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Technologies
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Murettes en pierres sèches [Tunisia]

technologies_6666 - Tunisia

Completeness: 92%

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:

Dallai Farid

Direction Générale de l'Aménagement et de la Conservations des Terres Agricoles

Tunisia

SLM specialist:

Dridi Lassad

Direction Générale de l'Aménagement et de la Conservations des Terres Agricoles

Tunisia

Name of project which facilitated the documentation/ evaluation of the Technology (if relevant)
Soil protection and rehabilitation for food security (ProSo(i)l)
Name of the institution(s) which facilitated the documentation/ evaluation of the Technology (if relevant)
Direction Générale de l’Amenagement et de Conservation des Terres Agricoles (DG/ACTA) - Tunisia
Name of the institution(s) which facilitated the documentation/ evaluation of the Technology (if relevant)
GIZ Tunisia (GIZ Tunisia) - Tunisia

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

1.4 Declaration on sustainability of the described Technology

Is the Technology described here problematic with regard to land degradation, so that it cannot be declared a sustainable land management technology?

Nee

1.5 Reference to Questionnaire(s) on SLM Approaches (documented using WOCAT)

2. Description of the SLM Technology

2.1 Short description of the Technology

Definition of the Technology:

Les murettes en pierres sèches sont des ouvrages d'aménagement en dur basés sur l'agencement des pierres à fin de construire des petits murs (sans ciment ni enduit) soit selon les courbes de niveau soit sur l'horizontale perpendiculairement à la pente.

2.2 Detailed description of the Technology

Description:

Les murettes en pierres sèches sont des dispositifs antiérosifs traditionnels. Elles sont mises en places dans des régions à pluviométries supérieures à 400 mm, sur des terrains pierreux à pentes moyennes à fortes et à sols profonds.
Elles sont construites sur une fondation de largeur de 30 à 100 cm. Après un léger compactage du fond de la fondation, on place les plus grosses pierres le long de la tranchée, en assurant qu'elles sont stables, et on remplit les espaces entre les pierres avec des roches plus petites. La hauteur de la murette est de 40 cm à 1,5 m allant jusqu’à 2 voire 3 m et distantes entre elles de 3 à 50 mètres, en fonction de la pente du terrain.
Afin d'assurer la stabilité de la structure, une légère inclinaison au niveau des cotés est nécessaire. Les trous d'évacuation sont aussi nécessaires pour permettre à l'eau de s'échapper et empêcher l'accumulation de pression hydrostatique. La dernière étape de la mise en place d'une murette en pierres sèches est le remblai de la partie derrière le mur avec de la terre.
Un entretien régulier et des réparations ponctuelles sont indispensables à l'efficacité des murettes en pierres sèches en tant que techniques de conservation des eaux et des sols: Lors des événements pluvieux, en cas de besoin, on ajoute des dispositifs de drainage (des trous d'évacuation) pour mieux gérer le débit. Et suite aux fortes pluies ou événements météorologiques extrêmes, on réparez tout dommage observé (pierres lâches).
L'installation des murettes en pierres sèches vise à réduire la quantité et la vitesse du ruissellement de surface, permettant ainsi à une plus grande partie de s'infiltrer dans le sol. Ces mesures aident à contrôler l'érosion des sols et à maintenir la matière organique et les propriétés physiques du sol, ce qui entraîne une amélioration de la productivité des cultures.
Les murettes en pierres sèches représentent un excellent exemple des principes de l'agroécologie: Elles favorisent l'utilisation durable des terres, la biodiversité et l'utilisation des ressources locales.
Les utilisateurs des terres apprécient généralement les avantages que les murettes en pierres sèches peuvent apporter en termes de prévention de l'érosion des sols et de conservation des ressources en eau. Cela peut aider à promouvoir des sols sains et à soutenir une agriculture durable dans la région. Cependant, c'est une technique coûteuse, en particulier pour les petits agriculteurs.

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:

Tunisia

Region/ State/ Province:

Siliana

Further specification of location:

Bargou

Specify the spread of the Technology:
  • evenly spread over an area
If precise area is not known, indicate approximate area covered:
  • 100-1,000 km2
Is/are the technology site(s) located in a permanently protected area?

Nee

2.6 Date of implementation

Indicate year of implementation:

1992

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.):

C’est une tradition vivante.

3. Classification of the SLM Technology

3.1 Main purpose(s) of the Technology

  • improve production
  • reduce, prevent, restore land degradation
  • reduce risk of disasters
  • create beneficial economic impact

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

Land use mixed within the same land unit:

Nee


Cropland

Cropland

  • Annual cropping
  • Tree and shrub cropping
Annual cropping - Specify crops:
  • vegetables - root vegetables (carrots, onions, beet, other)
Tree and shrub cropping - Specify crops:
  • olive
Number of growing seasons per year:
  • 1
Is intercropping practiced?

