Back S. Suetrong and C. Pairintra
Khon Kaen University, Khon Kaen, Thailand
Full Paper (PDF File: 161KB)
Abstract
The
Northeast Region comprises approximately one-third of the total area of
Thailand, and about 17 million people or about one-third of the total
population. Fanners practice a subsistence type of agriculture that is
dominated by rainfed, rice-based cropping systems. Agricultural production and
per capita income from agriculture are the lowest in the country. This can be
attributed to a number of factors including marginal, infertile, and sandy
soils; erratic and inadequate rainfall; lack of irrigation development;
obsolete farming methods; lack of mixed cropping; low quality livestock; and
unstable market conditions. Collectively, these pose, major problems to any
attempts at rehabilitation of the Northeast. A logical starting place is to
initiate research and demonstration programs to improve soil productivity and
farming methods. The key to improving soil productivity is through regular
additions of organic amendments. This would help to overcome the extreme soil
chemical and physical properties that now contribute to low crop yields.