Soil and Water Quality Indicators of Diversified Farming Systems in a Saline Region of the Mekong Delta, Vietnam

Lam Van Tan, Thanh Tran and Ho Huu Loc
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Lam Van Tan: Department of Soil Science, College of Agriculture, Can Tho University, 3/2 Street, Ninh Kieu District, Can Tho City 900000, Vietnam
Thanh Tran: NTT Hi-Tech Institute, Nguyen Tat Thanh University, 300A Nguyen Tat Thanh, Ward 13, District 4, Ho Chi Minh City 70000, Vietnam
Ho Huu Loc: National Institute of Education, Nanyang Technological University, Singapore 637616, Singapore

Agriculture, 2020, vol. 10, issue 2, 1-16

Abstract: Saltwater intrusion, a consequence of climate change and decreased water levels, has been increasingly severe in the Mekong Delta region. Thanh Phu District, Ben Tre Province, Vietnam, is a coastal region where agricultural production and local livelihood have been impaired by saltwater intrusion, resulting in the adoption of multiple coping strategies, including rotations and intercropping. This study aims to measure and evaluate soil and water quality indicators of multiple farming systems in Thanh Phu district and contributes to developing suitable cropping patterns. Soil indicators were pH, electrical conductivity, and exchangeable Na + . Water quality characteristics include pH, salinity, dissolved N and P, alkalinity, H 2 S, and chemical oxygen demand (COD). The results indicated that water pH and salinity were at suitable levels to support the growth of prawn but were below the critical level required to grow black tiger shrimp and white-legged shrimp. Water alkalinity, dissolved N, P, and COD were not constraining for the growth of shrimps. However, a significant concentration of H 2 S may cause disadvantages for shrimp growth.

Keywords: blue prawn; black tiger shrimp; economic efficiency; farming systems; salinity intrusion; soil salinity; white-legged shrimp (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: Q1 Q10 Q11 Q12 Q13 Q14 Q15 Q16 Q17 Q18 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2020
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (6)

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