Nee

Is crop rotation practiced?

Nee

3.3 Has land use changed due to the implementation of the Technology?

Has land use changed due to the implementation of the Technology?
  • Yes (Please fill out the questions below with regard to the land use before implementation of the Technology)
Land use mixed within the same land unit:

Ja

Cropland

Cropland

  • Tree and shrub cropping
Tree and shrub cropping - Specify crops:
  • olive
Is intercropping practiced?

Nee

Is crop rotation practiced?

Nee

3.4 Water supply

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

3.5 SLM group to which the Technology belongs

  • integrated soil fertility management
  • cross-slope measure

3.6 SLM measures comprising the Technology

structural measures

structural measures

  • S2: Bunds, banks

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
chemical soil deterioration

chemical soil deterioration

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

3.8 Prevention, reduction, or restoration of land degradation

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

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

4.1 Technical drawing of the Technology

Technical specifications (related to technical drawing):

H: Hauteur de 40 cm à 1,5 m allant jusqu’à 2 voire 3 m

Author:

Wafa SAIDI

Date:

03/2023

4.2 General information regarding the calculation of inputs and costs

Specify how costs and inputs were calculated:
  • per Technology area
Indicate size and area unit:

1 ha

other/ national currency (specify):

Dinars tunisien

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

3.1

4.3 Establishment activities

Activity Timing (season)
1. Repérer et tracer les courbes de niveau
2. Creuser un sillon de profondeur de 50 cm et largeur de 70 cm le long des courbes de niveau préalablement tracés.
3. Poser les pierres de manière à assurer la solidité de l'ouvrage et jusqu'à atteindre la hauteur souhaitée de la murette

4.4 Costs and inputs needed for establishment

Specify input Unit Quantity Costs per Unit Total costs per input % of costs borne by land users
Labour Ouvriers Mètre linéaire 200.0 10.0 2000.0
Equipment Outils de chantier, Transport des pierres hors exploitations Mètre linéaire 200.0 1.0 200.0
Construction material Pierres Mètre Linéaire 200.0 1.0 200.0
Total costs for establishment of the Technology 2400.0
Total costs for establishment of the Technology in USD 774.19
If land user bore less than 100% of costs, indicate who covered the remaining costs:

Direction Générale de l'Aménagement et de la Conservations des Terres Agricoles

4.5 Maintenance/ recurrent activities

Activity Timing/ frequency
1. Surélévation de la murette
2. Travail du sol

4.6 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 Homme/Jour ha 1.0 240.0 240.0
Total costs for maintenance of the Technology 240.0
Total costs for maintenance of the Technology in USD 77.42
If land user bore less than 100% of costs, indicate who covered the remaining costs:

Direction Générale de l'Aménagement et de la Conservations des Terres Agricoles

4.7 Most important factors affecting the costs

Describe the most determinate factors affecting the costs:

Les deux facteurs affectants les couts sont la disponibilité de la main d'œuvre et des pierres sur le terrain.

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:

450.00

Specifications/ comments on rainfall:

- L’irrégularité interannuelle de la pluviométrie.
- L'irrégularité inter-saisonnière de la précipitation.

Indicate the name of the reference meteorological station considered:

Siliana

Agro-climatic zone
  • semi-arid

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.
Indicate if the Technology is specifically applied in:
  • not relevant

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)
Soil texture (> 20 cm below surface):
  • medium (loamy, silty)
Topsoil organic matter:
  • medium (1-3%)
If available, attach full soil description or specify the available information, e.g. soil type, soil PH/ acidity, Cation Exchange Capacity, nitrogen, salinity etc.

Texture de la couche arable: Moyenne
pH de la couche arable (H2O): 8,7
Sodicité de la couche arable (ESP) (%): 13
pH du sous-sol (H2O): 8,5
Sodicité du sous-sol (ESP) (%): 9
Salinité du sous-sol (ECe) (dS/m): 0,4

5.4 Water availability and quality

Ground water table:

> 50 m

Availability of surface water:

medium

Water quality (untreated):

for agricultural use only (irrigation)

Water quality refers to:

both ground and surface water

Is water salinity a problem?

Nee

Is flooding of the area occurring?

Nee

5.5 Biodiversity

Species diversity:
  • medium
Habitat diversity:
  • low

5.6 Characteristics of land users applying the Technology

Sedentary or nomadic:
  • Sedentary
Market orientation of production system:
  • mixed (subsistence/ commercial)
Off-farm income:
  • less than 10% of all income
Relative level of wealth:
  • average
Individuals or groups:
  • individual/ household
Level of mechanization:
  • manual work
Gender:
  • men
Age of land users:
  • middle-aged
  • elderly

5.7 Average area of land used 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)?
  • medium-scale

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

Land ownership:
  • individual, not titled
Land use rights:
  • individual
Water use rights:
  • individual
Are land use rights based on a traditional legal system?

