Improved <strong>fallow</strong> <strong>systems</strong> <strong>in</strong> <strong>the</strong> Luang Prabang <strong>area</strong>, Lao PDR – an analysis based on farmer experiencesIntroductionSoil degradation through leach<strong>in</strong>g of nutrients and an <strong>in</strong>crease <strong>in</strong> weeds and pests lead<strong>in</strong>g toyield losses are <strong>the</strong> results of shorter <strong>fallow</strong> periods. The farmers face a future of <strong>in</strong>creas<strong>in</strong>gpoverty and uncerta<strong>in</strong>ty (Sodarak 1996).Improved <strong>fallow</strong>There are a number of methods to make land less exposed to degradation and make it moreprofitable for <strong>the</strong> farmer. Examples of <strong>the</strong>se are alley cropp<strong>in</strong>g, rice terraces and differentagricultural comb<strong>in</strong>ations of trees, crops and pasture (LSFP 1999). Although many of <strong>the</strong>sedef<strong>in</strong>itely could improve <strong>the</strong> situation <strong>in</strong> upland Laos, <strong>the</strong>y are often not suited for immediate<strong>in</strong>troduction. Many methods are very labour <strong>in</strong>tensive at <strong>the</strong> implementation stage and are simplyimpossible for farmers to use without massive outside help. Availability of fertilisers is very limiteddue to lack of <strong>in</strong>fra structure and money, which is ano<strong>the</strong>r problem when plann<strong>in</strong>g for <strong>systems</strong>with more permanent cropp<strong>in</strong>g.A good way to stabilise <strong>the</strong> situation would be to improve <strong>the</strong> rotational shift<strong>in</strong>g cultivation systemalready <strong>in</strong> use. One way of do<strong>in</strong>g this is to make <strong>the</strong> shorter <strong>fallow</strong> period more effective.Hopefully this would not mean too much extra work and could be used <strong>in</strong> all <strong>area</strong>s of shift<strong>in</strong>gcultivation. The idea of <strong>improved</strong> <strong>fallow</strong> is to m<strong>in</strong>imise <strong>the</strong> yield losses caused by shortened <strong>fallow</strong>periods. Alternatively, <strong>improved</strong> <strong>fallow</strong> could give <strong>in</strong>creased yields after normal length of <strong>fallow</strong>.Burn<strong>in</strong>g of <strong>the</strong> <strong>fallow</strong> returns most of <strong>the</strong> nutrients, such as P. K and Ca <strong>in</strong> <strong>the</strong> ash and most of<strong>the</strong> organic matter as charcoal. The ma<strong>in</strong> nutrient lost <strong>in</strong> <strong>the</strong> burn<strong>in</strong>g process is N (Read<strong>in</strong>g et al.1995. Fujisaka 1991). In an <strong>improved</strong> <strong>fallow</strong>, <strong>the</strong> vegetation should yield higher levels of N andaccumulate more organic matter than <strong>the</strong> natural <strong>fallow</strong> it replaces (CIA No. 16). Legum<strong>in</strong>oustrees and shrubs accumulate N <strong>in</strong> <strong>the</strong> soil <strong>in</strong> two ways. First <strong>the</strong> legumes fix atmospheric Nthrough symbiotic association with rhizobium bacteria, and secondly, <strong>the</strong>y take up deeply locatedN <strong>in</strong>accessible to conventional crops (Rao et al. 1998). Many species are also fast grow<strong>in</strong>g,which means quick accumulation of biomass, more competition aga<strong>in</strong>st weeds and better erosionprotection.Studied projectsThe Shift<strong>in</strong>g Cultivation Research ProjectThe SCRP <strong>in</strong> Luang Prabang prov<strong>in</strong>ce was established <strong>in</strong> 1989. It is a part of <strong>the</strong> Lao-SwedishForestry Programme, which is implemented by <strong>the</strong> Department of Forestry with