An analysis of the economic values of novel cropping systems in N. E. Thailand and S. Sumatra

AbstractThe use of food-crop intercropping, hedgerow intercropping and secondary or cover cropping to increase incomes of resource-poor farmers in South East Asia was investigated. Since all systems improve conservation of nutrients and most give extra marketable produce, they were expected to increase farm profitability. On upland farms in Lampung, South Sumatra, both inter- and secondary crops were found to improve yields compared with cassava monocropping and thus the income derived from growing cassava or rice with maize. These increases were equivalent to between 70 and 440 US dollars per hectare. An economic analysis of the lowland rice-producing systems in North East Thailand suggested that with the exception of growing cowpea, the use of pre-rice cover crops was not profitable despite a substantial increase in rice yield, because the additional labour cost more than the additional income was worth. A benefit of leguminous crops, however, can be the extra marketable product. Groundnut in Indonesia and cowpea in Thailand gave an attractive extra US$400–1150 total income increase per hectare per year (i.e. extra yield of the main food crop plus extra marketable produce from the secondary crop) even after the additional costs were deducted. Hedgerow intercropping gave smaller profit margins of about US$ 90. Although both hedgerow intercropping and secondary cropping represent a considerable investment of labour by farmers, this investment may be more feasible than paying for fertilizer on credit. On balance the most attractive option tested was the use of a leguminous secondary crop, e.g. groundnut or multipurpose cowpea, within the food crop cycle

Studies on Soil and Rhizosphere Populations of Rhizobium Sp. Nodulating Cicer Arietinum

Usin a plant Infection d l l u t l o n method developed at ICRISAT for count ? ng chickpea rhlzobia the population of chickpea Rhizobiun has been studied i n Alfisols, Vertisols and Entisols. Sane of the soil samples collected from traditional chickpea growing areas have been found to have low populations of this specific Rhi obium Rhlzobium numbers de8c e ased wi th depth i n a Vertisol from + ; s o i l at [T-IS an to 1 per g s o i l at 90-120 cm. A 100-fold decrease in populat Ion was recorded when wet- 1 and paddy f 01 1 wed chickpea. Of flve ICRISAT mandate crops (sorghum, millet, groundnut, chickpea and plgeonpea) i n pot culture, chickpea roots are most stitnulatory t o the ~~ultlplicatioonf chickpea rhlzobia

Integrating Watershed Management for Land Degradation and Improving Agricultural Productivity in Northeast Thailand

Thailand’s northeastern region accounts for one third of the country’s population and land area, but generates only 15 percent of the gross domestic product. Most of the region’s inhabitants have small holding, are low income farmers who face diverse agricultural and resource problems related to extreme environmental variability, an adverse climate, poor soils and limited, often unreliable water resources. Due to these problems the current agricultural productivity and income is very low. The deforestation and other agricultural practices have led to the changes in the hydrologic environment and caused widespread land degradation problems. To tackle these problems several watershed management programs have been implemented by various government departments and organizations. This paper reviews the various watershed development management works in northeast Thailand and discusses their approaches and impact on agricultural productivity and natural resources. The impact of small-scale water resources (SSWR) development program implemented by the Thai Royal Irrigation Department and Ministry of Agriculture and Cooperatives, on the socio-economic conditions of the farmers in NE Thailand was studied. It was found that the farmers in SSWR area earned more income from agriculture, than farmers outside SSWR area. Farm profitability and source of farm cash income of SSWR farmers were closely related to dry season cash crops rather than wet season rice. Area under double cropping was found to be higher in SSWR area than those outside SSWR area. In terms of productivity, profitability and equity the weir type SSWR system was found to be the most appropriate for northeast Thailand. Overall the study indicated that the small scale water resources can play very significant role in increasing the productivity and income of small rainfed farmers in northeast Thailand. The Department of Land Development approach of watershed development and management gives greater emphasis to small farm ponds and control of soil erosion. This program is being implemented on large scale in Thailand. The Kingdom Watershed Management Program for small, medium and large scale watersheds is also discussed. The results from integrated participatory watershed management project implemented jointly by the Department of Agriculture, Land Development Department and Khon Kaen University in close collaboration with International Crops Research Institute for the Semi- Arid Tropics (ICRISAT) are discussed in detail. This project is being carried out at two benchmark sites, viz., Tad Fa in Phuphaman district and Wang Chai in Phuwiang district in northeast region of Thailand. Results shows that with proper land use planning and use of integrated soil, water and nutrient management (SWMM) and crop management options the land degradation can be controlled (soil loss of 5 t/ha/yr in improved system vs soil loss of 37 t/ha/yr in the traditional system). The project interventions significantly increased the water availability and crop yields. Promising watershed management technologies developed at the project sites provide a good framework for increasing productivity and income of farmers on sustained basis, while improving the soil and water resources

