“To be a successful farmer, you must first know the nature of the soil.”
Thai Roong Ruang Sugar Group | Phitsanulok, Thailand
This project supports organic sugarcane growers in Phitsanulok, Thailand, in their efforts to increase yield and extend the productive lifespan of their crop. A key focus is empowering farmers with the knowledge and skills to analyze microorganisms using microscopy and training them to refine their biological inoculants for improved effectiveness.
Additionally, the project aims to help the team implement strategies to reduce compaction, upgrade their equipment for producing and applying liquid bio-blends, and adopt regenerative soil health practices such as cover cropping, maintaining living roots, minimizing tillage, and preserving ground cover.
Enhance sugarcane yield, extend crop lifecycles, and reduce weed pressure for organic growers in Phitsanulok through improved biological amendments and regenerative practices.
Check out this interview article with the project’s lead: Sweet Sustainability - The 5-year journey of ‘Lin Organic Cane Sugar’: over a thousand rai of land cultivated without burning or chemicals, aiming to improve the quality of life for sugarcane farmers.
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January 2024 - January 2026
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Sugarcane
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40 rai (15.8 ac.) - organic section. The rest of the farm is managed industrially.
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Low crop yield
High weed pressure
Highly compacted soil
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🐂 Built six compost piles (hand-made & windrows) using farm-sourced materials.
🌱 Launched ongoing trials of compost and bioliquid recipes.
💧Upgraded their liquid bio-delivery system, paired with targeted root-zone irrigation.
🌾 Reduced soil disturbance with cover crops and decreased tillage.
🔬 Advanced their microscopy to track the quality of their amendments in real-time. -
There is a need to identify strategies that will reduce labour and effort in incorporating the new practice while concurrently ensuring superior results.
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• Field observations.
• Testing of each compost pile and seasonal soil testing for the biological community by the farm team.
• Soil chemistry tests from a local lab.
Farming that feeds the soil. Sugarcane field. Image provided by the farm team.
One of the main practices was to eliminate tillage as much as possible to provide adequate soil coverage. Image provided by the farm team.
Compost closeup. Image provided by the farm team.
Pre-assembled windrow. Image provided by the farm team.
Compost windrow closeup. Image provided by the farm team.
Irrigation line along the top of the compost windrow to maintain sufficient moisture and keep the biology happy. Image provided by the farm team.
Post assembly with a Backhus turner. Image provided by the farm team.
Irrigation lines delivering the farm's custom-made liquid bio-blends. Image provided by the farm team.
Nodules on mung bean roots. Image provided by the farm team.
Upgraded liquid bio-delivery system, paired with targeted root-zone irrigation. Image provided by the farm team.