Land Degradation

[IsaanAussie]

The following thread should be read by all.

http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/434093-environment-report-paints-bleak-picture-for-thailand/

This position doesnt surprise me at all, I only have to look at the lifeless soil we have. So I ask for comments on what each of us can, have done or will do about it.

Isaan Aussie

[WatersEdge]

Hi IsaanAussie

It's one of the many joys of my life to watch stark starved depleted soil bounce back.

In the case of my house yard, building Bentonite fill clay to lively productivity

Nothing difficult about it,

just common sense on all fronts brought together into a soil solution.

1. Prevent Fire from anywhere near the field

2. Grow the maximum amount of Green Manure to slash and rot

any green growth qualifies, so "weeds" aren't necessarily undesirable.

Some of my problems from the pit turned out to be assets to the farm.

3. Import all available cheap or free plant matter to overlay and plow under

I bring bean straw, rice hull, coconut husk, anything that no one else wants,

in as large a volume as time and money permit.

4. Encourage Earthworms to make a good life,

because they will pull value under the surface

as quickly as you spread it topside.

5. Water Retention doubles as Runoff Elimination triples as Erosion Prevention.

6. Soil Amendment such as Charcoal, Gypsum, Lime or Sulfur as pH adjustment up or down as necessary

7. Crop rotation between

short season shallow root and

long season deep root plants

This keeps the pests guessing

and recovers nutrients that have leached below the root zone of short season shallow crops.

8. Trees planted in any place that is a problem to cultivate.

Cover steep inclines, ditch banks, problem corners in trees trees trees.

Trees are overlooked because they require forward planning and delayed gratification.

Short in supply here, therefore the advantages are not realized in full potential

Trees provide living conditions for bees which are a tremendous asset in crop pollenation.

They also invite birds which wipe out amazingly large portions of the insect pest population

Owl and Sparrow Hawk will also keep the rodent population honest.

This beneficial wildlife all depend on trees, trees trees.

While I'm not a tree hugger

in the sense of a home made religion of not cutting a tree for any reason ever,

there is strong reason to cultivate them

as an asset to the overall well being of the farm.

Choosing productive trees is all the smarter, gaining a crop as you nurture wildlife.

Workers love to ravage any wildlife in your trees,

so you have to kick the hunter gatherers in the teeth.

I make it 100% clear to laborers that quail, owls, hawks, bees are

totally off limits for lunch hour slingshot hunting expeditions.

Trap all the rats, eat all the snakes, munch on all the weed greens you like.

But don't so much as look at a praying mantis or a lady bug.

[GarryP]

Very interesting post, but I would make the snakes off limits too. They are excellent for rodent control.