Counting Cicer-Rhizobium using a plant infection technique

Chickpea (Cicer arietinum L.), a large seeded pulse legume, is nodulated only by a very specific group of Rhizobium strains which do not nodulate plants other than Cicer spp. If the cotyledons are removed just after germination, subsequent seedling growth is dwarfed, and plants will reliably grow and nodulate in large test tubes (25 × 200 mm) under axenic conditions with either sand or sand + venniculite as the root medium. The dwarfed seedlings of some selected chickpea lines can be used as a “trap host” for counting Cicer-Rhizobium in pure cultures and contaminated materials by a most probable number, serial dilution-plant infection technique. The value of such a plantlet as a “trap host” for studying Cicer-Rhizobium ecology, strain authentication and inoculum quality control is demonstrated

Facility for Growing Plants in Test Tubes at ICRISAT

Authentication of Rhizobium strains and the serial dilution-plant infection technique for determining Rhizobium population require the growing of plants under sterile conditions. ICRISAT staff have designed and made units for growing plants in test tubes using materials locally available in India. Two plant growth units are housed in a room cooled with two window air-conditioners. Each unit can accomodate 1824 test tubes of 25 x 200 mm size or 2448 test tubes of 18 x 150 mm size and are laterally illuminated by flourescent tubes. The same units can also be used for growing plants in small pots with illumination from above. At ICRISAT these units have been successfully used for 7 years. Details of construction, operation, and costs of the units are presented

Chickpea rhizobium populations: Survey of influence of season, soil depth and cropping pattern

Chickpea Rhizobium populations in soil samples from research stations and farmers' fields in different geographic regions of India ranged from 104 rhizobia g−1 soil. Fields on research stations with a known history of chickpea cropping had more rhizobia (calc. 103 to 105 rhizobia g1&#x0304; soil) than the majority of farmers' fields (calc. < 10 to 103 rhizobia g−1 soil). In the absence of chickpea in the cropping pattern, soils generally had < 102 rhizobia g1&#x0304; and crops in such fields nodulated poorly. However, poor nodulation was also observed when populations of rhizobia were high, indicating that other factors were also important for nodulation. There was no obvious consistent correlation of Rhizobium population with pH, electrical conductivity and nitrate-nitrogen status of the soil. Rhizobium populations declined with soil depth and were highest (about 104 rhizobia g−1 soil) in the top 30 cm of the profile and lowest, but still present (calc. 103–103 rhizobia g'1 soil), at 90–120 cm—a depth where no nodules are found. Populations fluctuated most in the top 5 cm, being reduced during periods of high soil temperature in summer and recovering after rains. Rhizobium populations were at a maximum after chickpea but survived well under pigeonpea, groundnut and maize. When rice followed an inoculated chickpea crop, there was about a 100-fold decrease in the Rhizobium populatio

Role of Legumes in Improving Soil Fertility and Increasing Crop Productivity in Northeast Thailand

Northeast Thailand constitutes one-third of total area of the whole country and one-third of the total population live in this region. The income of the majority of the people living here is below half of the national average mainly due to low agricultural production and productivity. The low agricultural productivity of the northeast region compared to other regions of Thailand is attributed mainly to erratic rainfall, water shortage during the dry season, undulating terrain and poor and marginal soils. The soils in the region are mostly sandy in texture with low soil moisture holding capacity. The soils are also very low in organic matter and low in general fertility

Improving Management of Natural Resources for Sustainable Rainfed Agriculture in Northeastern Thailand

Lands of northeastern Thailand are sloping and fragile. A large proportion of these soils are degraded due to soil erosion. Degraded soils are one of the major constraints for agricultural production in this region. ICRISAT in collaboration with the Department of Agriculture, Land Development Department, and Khon Kaen University, Thailand started a project in 1999 with the financial support from the Asian Development Bank to improve the management of natural resources for sustainable rainfed agriculture through integrated watershed approach. This paper summarizes all the research work carried out for three years during the project period. This includes selection of benchmark site in the ecoregion, baseline surveys, establishment of monitoring devices and various interventions in cropping systems, land and water management and fertility management areas, and human resource development. The initial results of research indicate a reduction in soil erosion and improvement of crop yields due to various interventions. There is sufficient scope to scale up this work in the ecoregion. The details of various activities undertaken and the outputs are presented in the pape