http://www.fao.org/globalsoilpartnership This presentation was made during the Asian Soil Partnership workshop that took place in Bangkok, Thailand 13-15 May 2015. This presentation was made by Kouang DOUANGSILA , Nivong S, Kongkeo, and it presents Paper on Asian Soil Partnership Consultation Workshop on Sustainable Management and Protection of Soil Resources. ©FAO: http://www.fao.org

1. Paper on Asian Soil Partnership
Consultation Workshop on Sustainable
Management and Protection of Soil
Resources
Kouang DOUANGSILA , Nivong S, Kongkeo Ph
Department of Agricultural Land Management (DALaM),
Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry (MAF )
P.O.Box: 4195, Vientiane Capital, Lao PDR.
13-15 May 2015, Bangkok

2. Contents
I. Introduction
II. Status of soil resources in the country
III. Main issues and soil threats
IV. Ongoing activities need and National priority

3. I. Introduction
• Land typology
Forestry
land (ha),
16,480
Agricultural
land (ha),
4,500
Other land
(ha), 2,700

5. I. Introduction (cont..)
• Agricultural land
Agricultural land occupies approximately 19 percent of the total area.
Typology of agricultural land
• PLains , Vallee, and Plateau
The Borlaven plateau – old volcanic
inactivity that valuable nutrients,
soils here are typically well structured,
highly fertile, with good water holding
capacity, and responsive to fertilisers
Used
2.51 Million ha
For extension
2.01 Million ha

6. Introduction (cont)
• The climate change mitigation policy of the Lao Government is the
intensification of agricultural land use in favourable areas so that the forested
area can be increased from the current 43% to 70% of the national territory by
2020
• The main mandate of Department of Agricultural Land Management (DALaM) is
mainly focused on Agricultural Land and associated with three approaches :.
Land use planning
Land conservation &
development
And land management
• Environment characteristic
• National socio-economic
development strategy
• Strict reservation a land for
agriculture
• Amelioration soil fertility
• Enforcement

7. II. Status of the soil resources in Lao PDR
Agricultural production system in the country is
constrained by many factors:
 insufficient rainfall distribution
 Pest damage are major
constraints
 Soil problems
Rainfall distribution is irregular causes low soil water
holding capacity and high weathered, low soil fertility,
low productivity .

8. »low water holding capacity,
»Acidic soil/low soil pH,
»low soil organic matter content,
»low cation exchange capacity,
»and generally low soil nutrients content.
» Associated a social and natural
implications (poverty, famine, climate
change etc.).
II. Status of the soil resources in Lao PDR (con’t)

9. III. Main issues and soil threats
• Soil is a life, its health and contribution to food
security and development goals
• Land degradation not only reduces soil fertility
and lowers crop yields, but can lead to higher
carbon emissions that contribute to climate
change due to improper farming practices
Poor crop establishment
Severe erosion depleted soil
nutrient & structure

10. 1
Tillering in slopping areas

11. Uplands: Maize based cropping systems
 Land degradation in the South of Xayabury Province
40% loss of carbon stocks at 0 – 20 depth
CULTIVATED SOIL
NATIVE SOIL
USE OF HEAVY MECHANIZATION
SOIL EROSION DUE BY PLOUGHING

12. IV. Ongoing activities and support need
• Conservation
Agricultural Land
– Organic matter and
inorganic fertilizers are
combined to improve a
soil quality (humus),
healthy product and
environment friendly
– Conservation
Agriculture (CA)
• Innovative technology
– System research on
integrated soil fertility
– Use geographic
information system for
crop modeling
– Get financial support
(to train staff, soil
Laboratory equipment
to cover the high cost of
ISO certification, etc)