Alley Farming in Thailand

Elizabeth Adebola Ogunlana,Athapol Noomhorm,Teerapol Silakul

doi:10.3390/su2082523

Elizabeth Adebola Ogunlana, Athapol Noomhorm + Show 1 more

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.3390/su2082523

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Abstract

Poverty alleviation and environmental preservation are very important issues to many governments. Alley farming is beneficial to the environment because it conserves soil and sustains yields over time. Specifically, alley farming reduces soil erosion, which is a major problem in Thailand. Alley farming was conducted on a farmer’s field at Khaokwan Thong, a village in Uthaithani Province, Northern Thailand. We did a two-by-two factorial with and without alley farming, and with and without fertilizer. From this study, we observed that the two species used, Leucaena leucocephala and Acacia auriculiformis, grow well in Thailand, and that alley farming is suitable for Thailand. Few Thai farmers have heard about alley farming. However, it is nevertheless useful to know that there is potential for alley farming in Thailand using the two species. These plants, based upon the diameter and height measurements provided, grew well.

Highlights

The predominant feature of the Thai rural sector was small scale subsistence farming meant to provide for family consumption, in which many Thai farmers engaged in shifting cultivation
Thai farmers changed to permanent field cultivation or decreased the fallow period
In order to reduce the problem of soil erosion affecting farmers in Thailand [1], and achieve sustainability in agricultural productivity, alley farming was introduced, though on a small scale, in Thailand

Summary

Introduction

The predominant feature of the Thai rural sector was small scale subsistence farming meant to provide for family consumption, in which many Thai farmers engaged in shifting cultivation.Surplus crops were used for trade by barter, or for tribute to the local elite. The predominant feature of the Thai rural sector was small scale subsistence farming meant to provide for family consumption, in which many Thai farmers engaged in shifting cultivation. A large farming population created a shortage of land for shifting cultivation. Rapid deterioration of soil structure, soil erosion, flooding, and declining productivity constitute major problems for agricultural productivity and cause rural poverty. In order to reduce the problem of soil erosion affecting farmers in Thailand [1], and achieve sustainability in agricultural productivity, alley farming was introduced, though on a small scale, in Thailand. Few farmers in Chiang Dao in Chiang Mai and Doi Tung in Chiang Rai have engaged in alley farming [2]. In Chiang Mai, hilltribe farmers, who cultivate sloping lands, adopted alley farming

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