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Technologies
Inactive

Boreda Soil Bund [Ethiopia]

technologies_1415 - Ethiopia

Completeness: 67%

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:

Mesfin Melaku

Gam Gofa Zone Rural Development Main Department

Ethiopia

Name of the institution(s) which facilitated the documentation/ evaluation of the Technology (if relevant)
Gamo Gofa Zone Rural Development Department - Ethiopia

1.3 Conditions regarding the use of data documented through WOCAT

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:

Structure constructed by digging a shallow channel on the upper hill side and putting the excavated soil on the down side to build the embankment

2.2 Detailed description of the Technology

Description:

A structure constructed across the slope along the contour with earth. The embankment is stablized with grasses which is planted during rainy season. Construction is made in groups or by individual farmer, with or without incentives.

Purpose of the Technology: It reduces soil erosion, drain excess runoff during heavy storm which would cause over flow on the land and reduce runoff velocity. Grasses planted on the enbankment for stabilization can solve the animal feed and also soil deposited behind the bund can improve the fertility status of the soil.

Establishment / maintenance activities and inputs: Bunds are continuously repaired during and after heavy storm especially in the first two years after construction. Grasses and tree plant species are planted on the enbankment in order to stablize the structure. Cut and curry and cntroled grazing is common on the embankment.

Natural / human environment: Reduce soil erosion, enhance vegetation growth, improve the beauty of the land scape

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

Country:

Ethiopia

Region/ State/ Province:

SNNPR

Further specification of location:

Boreda

2.6 Date of implementation

If precise year is not known, indicate approximate date:
  • less than 10 years ago (recently)

2.7 Introduction of the Technology

Specify how the Technology was introduced:
  • through projects/ external interventions

3. Classification of the SLM Technology

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

Cropland

Cropland

  • Annual cropping
  • Perennial (non-woody) cropping
Main crops (cash and food crops):

Major cash crop annual cropping: wheat, barley
Major food crop annual cropping: wheat, sweet potato, barley
Major food crop perennial (non-woody) cropping: enset

Comments:

Major land use problems (compiler’s opinion): cost of fertilizer, shortage of farm land and grazing land, cultivation of steep slopes

Major land use problems (land users’ perception): cost of fertilizer, shortage of farm land and low productivity

3.3 Further information about land use

Water supply for the land on which the Technology is applied:
  • rainfed
Number of growing seasons per year:
  • 2
Specify:

Longest growing period in days: 180Longest growing period from month to month: Jun - JanSecond longest growing period in days: 120Second longest growing period from month to month: Mar - May

3.4 SLM group to which the Technology belongs

  • cross-slope measure

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:
  • 10-100 km2
Comments:

Total area covered by the SLM Technology is 18.29 m2.

scattered SWC activities wrere made in all peasent associations but the above mentioned peasent associations are the dominant once

3.6 SLM measures comprising the Technology

structural measures

structural measures

  • S2: Bunds, banks
Comments:

Secondary measures: vegetative measures

Type of vegetative measures: aligned: -contour

3.7 Main types of land degradation addressed by the Technology

soil erosion by water

soil erosion by water

  • Wt: loss of topsoil/ surface erosion
  • Wg: gully erosion/ gullying
chemical soil deterioration

chemical soil deterioration

  • Cn: fertility decline and reduced organic matter content (not caused by erosion)
Comments:

Main type of degradation addressed: Wt: loss of topsoil / surface erosion

Secondary types of degradation addressed: Wg: gully erosion / gullying, Cn: fertility decline and reduced organic matter content

3.8 Prevention, reduction, or restoration of land degradation

Specify the goal of the Technology with regard to land degradation:
  • reduce 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

SNNPR

Technical knowledge required for field staff / advisors: high

Technical knowledge required for land users: high

Main technical functions: reduction of slope angle

Secondary technical functions: control of concentrated runoff: retain / trap, reduction of slope length, increase in soil fertility

Aligned: -contour
Vegetative material: G : grass

Grass species: Desho (it is local grass)

Slope (which determines the spacing indicated above): 19.00%

If the original slope has changed as a result of the Technology, the slope today is (see figure below): 9.00%

Gradient along the rows / strips: 0.00%

Bund/ bank: level
Vertical interval between structures (m): 0.8
Spacing between structures (m): 15
Depth of ditches/pits/dams (m): 0.5
Width of ditches/pits/dams (m): 0.6
Length of ditches/pits/dams (m): 62
Height of bunds/banks/others (m): 0.6
Width of bunds/banks/others (m): 0.5
Length of bunds/banks/others (m): 62

Bund/ bank: graded
Vertical interval between structures (m): 1
Spacing between structures (m): 13
Depth of ditches/pits/dams (m): 0.6
Width of ditches/pits/dams (m): 0.7
Length of ditches/pits/dams (m): 58
Height of bunds/banks/others (m): 0.65
Width of bunds/banks/others (m): 0.5
Length of bunds/banks/others (m): 60

Structural measure: bund/ bank: level
Vertical interval between structures (m): 1
Spacing between structures (m): 13
Depth of ditches/pits/dams (m): 0.6
Width of ditches/pits/dams (m): 0.7
Length of ditches/pits/dams (m): 58
Height of bunds/banks/others (m): 0.65
Width of bunds/banks/others (m): 0.5
Length of bunds/banks/others (m): 60

Construction material (earth): soils excavated from the ditch is used to build the enbankment

Slope (which determines the spacing indicated above): 15%

If the original slope has changed as a result of the Technology, the slope today is: 5%

Lateral gradient along the structure: 0%

For water harvesting: the ratio between the area where the harvested water is applied and the total area from which water is collected is: 1:11

Vegetation is used for stabilisation of structures.

