Rehabilitation of salt affected lands in Northeast Thailand

This paper reviews the characteristics, area distribution, causes of salinization, existing native vegetation, effects of salinity on plant growth and distribution, as well as on surrounding environments and their ameliorating trials of salt affected lands in Northeast Thailand. An alternative approach for the rehabilitation of these degraded lands in the region is proposed and discussed. An agroforestry pattern, namely “agro-sylvo-hydrogeological system” is suggested to be the most appropriate strategy for the rehabilitation of the salt affected lands in this particular region. Further study and research in this challenging field is encouraged in order to discover the most effective and applicable method for this region. Used in conjunction with the available techniques already adopted by the Land Development Department of Thailand, these newly developed methods should be successful in rehabilitating the degraded lands.