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)

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

2.1 Short description of the Technology

Definition of the Technology:

A structural measure constructed by stone/soil/wood acrross the gully to control erosion and create favourble condition for crop cultivation.

2.2 Detailed description of the Technology

Description:

The technology is known by the farmers for more than a century. Since the area is highly affected by gully erosion, this practice is widely used by farmers in the area and also widely practiced. Its construction starts from the bottom of the gully and proceeds upslope with different dimensions. The height depends on the depth of the gully and it is increased from year to year. On the average the width is 1m and hieght is 1.80m. The technology is used to develop big gullies and treatment of small gully like depressions, attain slope change to enhance land suitability to crop production and to conserve soil and water. The construction of the stone checkdam starts with small heights and some height is added every year until the intended height is reached. The increase in height could be done during maintenance also. The major objective being to stop gully growth, trap sediment and retain water running down the gully. In the course of increasing the height, the area for sediment deposition gets wider. The technology is suitable to areas with low rainfalls of rugged topography having a network of gullies.

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

Country:

Ethiopia

Region/ State/ Province:

Amhara Regional State

Further specification of location:

Koshem Watershed

Specify the spread of the Technology:

• evenly spread over an area

If precise area is not known, indicate approximate area covered:

• 10-100 km2

Comments:

Total area covered by the SLM Technology is 810 km2.

The technology is mostly practiced in the eastern escarpment of the the woreda experiencing low and erratic rains. Area is estimated

Map

×

2.6 Date of implementation

If precise year is not known, indicate approximate date:

• more than 50 years ago (traditional)

2.7 Introduction of the Technology

Specify how the Technology was introduced:

• as part of a traditional system (> 50 years)

Comments (type of project, etc.):

Is developed by land users themselves

3.1 Main purpose(s) of the Technology

• improve production
• reduce, prevent, restore land degradation

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

Cropland

• Annual cropping
• Perennial (non-woody) cropping
• Tree and shrub cropping

Annual cropping - Specify crops:

• cereals - maize
• cereals - sorghum
• legumes and pulses - beans
• legumes and pulses - other
• oilseed crops - sunflower, rapeseed, other

• haricot bean, teff

• sugar cane, elephant grass, local grass

Tree and shrub cropping - Specify crops:

• citrus
• coffee, open grown
• fruits, other
• mango, mangosteen, guava
• papaya

• acacia, eucalyptus, khata edulis, ageava sisal, banana, lemon

Number of growing seasons per year:

• 2

Specify:

Longest growing period in days: 210 Longest growing period from month to month: May - Nov Second longest growing period in days: 180 Second longest growing period from month to month: Jan - Apr

Is intercropping practiced?

Ja

If yes, specify which crops are intercropped:

sorghum/maize +haricot beans

Grazing land

Forest/ woodlands

• (Semi-)natural forests/ woodlands

(Semi-)natural forests/ woodlands: Specify management type:

• Clear felling

Products and services:

• Timber
• Fuelwood
• Grazing/ browsing

Comments:

Major land use problems (compiler’s opinion): Increase in human and animal population, overggrazing and expansion of cultivated lands to areas which are not suitable to cultivation is a problem. Meanwhile, owing to gully expansion and in the absence of preventive and control measures, there is considerable loss of soil from grazing and cultivated lands.

Major land use problems (land users’ perception): More area is getting out of production.

Other grazingland: extensive: pastoralism: in the eastern side of the SWC technology area

Other grazingland: extensive: semi-pastoralism: on the ridgea nd hilly slopes where land users are engaged in crop and livestock production

Grazingland comments: Livestock production is decreasing primarily because of decreasing grazing lands. The number of livestock being the most important factor for herd owners than the quailty. More extension work will be needed to promot the awarness of livestock owners in a way they give emphases to quality of livestock production than numbers.

Clear felling of (semi-)natural forests: to open land for cultivation, chrcoal making

Problems / comments regarding forest use: The natural forest/wood lands are decreasing mainly to expansion of cultivation and also due to high demand for use. However, because of plantations on gullies, hillside closures and woodlots there is a positive trend of increase of planted trees.

Type of cropping system and major crops comments: Fruit trees, sugar cane, pulses

Type of grazing system comments: Livestock production is decreasing primarily because of decreasing grazing lands. The number of livestock being the most important factor for herd owners than the quailty. More extension work will be needed to promot the awarness of livestock owners in a way they give emphases to quality of livestock production than numbers.

