Ms Intan Nadhirah Masri, MARDI, Malaysia. Global Symposium on Soil Erosion (GSER19), 15 - 17 May 2019 at FAO HQ.

1. The Potential of Goji Berry Tree
to Control Soil Erosion in
Cameron Highlands, Malaysia
Intan Nadhirah Masri
MARDI, Malaysia
1

2. Researcher
background
• Mrs. Intan Nadhirah Masri
• Bsc. Agricultural Science
(Universiti Putra Malaysia)
• Researcher in Malaysian
Agricultural Research &
Development Institute (MARDI)
• 2011-now
• Soil erosion & conservation
• Enriched vermicompost
2

3. 3
INTRODUCTION
• Cameron Highlands, Malaysia

4. Introduction
4
• 90% vegetables and flowers
in Malaysia comes form
Cameron Highlands
• agricultural activities
contributed to the
degradation of the highland’s
environment
https://easytraveltransport.com/kea-farm-
market/ (25/04/2019)

5. 5
• Sedimentation
• caused reduction in volume and flow competency of the
local hydroelectric dam.
• total accumulation of soil sediment at the load
catchment area of Sultan Abu Bakar Hydroelectric Dam
in Ringlet was 500,000 m3/yr.
• reduced the reservoir’s capability to store water from
the original depth of 23-28 m to only 6-9 m.

6. 6
• Unfortunately, the soil erosion and the subsequent
sedimentation of water bodies in Cameron Highlands are
frequently aggravated by the excessive seasonal rainfall.

7. 7
Study to minimize soil erosion
• Objective:
• evaluate Goji berry tree (Lycium chinense) and its
planting arrangement to minimise soil erosion in
vegetable farm

8. 8
(Top left) GB's roots close-up. (Bottom left) GB
roots dug out from soil after 3 years. (Right) One
year old GB’s roots. SOILS 2015 Proceedings,
p.117-120

9. 9
Methodology
• Location of study in
MARDI Cameron
Highlands
• Erosion study plot
consisted of 8
subplots measuring
2.5m x 11.0 m
(27.5m2) and
subplots were
separated by brick
walls of 30 cm height Erosion study plot in MARDI Cameron Highlands, Malaysia

10. • Tanah Rata series, which
has been classified as an
Aeric Ultic Troaquod, which
is loamy, siliceous and
isothermic (USDA)
• Soil loss and surface runoff
from the study was
accounted using stilling
basin and tipping bucket
system
10

11. 11

12. Soil loss determination
• For suspended load (SL), the stilling basin
from each subplot was cautiously stir using
glass rod at 10cm depth. Water samples at
10cm depth were collected using 25ml
pipette and transferred into small plastic
container. These samples were taken to
the lab and poured into empty crucible
(w0) and placed in the oven at 105oC for 24
hours. After 24 hours has passed, the
crucible weight was recorded in gram (w1).
12

13. • Bed load (BL) was collected by
removing water from sediment
collected in the stilling basin and
weigh the whole amount. Total
soil loss (L) from the subplot is:
13

14. Runoff
• Runoff from the subplot was measured
using tipping bucket installed at the water
outlet from the stilling basin.
• The tipping bucket is connected to a
counter meter where every tip will raise
the number in the counter meter and
each tip will represent an average volume
of 2.6 litre of runoff.
• Every sampling time, the number of
tips was recorded and multiplied with the
average volume of runoff.
14

15. 15
• Treatments
• No of row and arrangement on study plot
Top left: two rows of GB at the bottom of the plot at early stage; top middle: four rows of GB at the bottom of the plot and top right: 2 rows of GB at both sides of the plot (flow
pathway).
Bottom left, middle and right: Matured, ready to harvest GB shoots

16. 16
Results
• Soil loss

17. 17
Results
• Runoff

18. 18
Discussion
• Intercropping GB trees in the subplot resulted in less runoff
and soil loss compared to subplot with no GB trees.
• In order to quantify a lesser soil lost, different arrangement
of the trees must be employed. For example, by having GB
trees cultivated on the flow pathways, the velocity of
surface water was slower and resulted in lowest amount of
soil loss.
• The pathways were acting as a sediment storage sites,
trapping much sediments that were being transported by
the runoff. Therefore, a proper arrangement of vegetation
could reduce surface runoff and soil loss in sloppy
agricultural lands.

19. Conclusion
• Goji berry trees have the potential to reduce soil erosion on
sloping farms in Cameron Highlands.
• However, the best planting arrangement of the tree need to
be quantified so that the most effective overall reduction of
soil loss and surface runoff could be achieved.
• A large-scale and a long-term study should be investigated.
This is to observe the plant (GB) effectiveness in minimizing
the soil loss and runoff in large-scale areas.
• As it is, our study indicated that GB tree could be used to
reduce sedimentation problems in the rivers and dams in
Cameron Highlands.
19

20. Acknowledgement
• The authors wish to thank the Ministry of Science and Technology of
Malaysia for funding this project through Sciencefund Research Grant,
Director General of MARDI for his permission to publish the paper. The
assistance rendered by Noor Haslizawati Abu Bakar, Mat Ti Othman,
Mohamad Fakhri Musa, Mohd Isa Ariffin, Mohd Salman Salehuddin,
Gopi Managarai, Sef Belangok and Jamaludin Lan are greatly
appreciated.
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21. 21
References
• Bernama, 2013. Tasik Ringlet makin tenat, 60%
dipenuhi mendapan.
• URL http://www.sinarharian.com.my/rencana/tasik-
ringlet-makin-tenat-60-dipenuhi-mendapan-1.217847
• Hashim, G. M. (2003). Managing soil erosion and
nutrient depletion. MARDI, Serdang.
• Hudson, N. W. (1993). Food and Agriculture
Organization of The United Nations. Retrieved
November 9, 2015, from FAO Corporate Document
Repository:
http://www.fao.org/docrep/t0848e/t0848e-
08.htm#P877_79066
• Lim, J. S., Chan, Y. K., & Loh, K. F. (1987). Soils on
Steep Land in Penisular Malaysia. Proceedings of the
International Conference on Steepland Agriculture in
the Humid Tropics (pp. 93-129). Kuala Lumpur:
MARDI
• Ong, H. C. 2011. Sayuran Khasiat Makanan & Ubatan
2. Utusan Kuala Lumpur: Publications and
Distributors.
• November 9, 2015, from Sinar Online:
http://www.sinarharian.com.my/rencana/tasik-
ringlet-makin-tenat-60-dipenuhi-mendapan-
1.217847
• Wan Abdullah, W. Y., Aminuddin, B. Y., Salama, R. B.,
Cheah, U. B., Jamaluddin, J., & Osman, G. (2001). Site
description and project field activities in the Cameron
Highlands. Agrochemical Pollution of Water
Resources (p 3-9). Canberra
• Wan Abdullah, W. Y., S., A., & A.R, A. (2003). Design of
Demonstration Plots and Their Equipment for
Measurement of Runoff and Sediment
Quantification. Malaysian Journal of Soil Science, 1-8.
• Waters, T. F. (1995). Sediment in streams: sources,
biological effects, and control. American Fisheries
Society, Monograph 7, Bethesda, Maryland.

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Questions & Answers & Suggestions
• intannadhirah@mardi.gov.my
• intannadhirah@hotmail.com
• Intan Nadhirah Masri
THANK YOU