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

Name of the institution(s) which facilitated the documentation/ evaluation of the Technology (if relevant)

Bureau of Soils and Water Management (Bureau of Soils and Water Management) - Philippines

Name of the institution(s) which facilitated the documentation/ evaluation of the Technology (if relevant)

Philippine Rice Research Institute (PhilRice) - Philippines

1.3 Conditions regarding the use of data documented through WOCAT

When were the data compiled (in the field)?

11/02/2016

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

Ja

1.5 Reference to Questionnaire(s) on SLM Approaches

2.1 Short description of the Technology

Definition of the Technology:

Alternate Wetting and Drying is a water-use management technique wherein irrigation water input could be substantially reduced to as much as 35% without significantly affecting rice yields.

2.2 Detailed description of the Technology

Description:

It was observed that most of the farmer’s irrigation practice of continuously flooding their rice fields is wasteful and uneconomical. The imbalance amount of water, either in deficit or excess, might affect the development and productivity of the crops.
With this inefficient water use and coupled by the increasing frequency of drought, vulnerability to water scarcity is inevitable. Furthermore, it has been recognized that poor water management practices contributed to the process of land degradation. Hence, there is a need to practice proper water management in rice cultivation. As an integral part of the Palayamanan system, the Philippine Rice Research Institute (PhilRice) introduced a water saving technology to the farmers called Alternate Wetting and Drying (AWD).
The AWD modifies the irrigation scheduling and application and eventually the amount of water to be use in the field. Irrigation water is applied a few days after the disappearance of the ponded water in the so-called “observation well”. Hence, the field is alternately flooded and non-flooded.

Purpose of the Technology: The following are the purpose of this technology: (1)reducing water use for irrigation so that it can be used for other purposes, (2) reducing the use of irrigation water because there is less of it, and (3) reducing the use of irrigation water to reduce the cost. Emission of greenhouse gas (GHG) specifically on methane is reduced since this is caused by flooding of ricefields.

Establishment / maintenance activities and inputs: Practical implementation of AWD is facilitated using a simple tool called a 'field water tube' as observation well, used in monitoring the water level in the field.It is made of a 25 cm long PVC pipe with a diameter of 10 to 15 cm. In some instances, bamboo can be used instead of the PVC pipe. The pipe is perforated with many holes on all sides to allow lateral movement of water in the root zone. It is installed into the soil by ensuring that 10 (dry season) or 5 (wet season) cm protrudes above the soil surface. Soil must be removed inside the tube so that the bottom is visible. During the first 21 to 30 days after direct seeding or transplanting, 2 to 3 cm of water is maintained to control weeds and to ensure that the crop has already
recovered from transplanting shock. AWD is imposed after 21 to 30 days where the water in the tube is monitored. Once the water inside the tube disappears, irrigation is applied to a water depth of 5 cm above soil surface. It is noted that during fertilizer application and flowering stage, sufficient water is maintained to avoid spikelet sterility. Terminal drainage from one to two weeks before the expected time of harvest is also done to promote uniform maturity of the crop and to facilitate easement of post-harvest operations in the field.

Natural / human environment: The area is under a humid climate experiencing wet and dry season with an annual average rainfall ranging from 1000-1500 mm per year. The technology was applied to irrigated rice field in flat and plain areas.

2.3 Photos of the Technology

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

2.6 Date of implementation

If precise year is not known, indicate approximate date:

• 10-50 years ago

2.7 Introduction of the Technology

Specify how the Technology was introduced:

• through projects/ external interventions

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

Comments:

Major land use problems (compiler’s opinion): lack of irrigation water

3.3 Further information about land use

other (e.g. post-flooding):

• controlled flooding

Comments:

The field is alternately flooded and non-flooded.

Number of growing seasons per year:

• 2

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:

This is practiced in most of the "Palayamanan" sites in Ilocos Norte.