4.3 General information regarding the calculation of inputs and costs

other/ national currency (specify):

Birr

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

8.5

Indicate average wage cost of hired labour per day:

0.70

4.4 Establishment activities

Activity Type of measure Timing
1. raising seedlings and collecting grass Vegetative onset of rain season
2. transplanting Vegetative rain season
3. weeding Vegetative at the end of rain season
4. Surveying Structural dry season
5. digging of channel Structural dry season
6. build trapezoidal enbankment Structural dry season
7. stabilize with grasses Structural rain season

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 52.5 52.5
Equipment Machine use ha 1.0 15.0 15.0 100.0
Plant material Grass ha 1.0 20.0 20.0
Total costs for establishment of the Technology 87.5
Comments:

Duration of establishment phase: 12 month(s)

4.6 Maintenance/ recurrent activities

Activity Type of measure Timing/ frequency
1. replanting Vegetative
2. removal of deposited soils from the ditches Structural dry season/annual

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 Replanting and removal of deposited soils from the ditches ha 1.0 4.38 4.38
Total costs for maintenance of the Technology 4.38
Comments:

the culculation is based on the length of the structures per hectar of land

4.8 Most important factors affecting the costs

Describe the most determinate factors affecting the costs:

slope

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
Specify average annual rainfall (if known), in mm:

1800.00

Agro-climatic zone
  • humid
  • sub-humid

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.
Comments and further specifications on topography:

Landforms: Hill slopes. Also ridges and plateau/plains
Slopes on average: Hilly. Also moderate and rolling

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)
  • fine/ heavy (clay)
Topsoil organic matter:
  • medium (1-3%)
  • 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 low-medium
Soil drainage/infiltration is medium-poor
Soil water storage capacity is medium-high

5.6 Characteristics of land users applying the Technology

Market orientation of production system:
  • subsistence (self-supply)
  • mixed (subsistence/ commercial
Off-farm income:
  • less than 10% of all income
Relative level of wealth:
  • poor
  • average
Level of mechanization:
  • manual work
  • animal traction
Indicate other relevant characteristics of the land users:

Population density: 50-100 persons/km2
Annual population growth: 1% - 2%
1% of the land users are rich and own 3% of the land.
39% of the land users are average wealthy and own 72% of the land.
60% of the land users are poor and own 25% of the land.
Level of mechanization: Manual labour (hand tools) and animal traction (oxen)

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

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

fodder quality

decreased
increased

production area

decreased
increased

land management

hindered
simplified
Income and costs

workload

increased
decreased

Socio-cultural impacts

SLM/ land degradation knowledge

reduced
improved

Ecological impacts

Water cycle/ runoff

surface runoff

increased
decreased
Quantity before SLM:

69

Quantity after SLM:

45

excess water drainage

reduced
improved
Soil

soil loss

increased
decreased
Quantity before SLM:

4.9

Quantity after SLM:

4

Other ecological impacts

Soil fertility

Waterlogging

increased
decreased

6.2 Off-site impacts the Technology has shown

downstream flooding

increased
reduced

downstream siltation

increased
decreased

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:

very positive

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

neutral/ balanced

Long-term returns:

slightly positive

6.5 Adoption of the Technology

Comments:

62% of land user families have adopted the Technology with external material support

1367 land user families have adopted the Technology with external material support

Comments on acceptance with external material support: estimates

30% of land user families have adopted the Technology without any external material support

721 land user families have adopted the Technology without any external material support

Comments on spontaneous adoption: estimates

There is a little trend towards spontaneous adoption of the Technology

Comments on adoption trend: the posetive results of the conserved land attracts some the farmes to applythe technique by themselves without and external support

6.7 Strengths/ advantages/ opportunities of the Technology

Strengths/ advantages/ opportunities in the land user’s view
erosion and runoff control

How can they be sustained / enhanced? maintenance every cropping season
Strengths/ advantages/ opportunities in the compiler’s or other key resource person’s view
Reduce soil erosion and concentrated runoff

How can they be sustained / enhanced? frequent maintaince
Water harvesting and increase infiltration of the soil

How can they be sustained / enhanced? Improve access to marketing of valuable crops
Grasses and fodder plant species have solved the problem for animal feed

How can they be sustained / enhanced? plant improved fodder species

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

Weaknesses/ disadvantages/ risks in the land user’s view How can they be overcome?
more labour required form development commettee with working groups
Weaknesses/ disadvantages/ risks in the compiler’s or other key resource person’s view How can they be overcome?
occupied cultivated lands increase the productivity of land per unit area

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