3.4 Water supply

Water supply for the land on which the Technology is applied:

• rainfed

Comments:

Water supply: Also mixed rainfed - irrigated

Water supply: post-flooding

3.5 SLM group to which the Technology belongs

• surface water management (spring, river, lakes, sea)

3.6 SLM measures comprising the Technology

agronomic measures

• A1: Vegetation/ soil cover
• A2: Organic matter/ soil fertility
• A3: Soil surface treatment
• A6: Residue management
• A7: Others

vegetative measures

structural measures

• S6: Walls, barriers, palisades, fences

Comments:

Main measures: structural measures

Secondary measures: agronomic measures, vegetative measures

Type of agronomic measures: mixed cropping / intercropping, contour planting / strip cropping, legume inter-planting, manure / compost / residues, contour tillage

Type of vegetative measures: aligned: -contour

3.7 Main types of land degradation addressed by the Technology

soil erosion by water

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

chemical soil deterioration

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

Comments:

Main type of degradation addressed: Wg: gully erosion / gullying

Secondary types of degradation addressed: Wt: loss of topsoil / surface erosion, Cn: fertility decline and reduced organic matter content

Main causes of degradation: deforestation / removal of natural vegetation (incl. forest fires), overgrazing, other human induced causes (specify) (agricultural causes), labour availability (lack of labour), land subdivision

Secondary causes of degradation: over-exploitation of vegetation for domestic use, other natural causes (avalanches, volcanic eruptions, mud flows, highly susceptible natural resources, extreme topography, etc.) specify, poverty / wealth (lack of captial), education, access to knowledge and support services (lack of knowledge), lack of enforcement of legislat./authority

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

4.1 Technical drawing of the Technology

Technical specifications (related to technical drawing):

Amhara

Technical knowledge required for field staff / advisors: high

Technical knowledge required for land users: moderate

Main technical functions: increase / maintain water stored in soil, sediment retention / trapping, sediment harvesting

Secondary technical functions: reduction of slope angle, reduction of slope length, increase of infiltration

Mixed cropping / intercropping
Material/ species: sorghum/maize +haricot beans
Quantity/ density: 70,000 sor
Remarks: broadcast

Agronomic measure: mixed cropping / intercropping
Material/ species: teff + sunflower
Quantity/ density: -
Remarks: broadcast

Manure / compost / residues
Material/ species: Animal dung, fuelwood ash, leaves, soil
Quantity/ density: 0.6 ton/ha

Contour tillage
Remarks: along contour

Agronomic measure: Sediment trapped by checkdam
Remarks: along the contour

Agronomic measure: Seedbed preparation by hoe

Aligned: -contour
Vegetative material: T : trees / shrubs
Number of plants per (ha): 1500
Vertical interval between rows / strips / blocks (m): 1-1.8m
Spacing between rows / strips / blocks (m): 8-10m
Vertical interval within rows / strips / blocks (m): 1-2m
Width within rows / strips / blocks (m): 1x1

Vegetative measure: aligned: contour
Vegetative material: G : grass
Number of plants per (ha): -
Vertical interval between rows / strips / blocks (m): 1-1.8m
Spacing between rows / strips / blocks (m): 8-10m
Vertical interval within rows / strips / blocks (m): -
Width within rows / strips / blocks (m): -

Vegetative measure: aligned: contour
Vegetative material: G : grass
Number of plants per (ha): 2000
Vertical interval between rows / strips / blocks (m): 1-1.8m
Spacing between rows / strips / blocks (m): 8-10m
Vertical interval within rows / strips / blocks (m): -
Width within rows / strips / blocks (m): -

Vegetative measure: Vegetative material: G : grass

Vegetative measure: Vegetative material: G : grass

Trees/ shrubs species: acacia, eucalyptus, khata edulis, ageava sisal

Fruit trees / shrubs species: coffee, papaya, guava, banana, lemon, manago, orange

Grass species: elephant grass, local grass

Slope (which determines the spacing indicated above): 12.00%

If the original slope has changed as a result of the Technology, the slope today is (see figure below): 3.00%