support fromSida. Up to 1995 <strong>the</strong> project used a wide comb<strong>in</strong>ation of research, tra<strong>in</strong><strong>in</strong>g and practicaldevelopment <strong>in</strong> <strong>the</strong> fields of forestry, crop production, horticulture and animal husbandry. Later(1996 – 1999) <strong>the</strong> project concentrated more on applied research, aim<strong>in</strong>g to f<strong>in</strong>d methods forsusta<strong>in</strong>able and productive land use <strong>in</strong> <strong>the</strong> uplands (Sodarak et al. 1998).In 1992 <strong>the</strong> SCRP <strong>in</strong>itiated a number of on-farm experiments with <strong>improved</strong> <strong>fallow</strong> <strong>in</strong> villagesclose to <strong>the</strong> Thong Khang research station, some 70 km south of Luang Prabang City. Thespecies used were legum<strong>in</strong>ous: such as Leucaena (Leucaena leucocephala) and Pigeon pea(Cajanus cajan) and some pasture grasses, such as varieties of Stylo. These species were usedtoge<strong>the</strong>r with upland rice <strong>in</strong> different crop <strong>systems</strong>, ma<strong>in</strong>ly for one or two years. and <strong>the</strong>n left to<strong>fallow</strong> for a number of years until <strong>the</strong> next rice crop.After 1992 little or no follow-up has been done on <strong>the</strong>se experiments, so <strong>the</strong> adaptation andperformance of <strong>the</strong> <strong>systems</strong> has been unknown, but is of great <strong>in</strong>terest to ongo<strong>in</strong>gexperimentation <strong>in</strong> <strong>the</strong> field.IMPROVED FALLOW SYSTEMS IN THE LUANG PRABANG AREA, LAO PDR - AN ANALYSIS BASED ON FARMEREXPERIENCES.20040940 3
Improved <strong>fallow</strong> <strong>systems</strong> <strong>in</strong> <strong>the</strong> Luang Prabang <strong>area</strong>, Lao PDR – an analysis based on farmer experiencesIntroductionFAO/UNDP Program LA0/82/006This project became operational <strong>in</strong> 1985 and was concluded <strong>in</strong> 1989. The ma<strong>in</strong> objectives wereto plan and implement a tra<strong>in</strong><strong>in</strong>g, demonstration and development program <strong>in</strong> <strong>improved</strong> land use,watershed management and community forestry (FAO 1991). The project demonstratedtechniques such as terrac<strong>in</strong>g, plantations of fruit trees and plantations of fast grow<strong>in</strong>g, N-fix<strong>in</strong>gtrees, ma<strong>in</strong>ly Leucaena.The demonstration plots could, if used for cropp<strong>in</strong>g s<strong>in</strong>ce <strong>the</strong> establishment of Leucaena, give<strong>in</strong>formation on <strong>the</strong> performance of a Leucaena <strong>fallow</strong>. The FAO/UNDP plots are ma<strong>in</strong>ly with<strong>in</strong> tenor so kilometres from Luang, Prabang City.Villages <strong>in</strong> this study are ma<strong>in</strong>ly Lao Theung or Lao Sung villages, or a mix of <strong>the</strong>se ethnicgroups. They are generally very poor and depend entirely on <strong>the</strong>ir rice crops.Study objectiveThis study's aim is to f<strong>in</strong>d out what happened to <strong>the</strong> experiment plots <strong>in</strong> <strong>the</strong> 1992 SCRP and 1985FAO/UNDP projects: How was <strong>the</strong> experiment implemented? How were yields affected? Whatare <strong>the</strong> farmers' op<strong>in</strong>ions on <strong>the</strong> experimentation? From this it should be possible to drawconclusions on what <strong>systems</strong> and <strong>fallow</strong> species could be of <strong>in</strong>terest <strong>in</strong> <strong>the</strong> future.IMPROVED FALLOW SYSTEMS IN THE LUANG PRABANG AREA, LAO PDR - AN ANALYSIS BASED ON FARMEREXPERIENCES.20040940 4
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