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Inland dry season saline intrusion in the Vietnamese Mekong River Delta is driving the identification and implementation of alternative crops to rice
Journal article   Open access   Peer reviewed

Inland dry season saline intrusion in the Vietnamese Mekong River Delta is driving the identification and implementation of alternative crops to rice

Brooke Kaveney, Edward Barrett-Lennard, Khoi Chau Minh, Minh Dang Duy, Kim Phuong Nguyen Thi, Paul Kristiansen, Susan Orgill, Ben Stewart-Koster and Jason Condon
Agricultural systems, Vol.207, 103632
2023
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.agsy.2023.103632
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Published4.41 MBDownloadView
CC BY V4.0,  Open Access

Abstract

Alternative crops and management practices need to be identified to provide farmers with options to supplement the loss of rice income Combining alternative crops and management practices provide farmers with production options for saline affected areas during the dry season Inland saline intrusion is causing substantial rice losses during the dry season of the Mekong River Delta, Vietnam Management practices including mulching, raised beds and soil water monitoring can decrease salinity stress and improve water use efficiency Numerous biophysical, environmental, and socioeconomic factors are identified that help determine an alternative crops suitability
CONTEXT Inland saline intrusion is occurring during the dry season in the Mekong River Delta (MRD), Vietnam. Rising sea levels, tidal fluctuations, drought, and changes to upstream flow contribute to extensive salinisation of rice producing areas of the MRD, leading to substantial rice crop losses. OBJECTIVE The identification, evaluation and implementation of alternative crop and soil management solutions are required to complement on-going rice production in the region. METHODS A review of scientific and grey literature was conducted regarding the nature and extent of salinisation in the MRD and the adoption and management of alternative crops to rice. RESULTS Familiar crops in Vietnam (e.g., maize, soybean), as well as novel crops to the MRD (e.g., quinoa, cowpea) were explored as potential options to replace dry season rice. Management options including surface soil mulches and plastic coverings help maintain soil moisture and reduce salinity damage to plants, and the use of drainage and seed preparation techniques can improve plant establishment and yield. Factors contributing to the success of alternative crops include salt tolerance, timing and efficiency of water use, ability to grow in the dry growing season, tolerance to pests and diseases, labour intensiveness and the crops' marketability. SIGNIFICANCE The identification of suitable alternative crops to replace dry season rice in saline affected areas of the MRD, combined with management practices like mulching and soil moisture monitoring, could provide farmers with income opportunities to offset rice losses. Documenting the factors contributing to successful crop diversification can assist with decision-making and support initiatives among farmers, agribusiness, and government agencies. [Display omitted]

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Source: InCites

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2 File views/ downloads
101 Record Views
22 Times Cited - Web of Science

InCites Highlights

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Collaboration types
Domestic collaboration
International collaboration
Citation topics
3 Agriculture, Environment & Ecology
3.4 Crop Science
3.4.49 Plant Stress Responses
Web Of Science research areas
Agriculture, Multidisciplinary
ESI research areas
Agricultural Sciences
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