Gradient along the rows / strips: 0.00%

Structural measure: Checkdam
Vertical interval between structures (m): 1
Spacing between structures (m): 8m
Depth of ditches/pits/dams (m): 0.3m
Width of ditches/pits/dams (m): 1m
Length of ditches/pits/dams (m): 5m
Height of bunds/banks/others (m): 0.5-1m
Width of bunds/banks/others (m): 1m
Length of bunds/banks/others (m): 5.m

Construction material (earth): Soil is embnked upslope of the stone wall as reinforcement

Construction material (stone): Stone is used to construct the embankment/wall/and is supported by soil in the upslope side to reinf

Construction material (wood): Wood used as support at the downslope side

Slope (which determines the spacing indicated above): 12%

If the original slope has changed as a result of the Technology, the slope today is: 3%

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: 1:3

Vegetation is used for stabilisation of structures.

Change of land use type: gully converted to cropland

Other type of management: fencing and guarding - protect animals from interering to plantations

4.2 General information regarding the calculation of inputs and costs

other/ national currency (specify):

Birr

If relevant, indicate exchange rate from USD to local currency (e.g. 1 USD = 79.9 Brazilian Real): 1 USD =:

8.6

4.3 Establishment activities

4.4 Costs and inputs needed for establishment

Comments:

Duration of establishment phase: 180 month(s)

4.5 Maintenance/ recurrent activities

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

Comments:

Machinery/ tools: Shovel, hoe

Length per hectar of land

4.7 Most important factors affecting the costs

Describe the most determinate factors affecting the costs:

labour, slope and depth of the gully, width of the gully, availability of construction material, soil depth. The establishment cost considerts the cost incurred over 15 years.

5.1 Climate

5.2 Topography

Comments and further specifications on topography:

Landforms: Hill slopes (ranked 1, relatively drier and the technology is most suitable to this area) and ridges (ranked 2, the ridge separates the east and west parts the SWC area)
Slopes on average: Hilly (ranked 1, mostly terraced of stone bunds), rolling (ranked 2, more number of gullies and more area under the technology) and steep (ranked 3, bush lands suitable for grazing)

5.3 Soils

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 depth on average: Shallow (ranked1, more on hill slopes), moderately deep (ranked 2, on rolling terrain) and very shallow (ranked 3, on hilly and steep slopes)
Soil texture: Medium (dominant on hilly slopes) and coarse/light (on rolling terrains)
Soil fertility is low (on hilly sloping areas) and medium (on rolling lands)
Topsoil organic matter: Low (in all land forms)
Soil drainage/infiltration is good (on hilly and rolling lands) and medium (ridge)
Soil water storage capacity is low (on hilly and rolling lands) and medium (ridge)

5.6 Characteristics of land users applying the Technology

Indicate other relevant characteristics of the land users:

Population density: 50-100 persons/km2
Annual population growth: 2% - 3%
20% of the land users are rich and own 30% of the land.
35% of the land users are average wealthy and own 30% of the land.
45% of the land users are poor and own 40% of the land.

Market orientation of garzing land production system: Subsistence (self-supply, production ids for self consumption and even it does not satistfy household needs)
Market orientation of crop land production system: Subsistence (self-supply) and mixed (subsistence and commercial)
Market orientation of crop land production system: Subsistence (self-supply, fuel wood collection for home consumption , construction wood, sell fuel woo and , make charcoal )

5.7 Average area of land used by land users applying the Technology

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

Land ownership:

• state

Land use rights:

• individual

6.1 On-site impacts the Technology has shown

Socio-economic impacts

Production

Income and costs

Socio-cultural impacts

Ecological impacts

Water cycle/ runoff

Soil

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)?

6.5 Adoption of the Technology

If available, quantify (no. of households and/ or area covered):

25000

Of all those who have adopted the Technology, how many did so spontaneously, i.e. without receiving any material incentives/ payments?

• 91-100%

Comments:

25000 land user families have adopted the Technology with external material support

Comments on acceptance with external material support: estimates

100% of land user families have adopted the Technology without any external material support

25000 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: Reclaiming gullies for agricultural land (crop and livestock production) is labourous.

6.7 Strengths/ advantages/ opportunities of the Technology

7.1 Methods/ sources of information

7.2 References to available publications

Title, author, year, ISBN:

Monthly, quarterly and annual achievement reports of the DWARDO

Title, author, year, ISBN:

Work norm of MERET

Title, author, year, ISBN:

Ethiopian Highlands Reclamation stdy

Title, author, year, ISBN:

Soil and water conservation , Morgan 1986