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Technologies
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Flood Irrigation for salinity control [Oman]

التحكم في الملوحة باستخدام ري بالغمر

technologies_1312 - Oman

Completeness: 73%

1. General information

1.2 Contact details of resource persons and institutions involved in the assessment and documentation of the Technology

Key resource person(s)

SLM specialist:
SLM specialist:
SLM specialist:
SLM specialist:
SLM specialist:
SLM specialist:
SLM specialist:

AL Abri Fatima

MOAF

Oman

Name of the institution(s) which facilitated the documentation/ evaluation of the Technology (if relevant)
Test institution (TI) - Albania
Name of the institution(s) which facilitated the documentation/ evaluation of the Technology (if relevant)
Sultan Qaboos University (SQU) - Oman

1.3 Conditions regarding the use of data documented through WOCAT

When were the data compiled (in the field)?

06/01/2016

The compiler and key resource person(s) accept the conditions regarding the use of data documented through WOCAT:

Ja

2. Description of the SLM Technology

2.1 Short description of the Technology

Definition of the Technology:

Using saline ground water for controlling soil salinity

2.2 Detailed description of the Technology

Description:

The farm total area is 7 fadan. The farm was established 40 years ago. Two labors are working in the farm. The income is low just covering the farm inputs.
Crops planted are alfalfa, Rhodes grass, corn, Mango, Pomegranate, Date Palm, Henna tree, Buckthorn tree

Purpose of the Technology: Using saline ground water through flood irrigation for leaching salt accumulation and soil sustainability.

Establishment / maintenance activities and inputs: Main inputs are labors, tractor, date palm processing unit and machinery. the maintenance is doing for pipes and machinery.

Natural / human environment: Well water having salinity of 7.13 ds/m is used to irrigate the land also leach the soil. This has resulted an accumulated salt in the soil. Due to increase in soil salinity the cropping pattern has changed drastically. Some years ago the farm was cultivated with a variety of crops but now is limited to growing perennial crops that are salt tolerant. Date palm are the most salt tolerant plants followed by Rhodes and Alfalfa. Mangoes are sensitive to salts compared with other fruit trees.

2.3 Photos of the Technology

2.5 Country/ region/ locations where the Technology has been applied and which are covered by this assessment

Country:

Oman

Region/ State/ Province:

Al Batinah South

Further specification of location:

Al Massena/ Al Sheeba

3. Classification of the SLM Technology

3.1 Main purpose(s) of the Technology

  • adapt to climate change/ extremes and its impacts

3.2 Current land use type(s) where the Technology is applied

Mixed (crops/ grazing/ trees), incl. agroforestry

Mixed (crops/ grazing/ trees), incl. agroforestry

Comments:

Major land use problems (compiler’s opinion): soil and water salinity

Future (final) land use (after implementation of SLM Technology): Mixed: Mp: Agro-pastoralism

If land use has changed due to the implementation of the Technology, indicate land use before implementation of the Technology:

Cropland: Ca: Annual cropping

3.3 Further information about land use

Water supply for the land on which the Technology is applied:
  • full irrigation
Specify:

Longest growing period in days: 60; Longest growing period from month to month: october to december; Second longest growing period in days: 45; Second longest growing period from month to month: february to mid of march

3.4 SLM group to which the Technology belongs

  • irrigation management (incl. water supply, drainage)

3.5 Spread of the Technology

Specify the spread of the Technology:
  • evenly spread over an area
If the Technology is evenly spread over an area, indicate approximate area covered:
  • < 0.1 km2 (10 ha)
Comments:

Total area covered by the SLM Technology is 0.0294 km2.

3.6 SLM measures comprising the Technology

agronomic measures

agronomic measures

  • A2: Organic matter/ soil fertility
vegetative measures

vegetative measures

  • V1: Tree and shrub cover
management measures

management measures

  • M2: Change of management/ intensity level
Comments:

Secondary measures: vegetative measures, management measures

Type of agronomic measures: mixed cropping / intercropping, manure / compost / residues, mineral (inorganic) fertilizers

Type of vegetative measures: aligned: -against wind, in blocks

3.7 Main types of land degradation addressed by the Technology

water degradation

water degradation

  • Hq: decline of groundwater quality
Comments:

Main causes of degradation: droughts, population pressure

Secondary causes of degradation: soil management, crop management (annual, perennial, tree/shrub), deforestation / removal of natural vegetation (incl. forest fires), over-exploitation of vegetation for domestic use, urbanisation and infrastructure development

3.8 Prevention, reduction, or restoration of land degradation

Specify the goal of the Technology with regard to land degradation:
  • restore/ rehabilitate severely degraded land
Comments:

Secondary goals: prevention of land degradation, mitigation / reduction of land degradation

4. Technical specifications, implementation activities, inputs, and costs

4.1 Technical drawing of the Technology

4.2 Technical specifications/ explanations of technical drawing

a farm of 7 feddan mainly grown date palm, rhode grass and ,maize. the farm also a small animal yard.