3.6 SLM measures comprising the Technology

Comments:

Main measures: management measures

Specification of other management measures: water use management

3.7 Main types of land degradation addressed by the Technology

Comments:

Main type of degradation addressed: Hs: change in quantity of surface water

Main causes of degradation: crop management (annual, perennial, tree/shrub), other human induced causes (specify) (water use management)

3.8 Prevention, reduction, or restoration of land degradation

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

• prevent land degradation

Comments:

Main goals: prevention of land degradation

4.1 Technical drawing of the Technology

4.2 Technical specifications/ explanations of technical drawing

PVC pipe used for the technology.

Location: Ilocos Norte

Technical knowledge required for field staff / advisors: moderate

Technical knowledge required for land users: moderate

Main technical functions: more efficient water use

Major change in timing of activities: AWD modifies the irrigation scheduling and application

Other type of management: Water use management on irrigation water is applied a few days after the disappearance of ponded water in the field water tube.

4.3 General information regarding the calculation of inputs and costs

Specify currency used for cost calculations:

• US Dollars

4.4 Establishment activities

	Activity	Type of measure	Timing
1.	Preparation of the PVC/bamboo pipes	Management
2.	Perforation with many holes on all sides of the PVC/bamboo pipe	Management

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	Perforation with many holes on all sides of the PVC/bamboo pipe	Person/day	1.0	3.33	3.33	100.0
Construction material	Preparation of the PVC/bamboo pipes	piece	1.0	4.44	4.44
Total costs for establishment of the Technology					7.77

4.6 Maintenance/ recurrent activities

	Activity	Type of measure	Timing/ frequency
1.	Installation of the PVC/bamboo pipe into the soil	Management

5.1 Climate

5.2 Topography

Indicate if the Technology is specifically applied in:

• not relevant

5.3 Soils

5.4 Water availability and quality

5.5 Biodiversity

5.6 Characteristics of land users applying the Technology

Indicate other relevant characteristics of the land users:

Land users applying the Technology are mainly common / average land users

Population density: 10-50 persons/km2

Market orientation: Rice produced are intended for market and food consumption for the family

Annual population growth: 1% - 2%; 1%

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

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

Land ownership:

• individual, titled

Land use rights:

• leased
• individual

Water use rights:

• communal (organized)

5.9 Access to services and infrastructure

6.1 On-site impacts the Technology has shown

Socio-economic impacts

Water availability and quality

Other socio-economic impacts

Socio-cultural impacts

Ecological impacts

Water cycle/ runoff

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

Climate-related extremes (disasters)

Climatological disasters

	How does the Technology cope with it?
drought	well

Hydrological disasters

	How does the Technology cope with it?
general (river) flood	well

6.4 Cost-benefit analysis

How do the benefits compare with the establishment costs (from land users’ perspective)?

How do the benefits compare with the maintenance/ recurrent costs (from land users' perspective)?

6.5 Adoption of the Technology

Comments:

Comments on acceptance with external material support: No exact data is available to determine the numbers of land user who adopted the technology but most of the "Palayamanan" farmer partners in the irrigated areas adopted and practiced it.

Comments on spontaneous adoption: No exact data is available to determine the numbers of land user who adopted the technology but most of the "Palayamanan" farmer partners in the irrigated areas adopted and practiced it.

There is a moderate trend towards spontaneous adoption of the Technology

Comments on adoption trend: Most of the land users practicing "Palayamanan" in the municipality and province of Ilocos Norte is adopting the technology.

6.7 Strengths/ advantages/ opportunities of the Technology

Strengths/ advantages/ opportunities in the land user’s view
Positive outcome primarily in water savings without significant yield difference from the usual practice.

Strengths/ advantages/ opportunities in the compiler’s or other key resource person’s view
Simplicity of the technology's method.
AWD leads to firmer soil conditions at harvest, which is beneficial to operating machines in the field.

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?
Prone to weed growth during the period when the soil is dry.	Proper weed management