The research questions

• What intrinsic properties of tropical sandy soils are affected by changed land use that, have a significant impact on the productivity of production systems?
• Cation exchange capacity is a fundamental property of soils that is influenced by changed land use. What is the degree of change in tropical sandy soils and can these changes be reversed?
• Can these innovative approaches help reverse land degradation and increase water productivity?

Objectives

• Quantification of chemical and physical degradation associated with changed land use
• Assessment of a range of interventions in the remediation of chemical and physical degradation
• Quantification of the impact of selected plant species on soil remediation
• Promotion of clay based interventions amongst farmer networks through participatory on farm assessments
• Develop inexpensive methodologies for testing soil physical properties associated with degradation, which can be used to understand mechanisms behind degradation and remediation.

Methods

There were effectively several studies undertaken in the Northeast of Thailand. The studies involved the establishment of controlled field trials using standard agronomic practices, laboratory based studies and analysis and the establishment of farmer based field assessment studies conducted with local farmer networks in the Northeast.

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