Technical knowledge required for field staff / advisors: moderate

Technical knowledge required for land users: moderate

Secondary technical functions: control of raindrop splash, control of dispersed runoff: retain / trap, control of dispersed runoff: impede / retard, control of concentrated runoff: retain / trap, control of concentrated runoff: impede / retard, control of concentrated runoff: drain / divert, improvement of ground cover, improvement of surface structure (crusting, sealing), increase in organic matter

Aligned: -against wind
Vegetative material: T : trees / shrubs

In blocks
Vegetative material: G : grass

Slope (which determines the spacing indicated above): 0-2%

Change of land use practices / intensity level: land used for planting Rhodes grass and seasonal crops (recently maize was grown).

4.3 General information regarding the calculation of inputs and costs

other/ national currency (specify):

Omani Rial

Indicate exchange rate from USD to local currency (if relevant): 1 USD =:

0.39

Indicate average wage cost of hired labour per day:

10.40

4.4 Establishment activities

Activity Type of measure Timing
1. Structural all day around

4.5 Costs and inputs needed for establishment

Specify input Unit Quantity Costs per Unit Total costs per input % of costs borne by land users
Labour Labour ha 1.0 120.0 120.0
Total costs for establishment of the Technology 120.0

4.7 Costs and inputs needed for maintenance/ recurrent activities (per year)

Specify input Unit Quantity Costs per Unit Total costs per input % of costs borne by land users
Labour Labour ha 1.0 120.0 120.0
Total costs for maintenance of the Technology 120.0

4.8 Most important factors affecting the costs

Describe the most determinate factors affecting the costs:

labour, seeds, fertilizer and electricty

5. Natural and human environment

5.1 Climate

Annual rainfall
  • < 250 mm
  • 251-500 mm
  • 501-750 mm
  • 751-1,000 mm
  • 1,001-1,500 mm
  • 1,501-2,000 mm
  • 2,001-3,000 mm
  • 3,001-4,000 mm
  • > 4,000 mm
Agro-climatic zone
  • arid

Thermal climate class: subtropics

5.2 Topography

Slopes on average:
  • flat (0-2%)
  • gentle (3-5%)
  • moderate (6-10%)
  • rolling (11-15%)
  • hilly (16-30%)
  • steep (31-60%)
  • very steep (>60%)
Landforms:
  • plateau/plains
  • ridges
  • mountain slopes
  • hill slopes
  • footslopes
  • valley floors
Altitudinal zone:
  • 0-100 m a.s.l.
  • 101-500 m a.s.l.
  • 501-1,000 m a.s.l.
  • 1,001-1,500 m a.s.l.
  • 1,501-2,000 m a.s.l.
  • 2,001-2,500 m a.s.l.
  • 2,501-3,000 m a.s.l.
  • 3,001-4,000 m a.s.l.
  • > 4,000 m a.s.l.

5.3 Soils

Soil depth on average:
  • very shallow (0-20 cm)
  • shallow (21-50 cm)
  • moderately deep (51-80 cm)
  • deep (81-120 cm)
  • very deep (> 120 cm)
Soil texture (topsoil):
  • medium (loamy, silty)
Topsoil organic matter:
  • low (<1%)
If available, attach full soil description or specify the available information, e.g. soil type, soil PH/ acidity, Cation Exchange Capacity, nitrogen, salinity etc.

Soil fertility is very low

Soil drainage / infiltration is good

Soil water storage capacity is medium

5.4 Water availability and quality

Ground water table:

> 50 m

Water quality (untreated):

unusable

5.5 Biodiversity

Species diversity:
  • medium

5.6 Characteristics of land users applying the Technology

Market orientation of production system:
  • mixed (subsistence/ commercial
Off-farm income:
  • > 50% of all income
Relative level of wealth:
  • average
Individuals or groups:
  • individual/ household
Gender:
  • men
Indicate other relevant characteristics of the land users:

