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Effects of rainwater harvesting systems on soil moisture and rubber production in Khon Kaen Province |
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| รหัสดีโอไอ | |
| Creator | Kewaree Pholkern |
| Title | Effects of rainwater harvesting systems on soil moisture and rubber production in Khon Kaen Province |
| Contributor | Pailin Phiphatphuttiphaisan |
| Publisher | Faculty of Agriculture |
| Publication Year | 2569 |
| Journal Title | Khon Kaen Agriculture Journal |
| Journal Vol. | 54 |
| Journal No. | 5 |
| Page no. | 1313-1330 |
| Keyword | rainwater harvesting, available water capacity, channel-rainwater harvesting system, latex production, permanent wilting point |
| URL Website | https://li01.tci-thaijo.org/index.php/agkasetkaj |
| Website title | Khon Kaen Agriculture Journal |
| ISSN | 3027-6497 (Online) |
| Abstract | Natural rubber is an economically important crop in Thailand. The northeastern region accounts for approximately 24% of the country's rubber plantation area but receives an average annual rainfall of only 1,393 mm, which is below the optimum requirement for rubber cultivation. Therefore, effective rainwater management is essential to maximize water availability and sustain rubber productivity. This study aimed to evaluate the effects of a trench-based rainwater harvesting system on soil moisture dynamics and rubber yield in Khon Kaen Province, northeastern Thailand. The experiment was arranged factorial in a completely randomized design. The total study area was 11.23 rai, consisting of 4 treatments: none-rainwater harvesting in lowland (NRL) and upland (NRU) positions, covering 4.45 rai, and channel rainwater harvesting in lowland (CRL) and upland (CRU) positions, covering 6.78 rai. The rainwater harvesting system consisted of 44 channels, each measuring 1 m wide, 10 m long, and 0.8 m deep. Soil samples were collected monthly over a 12-month period (September 2024 to August 2025) at four representative depths corresponding to four soil layers: 25 (0–50 cm), 65 (50–80 cm), 110 (80–120 cm), and 140 cm (120–150 cm). Rubber latex yield data were compiled for 4 consecutive years (2021–2024). The results showed that soil moisture closely followed rainfall patterns, with higher rainfall resulting in increased soil moisture. The surface soil layer (0–50 cm) exhibited the most rapid response to rainfall fluctuations. Slope position had no significant effect on soil moisture. Soil moisture in the NR area remained below 50% of the available water capacity (AWC) for an average of 4.81 months, whereas that in the CR area remained below this threshold for only 2.08 months a statistically significant reduction. Annual rubber latex yield in the CR area (278.61–572.71 kg/rai/year) was significantly higher than that in the NR area (216.63–449.44 kg/rai/year), with increases ranging from 3.08% to 51.21% (mean 24.05%). These findings demonstrate that the channel rainwater harvesting system increased plant-available soil moisture during the dry season, alleviated drought stress in rubber trees, and significantly improved latex yield under the rainfall-limited conditions of Khon Kaen province Thailand. |
