Improving the Sustainability of Rice Cultivation in Central Thailand with Biofertilizers and Laser Land Leveling

Rice production in the Central Plains of Thailand plays a key role country’s food security. However, overuse inputs coupled with rising costs are making it increasingly difficult for smallholder rice farming to remain economically and environmentally sustainable. Replicated production-scale field trials Cost Reduction Operating Principles (CROP)—Thailand’s national package best management practices production—were established tandem laser land leveling (LLL), mechanical drum seeder, application two biofertilizer products (i.e., PGPR II, that contains Azospirillum brasilense Sp. TS29 Burkholderia vietnamiensis S45; LDD #12, Azotobacter tropicalis, unamae Bacillus subtilis) compared farmer’s (FP). Performance indicators (PI) promoted by Sustainable Platform (SRP) were used assess economic environmental indicators. CROP + had significantly higher net income (79%) nitrogen-use efficiency (57%) FP. Pesticide use (28%), seed (60%), inorganic fertilizer N (41%) total (19%) reduced all treatments These results demonstrate CROP, LLL, biofertilizers can substantially improve sustainability Thailand.