Population density: 50-100 persons/km2

Annual population growth: 1% - 2%

5.7 Average area of land owned or leased by land users applying the Technology

  • < 0.5 ha
  • 0.5-1 ha
  • 1-2 ha
  • 2-5 ha
  • 5-15 ha
  • 15-50 ha
  • 50-100 ha
  • 100-500 ha
  • 500-1,000 ha
  • 1,000-10,000 ha
  • > 10,000 ha
Is this considered small-, medium- or large-scale (referring to local context)?
  • small-scale

5.8 Land ownership, land use rights, and water use rights

Land ownership:
  • individual, not titled

5.9 Access to services and infrastructure

health:
  • poor
  • moderate
  • good
education:
  • poor
  • moderate
  • good

6. Impacts and concluding statements

6.1 On-site impacts the Technology has shown

Socio-economic impacts

Production

crop production

decreased
increased

fodder production

decreased
increased

risk of production failure

increased
decreased

product diversity

decreased
increased

production area

decreased
increased

land management

hindered
simplified
Water availability and quality

irrigation water availability

decreased
increased

irrigation water quality

decreased
increased

demand for irrigation water

increased
decreased
Income and costs

expenses on agricultural inputs

increased
decreased

farm income

decreased
increased

diversity of income sources

decreased
increased

workload

increased
decreased

Socio-cultural impacts

food security/ self-sufficiency

reduced
improved

health situation

worsened
improved

recreational opportunities

reduced
improved

community institutions

weakened
strengthened

SLM/ land degradation knowledge

reduced
improved

livelihood and human well-being

reduced
improved
Comments/ specify:

The technology has improve livelihoods and human well-being of the owner and his family, increasing income of the farmer changed his family lifestyle and a farm become a place for family gathering.

Ecological impacts

Water cycle/ runoff

water quantity

decreased
increased

water quality

decreased
increased

excess water drainage

reduced
improved

groundwater table/ aquifer

lowered
recharge

evaporation

increased
decreased
Soil

soil moisture

decreased
increased

soil cover

reduced
improved

soil loss

increased
decreased

soil crusting/ sealing

increased
reduced

nutrient cycling/ recharge

decreased
increased

salinity

increased
decreased

soil organic matter/ below ground C

decreased
increased
Biodiversity: vegetation, animals

biomass/ above ground C

decreased
increased

plant diversity

decreased
increased

animal diversity

decreased
increased
Climate and disaster risk reduction

drought impacts

increased
decreased

emission of carbon and greenhouse gases

increased
decreased

fire risk

increased
decreased

wind velocity

increased
decreased

6.3 Exposure and sensitivity of the Technology to gradual climate change and climate-related extremes/ disasters (as perceived by land users)

Gradual climate change

Gradual climate change
Season Type of climatic change/ extreme How does the Technology cope with it?
annual temperature increase not well

Climate-related extremes (disasters)

Meteorological disasters
How does the Technology cope with it?
local rainstorm not known
local windstorm not known

6.4 Cost-benefit analysis

How do the benefits compare with the establishment costs (from land users’ perspective)?
Short-term returns:

positive

Long-term returns:

positive

How do the benefits compare with the maintenance/ recurrent costs (from land users' perspective)?
Short-term returns:

positive

Long-term returns:

positive

Comments:

due to many different type of crops and grass and trees in the farm, and having date processor increase profit and maintenance is low.

6.5 Adoption of the Technology

  • more than 50%
If available, quantify (no. of households and/ or area covered):

75 percent of stated area

Of all those who have adopted the Technology, how many have did so spontaneously, i.e. without receiving any material incentives/ payments?
  • 90-100%
Comments:

There is a moderate trend towards spontaneous adoption of the Technology

Comments on adoption trend: farmers in this area strongly will like to do the same due to high water salinity, in order to wash down salinity, thus, they use flood irrigation technology.

6.7 Strengths/ advantages/ opportunities of the Technology

Strengths/ advantages/ opportunities in the compiler’s or other key resource person’s view
easily implemented
costly effective and every farmer can implement it
resist to hard weather condition

6.8 Weaknesses/ disadvantages/ risks of the Technology and ways of overcoming them

Weaknesses/ disadvantages/ risks in the compiler’s or other key resource person’s view How can they be overcome?
in long term, ground water will be more deep reduce over pumping
ground water salinity will increase reduce over pumping
salt accumulation in the soil will increase by using different soil conditioner, gypsum and soil mulch and organic manure
soil degradation will be the final result

7. References and links

7.2 References to available publications

Title, author, year, ISBN:

Oman Salinity Strategy, Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries, 2012

Title, author, year, ISBN:

South Batinah Integrated Study, Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries, 1993

Title, author, year, ISBN:

Oman General Soil Map, Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries. 1993

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