Ja

Specify:

Héritage

5.9 Access to services and infrastructure

health:
  • poor
  • moderate
  • good
education:
  • poor
  • moderate
  • good
technical assistance:
  • poor
  • moderate
  • good
employment (e.g. off-farm):
  • poor
  • moderate
  • good
markets:
  • poor
  • moderate
  • good
energy:
  • poor
  • moderate
  • good
roads and transport:
  • poor
  • moderate
  • good
drinking water and sanitation:
  • poor
  • moderate
  • good
financial services:
  • 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

crop quality

decreased
increased

production area

decreased
increased

land management

hindered
simplified
Income and costs

farm income

decreased
increased
Other socio-economic impacts

Exode rural

En augmentation
En baisse

Socio-cultural impacts

food security/ self-sufficiency

reduced
improved

SLM/ land degradation knowledge

reduced
improved
Comments/ specify:

Les exploitants des terres sont impliqués dans le process de la mise en œuvre des murettes en pierres sèches en tant qu'ouvriers.

Ecological impacts

Soil

soil moisture

decreased
increased

soil loss

increased
decreased
Specify assessment of on-site impacts (measurements):

Les impacts sur site sont des estimations faites par les agriculteurs et les experts.

6.2 Off-site impacts the Technology has shown

downstream siltation

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 increase or decrease How does the Technology cope with it?
seasonal temperature summer increase well
annual rainfall decrease very well

6.4 Cost-benefit analysis

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

very positive

Long-term returns:

very positive

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

very positive

Long-term returns:

very positive

6.5 Adoption of the Technology

  • > 50%
Of all those who have adopted the Technology, how many did so spontaneously, i.e. without receiving any material incentives/ payments?
  • 11-50%

6.6 Adaptation

Has the Technology been modified recently to adapt to changing conditions?

Nee

6.7 Strengths/ advantages/ opportunities of the Technology

Strengths/ advantages/ opportunities in the land user’s view
La prévention de l'érosion du sol en réduisant le ruissellement de l'eau
La création des zones planes ou en pente douce cultivables
La durabilité
Strengths/ advantages/ opportunities in the compiler’s or other key resource person’s view
Les murettes en pierres sèches aident à atténuer les impacts des fortes précipitations en réduisant le ruissellement de l'eau et l'érosion des sols, d'une part, et contribuant à la résistance à la sécheresse, d'autre part.
Les murettes en pierres sèches contribuent à la conservation des ressources naturelles et des écosystèmes, favorisant l'équilibre écologique et la biodiversité.

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?
C'est une technologie couteuse L'accès à un soutien financier ou à des subventions
Weaknesses/ disadvantages/ risks in the compiler’s or other key resource person’s view How can they be overcome?
Disponibilité limitée de main-d'œuvre qualifiée Investir dans des programmes de formation ou des ateliers pour renforcer les capacités et l'expertise locales

7. References and links

7.1 Methods/ sources of information

  • field visits, field surveys
  • interviews with land users
  • interviews with SLM specialists/ experts
  • compilation from reports and other existing documentation

7.2 References to available publications

Title, author, year, ISBN:

Guide de conservation des eaux et du Sol, Ministère de l’agriculture, Direction Générale de l'Aménagement et de la Conservations des Terres Agricoles, 1995

Available from where? Costs?

Direction Générale de l'Aménagement et de la Conservations des Terres Agricoles, 1995: Ministère de l’agriculture, Direction Générale de l'Aménagement et de la Conservations des Terres Agricoles

Title, author, year, ISBN:

Carte agricole de la Tunisie, Ministère de l’agriculture, 2005

Available from where? Costs?

Ministère de l’agriculture, Direction Générale de l'Aménagement et de la Conservations des Terres Agricoles

7.3 Links to relevant online information

Title/ description:

Guide technique pour la lutte contre la désertification, Abdessalem Kallala, OSS, 2017

URL:

https://www.wwf.ma/nos_nouvelles/nospublications/?33164/Guide-des-bonnes-pratiques-dutilisation-durable-de-leau-et-des-terres

Title/ description:

Guide des bonnes pratiques d'utilisation durable de l'eau et des terres, WWF, 2019

URL:

https://www.wwf.ma/nos_nouvelles/nospublications/?33164/Guide-des-bonnes-pratiques-dutilisation-durable-de-leau-et-des-terres

Title/ description:

Harmonized World Soil Database, FAO, 2009

URL:

https://www.fao.org/soils-portal/data-hub/soil-maps-and-databases/harmonized-world-soil-database-v12/en/

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