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

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

Sustainable Soil Management Programme, Nepal (SSMP)

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

Department of Agriculture, Soil Management Directorate, Hariharbhawan Lalitpur (doasoil) - Nepal

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

HELVETAS (Swiss Intercooperation)

1.3 Conditions regarding the use of data documented through WOCAT

When were the data compiled (in the field)?

06/11/2008

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:

Improved compost preparation using a range of biomass and waste to produce high value fertiliser

2.2 Detailed description of the Technology

Description:

Compost can be prepared from a wide range of organic materials including dead plant material such as crop residues, weeds, forest litter, and kitchen waste. Compost making is an efficient way of converting all kinds of biomass into high value fertiliser that serves as a good alternative to farmyard manure, especially for crop-growing households without livestock. The compost is often mixed with forest soil, ripe
compost from the previous batch, or even a small amount of animal dung as a starter for the decomposition process. The mix of materials determines the quality of the final compost as much as the management of the composting process. Nitrogen-rich fresh materials such as legume residues and many types of weeds and shrubs are mixed with carbon-rich forest litter and cereal residues. Small amounts of wood ash, lime, or mineral fertiliser can help increase or balance the overall nutrient content of the compost.
The compost needs to be turned every 30-50 days depending on the mix and the outside temperature. It should be protected from direct sunlight, rainfall and runoff so as to reduce volatilisation and leaching of nutrients. The material must remain moist at all times to avoid slowing down decomposition and hindering the efficiency of the micro and macro-organisms involved in decomposition. Heaping the compost or collecting the material in a pit helps the compost to reach the temperatures needed (700C) to destroy pests and weeds.
Once the compost is well decomposed and has an earthy smell, it can be applied directly or stored for later application. It can be applied as a crop fertiliser in rows or to individual plants for improving general soil fertility and organic matter content, thus improving the soil structure and its water holding capacity.

2.3 Photos of the Technology

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

3.1 Main purpose(s) of the Technology

• Improve compost production

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

Comments:

Major land use problems (compiler’s opinion): Intensifying cultivation practices with either 1) the inadequate application of fertilisers leading to a decline in soil
fertility and the mining of soil nutrients or 2) the application of too much fertiliser causing environmental problems
through excessive leaching, and losses of fertiliser in surface runoff and consequent eutrophication or nitrification of
streams, ponds or groundwater.

3.4 SLM group to which the Technology belongs

• integrated soil fertility management
• waste management/ waste water management

3.6 SLM measures comprising the Technology

3.7 Main types of land degradation addressed by the Technology

3.8 Prevention, reduction, or restoration of land degradation

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

• reduce land degradation

4.1 Technical drawing of the Technology

4.2 Technical specifications/ explanations of technical drawing

Layering of the different materials in
a compost pit
Note: This is just an example and
need not be followed exactly. The
important aspects are:
- the need for a starter such as
forest soil or manure
- place weeds in the centre of
the pit so that they are fully
decomposed
- cover dry materials with moist
material and material that only
decays slowly with easily
decaying material.
The pit can be 1 to 2m in diameter
and about 1m deep.
The size depends on the available
biomass for composting and the
amount of compost required.

Technical knowledge required for field staff / advisors: low

Technical knowledge required for land users: low

Main technical functions: increase in soil fertility and productivity, increase in soil organic matter content, improvement in physicalsoil conditions, increase in soil water holding capacity

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.	Dig a 1-2m diameter and 1m deep pit using a spade or shovel	Management
2.	Collect crop residues, grass, tree leaves, ash, lime, and animal urine	Management
3.	Put a layer of ash at the bottom of the pit followed by tree leaves, grass, crop residues, and a layer of forest soil (as it contains the necessary microorganisms – bacteria, fungi, etc. – and quickens the decomposition process)	Management
4.	Add more tree leaves, crop residues, and grass until the pit is full and contains a healthy mixture of dry and fresh/moist materials	Management
5.	Cover the compost heap with a fi ne layer of ash or mud and a cap of	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	Preparing compost pit	Persons/day	2.0	2.0	4.0	100.0
Total costs for establishment of the Technology					4.0

4.6 Maintenance/ recurrent activities

	Activity	Type of measure	Timing/ frequency
1.	Dispose of domestic and household wastewater and cattle urine in the pit to keep it moist (but not saturated/soaked) until it is fully decomposed.	Management
2.	The compost needs to be turned every 30-50 days depending on the mix and the outside temperature.	Management
3.	Depending on the location, it takes about 3-6 months for the compost to be fully decomposed.	Management

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	Maintaining compost	Persons/day	1.0	2.0	2.0	100.0
Total costs for maintenance of the Technology					2.0

Comments:

Cost as in January 2007

5.1 Climate

5.2 Topography

Comments and further specifications on topography:

Slopes on average: Also moderate (6-10%), rolling (11-15%) and hilly (16-30%)

Landforms: Also footslopes

Altitudinal zone: Also 1000-1500 m a.s.l., 1500-2000 m a.s.l. and 2000-2500 m a.s.l.

5.6 Characteristics of land users applying the Technology

Indicate other relevant characteristics of the land users:

Off-farm income specification: In most farm households, off-farm income plays at least a minor and increasingly a major role. Occasional opportunities for off-farm income present themselves in the form of daily labour wages. Some households’ members receive regular salaries, whilst an increasing number of Nepalis are working in India, the Middle East, Malaysia, and elsewhere and sending remittance incomes home.

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, not titled
• individual, titled

Land use rights:

• leased
• individual

Comments:

Sharecropping between owner and tenant

6.1 On-site impacts the Technology has shown

Socio-economic impacts

Income and costs

Ecological impacts

Other ecological impacts

6.2 Off-site impacts the Technology has shown

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)?

Comments:

The high cost of mineral fertilisers means that the establishment costs are soon recovered. In the long-term, a major reduction in costs leads to large benefits.

6.5 Adoption of the Technology

Comments:

Comments on spontaneous adoption: About 30% of the participants of SSMP activities related to compost making, and about 20% of farmers that were
not part of the programme have adopted the technology.

6.7 Strengths/ advantages/ opportunities of the Technology

Strengths/ advantages/ opportunities in the compiler’s or other key resource person’s view
The use of compost reduced the need for mineral fertiliser thus reducing production costs and outside dependence How can they be sustained / enhanced? Further promote the technology to increase this impact
Compost making does not require any livestock How can they be sustained / enhanced? Its low cost and use of local materials makes it the fertiliser of choice for poor households
In-situ composting saves labour involved in transporting compost to the fields

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?
The preparation of compost is not appropriate for commercial use (except in nurseries)	Compost improvement should go hand-in-hand with promoting alternatives for the other requirements
Compost requires a large amount of biomass which may otherwise be needed for fuel, fodder, or animal bedding

7.2 References to available publications

Title, author, year, ISBN:

STSS; SSMP (2001) Farmyard Manure and Compost Management (in Nepali). Kathmandu: Soil Testing Services Section, Department of Agriculture andSustainable Soil Management Programme

Available from where? Costs?

SSMP