green manure crops can effectively improve saline soil.

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
Farmers manage soil and water use integrated farming methods, leading to additional income opportunities
Farmers in the area are committed to overcoming challenges and limitation related to soil, water, and environmental conditions

Strengths/ advantages/ opportunities in the compiler’s or other key resource person’s view
Support for forming farmer groups in the area to exchange knowledge on soil management for increasing crop yields and addressing local farming issues, as well as developin professions for community farmers. This includes promotiong the production of safe

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?
Quality problems of Sunn hemp seeds result in low germination rates.	Land Development Department officials inspect the quality of seeds before they are distributed to farmers.

7.1 Methods/ sources of information

7.3 Links to relevant online information

Title/ description:

Sustainable soil management practices in Asia

URL:

https://e-library.ldd.go.th/library/Ebook/bib10906.pdf