Role of Legumes in Improving Soil Fertility and Increasing Crop Productivity in Northeast Thailand

Northeast Thailand constitutes one-third of total area of the whole country and one-third of the total population live in this region. The income of the majority of the people living here is below half of the national average mainly due to low agricultural production and productivity. The low agricultural productivity of the northeast region compared to other regions of Thailand is attributed mainly to erratic rainfall, water shortage during the dry season, undulating terrain and poor and marginal soils. The soils in the region are mostly sandy in texture with low soil moisture holding capacity. The soils are also very low in organic matter and low in general fertility