Understanding soil health in cassava based cropping systems in Laos

April 24, 2025

A three-day training workshop titled ‘Soil sample collection for nutrient analysis to understand soil health in cassava-based cropping systems (and other upland cropping systems)’ was recently held in Vientiene, Laos.

Supported by the Crawford Fund Western Australia Committee, the workshop included a series of lectures, and hands-on field work techniques, all in the context of understanding cassava based cropping systems and other upland cropping systems.

“The training emphasised concepts and techniques for soil sample collection within cassava-based cropping systems and other upland cropping systems. It comprised a combination of lectures, practical sessions, discussions, and visits to laboratories and research stations, where participants could observe various techniques in practice and engage in critiques and discussions of existing data,” said workshop convenor Dr Al Imran Malik, scientist at the Alliance of Bioversity International and CIAT, Asia.

The workshop was presented by staff from Murdoch University, WA’s Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development (DPIRD), the International Center for Tropical Agriculture (CIAT) Asia and the National Agricultural and Forestry Research Institute (NAFRI) in Laos.

Two practical sessions in the field demonstrated simple soil description on a soil profile and soil sample strategy. Participants then made their own mini pit and completed a description which was presented by participants and discussed.

There were 21 scientists involved in the workshop, comprising:

• 15 from Laos representing the National Agriculture and Forestry Research Institute (NAFRI), Center of Environmental Excellency, the Faculty of Agriculture at the National University of Laos (NoUL) and DaLAM);
• one from the International Center for Tropical Agriculture (CIAT);
• three from Cambodia representing the General Directorate of Agriculture (GDA) and CIAT; and,
• two from the Hungloc Agricultural Research Center (HARC) in Vietnam.

“Discussions and team-work during the workshop have strengthened the relationships of staff across Australia, Laos, Vietnam and Cambodia and the important agricultural research organisations they represented at the event,” said Imran.

The training highlighted collaborative efforts between the ACIAR projects SLAM/2022/103 working in Cambodia and CROP/2022/110 which is working in the Mekong region (Laos,  Cambodia and Vietnam).

“From the perspective of the ACIAR projects, researchers have undergone training in soil characterisation and interpretation. This training encompassed methodologies for soil sampling related to site selection and experimentation, highlighting the importance of consistency in sampling methods across various studies,” explained Imran.

“The skills acquired are transferable to multiple projects within Laos (DALaM, NAFRI, NUoL), HARC (Vietnam), GDA (Cambodia), and CIAT in Asia. Trainees are now well-equipped to implement these techniques within their own programs in respective countries,” he said.

“The training course has also facilitated valuable connections between researchers in Western Australia (Murdoch University and DPIRD), CIAT-Asia and the participants. All resources utilised in the training have been disseminated among the participants, along with opportunities for future collaboration and potential modifications. The cohort included university lecturers and senior researchers from participating countries,” said Imran.

“Finally, a soil sampling strategy was developed for testing in the field within cassava-based cropping systems,” he said.

“Priorities for future collaborations were identified during the workshop, fostering the development of numerous new contacts among participants. Discussions encompassed ongoing collaborations in research training, including opportunities for Master’s and PhD students, staff development and student placements at CIAT Asia,” he concluded.