Technologies

Fodder Crop Production [Turkey]

Yem Bitkileri Yetiştiriciliği (Turkish)

technologies_1015 - Turkey

Completeness: 80%

1. معلومات عامة

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

Key resource person(s)

SLM specialist:

Inci Tolay

Eskişehir Osmangazi University, Faculty of Agriculture

Turkey

Resident:

Caz Azmi

Turkey

Name of project which facilitated the documentation/ evaluation of the Technology (if relevant)
DESIRE (EU-DES!RE)
Name of the institution(s) which facilitated the documentation/ evaluation of the Technology (if relevant)
Eskisehir Osmangazi University (Eskisehir Osmangazi University) - Türkiye

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:

نعم

2. Description of the SLM Technology

2.1 Short description of the Technology

Definition of the Technology:

Production of fodder crops every year both for feeding livestock and increasing soil fertility.

2.2 Detailed description of the Technology

Description:

Fodder crops (maize, alfalfa, sainfoin, common vetch, triticale, oat, fodder beet, wheat and barley) are grown for hay production for livestock feeding. Growing fodder crops is a part of sustainable agriculture. The soil is protected in dry farming areas by covering the soil surface and leguminous fodder species (alfalfa, sainfoin, common vetch), which increases the soil fertility by nitrogen fixation. Applying the technology does not require extra inputs different from other agricultural crops. All that is needed is to identify a crop rotation plan including fodder production and regular agricultural crops.

Purpose of the Technology: Different fodder crops (legumineous and gramineous plants) are produced to feed the farmers’ own livestock. By enabling widespread and dense surface cover, It helps both in dry farming and irrigated areas to protect the soil from water and wind erosion.

Establishment / maintenance activities and inputs: Usually the soil is first ploughed. Soil cultivation machinery (tractor, disc plough, wide-sweep cultivator, disc harrow, fertilizer and seed drill) is used to prepare the soil for cultivation, to fertilize the soil and to sow the seeds. After seeding and growing of the crops, special machinery is used for harvesting.

Natural / human environment: Farmers who produce both livestock and field crops in particular can use this technology and get an improved benefit. They can increase income and at the same time protect their soil.

2.3 Photos of the Technology

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

بلد:

Turkey

Region/ State/ Province:

Eskişehir

Further specification of location:

Keskin 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:

Farmers think that the technology is helpful for livestock feeding and for increasing soil fertility

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)

3. Classification of the SLM Technology

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

Land use mixed within the same land unit:

نعم

Specify mixed land use (crops/ grazing/ trees):
  • Agro-pastoralism (incl. integrated crop-livestock)

الأراضي الزراعية

الأراضي الزراعية

  • Annual cropping
  • Perennial (non-woody) cropping
Annual cropping - Specify crops:
  • fodder crops - alfalfa
  • fodder crops - grasses
  • fodder crops - other
  • gramineous fodder species
Number of growing seasons per year:
  • 1
حددها:

Longest growing period in days: 180Longest growing period from month to month: Nov - Apr

أراضي الرعي

أراضي الرعي

Extensive grazing:
  • Ranching
Animal type:
  • goats
  • sheep
  • cow
Comments:

Major land use problems (compiler’s opinion): monoculture in dry farming areas, insufficient irrigation and rainfall, overgrazing, false cultivation techniques.

Major land use problems (land users’ perception): Insufficient technical help and interest to agriculture problems by government, urbanization pressure, land fragmentation, monoculture in dry farming areas, insufficient irrigation and rainfall, overgrazing, false cultivation techniques.

Ranching: cow, sheep,goat

Other grazingland: agropastoralism

Livestock is grazing on crop residues

Constraints of settlement / urban: some legal problems

Constraints of recreation: no problem

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

Comments:

Livestock density (if relevant):

25-50 LU /km2

3.4 Water supply

Comments:

Water supply: mixed rainfed - irrigated, rainfed, mixed rainfed - irrigated, full irrigation

3.5 SLM group to which the Technology belongs

  • improved ground/ vegetation cover

3.6 SLM measures comprising the Technology

agronomic measures

agronomic measures

  • A2: Organic matter/ soil fertility
  • A7: Others
Comments:

Main measures: agronomic measures

Type of agronomic measures: better crop cover, relay cropping, cover cropping, retaining more vegetation cover, legume inter-planting, rotations / fallows

3.7 Main types of land degradation addressed by the Technology

chemical soil deterioration

chemical soil deterioration

  • Cn: fertility decline and reduced organic matter content (not caused by erosion)
  • Cs: salinization/ alkalinization
physical soil deterioration

physical soil deterioration

  • Pk: slaking and crusting
biological degradation

biological degradation

  • Bl: loss of soil life
  • Bp: increase of pests/ diseases, loss of predators
Comments:

Main type of degradation addressed: Cn: fertility decline and reduced organic matter content

Secondary types of degradation addressed: Cs: salinisation / alkalinisation, Pk: sealing and crusting, Bl: loss of soil life, Bp: increase of pests / diseases, loss of predators

Main causes of degradation: crop management (annual, perennial, tree/shrub) (Monocropping is dominant), land tenure, governance / institutional

Secondary causes of degradation: over-exploitation of vegetation for domestic use, overgrazing (Regular management in pasture is needed), urbanisation and infrastructure development (There are border and legislative problems), disturbance of water cycle (infiltration / runoff) (Destroying of soil vegetation cover increase the evapotranspiration of soil water), over abstraction / excessive withdrawal of water (for irrigation, industry, etc.) (In recent year low rainfall occurs), population pressure, education, access to knowledge and support services

3.8 Prevention, reduction, or restoration of land degradation

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

Main goals: prevention of land degradation

Secondary goals: rehabilitation / reclamation of denuded land

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

4.1 Technical drawing of the Technology

Technical specifications (related to technical drawing):

A special harvesting machine used to bale fodder

Technical knowledge required for field staff / advisors: moderate (state advisors are generally aquitained with enough agricultural information.)

Technical knowledge required for land users: moderate (need knowledge for alternative fodders, their mode of cultivation.)

Main technical functions: improvement of ground cover

Secondary technical functions: improvement of topsoil structure (compaction), increase in organic matter, increase in nutrient availability (supply, recycling,…), increase of infiltration, increase / maintain water stored in soil, increase of biomass (quantity)

Better crop cover
Material/ species: Folder crops it depends on plant type

Relay cropping
Material/ species: Leguminious and gramineous plants are grovin intercroppingly

Cover cropping
Material/ species: Perennial legumes provide a cover on soil long time

Retaining more vegetation cover
Material/ species: Legumunious fodders provide nitrogen fixation to soil

Legume inter-planting
Quantity/ density: 3t/ha

Rotations / fallows
Material/ species: Fallow is made in dry farming areas

Author:

http://turhaltarim.gov

4.2 General information regarding the calculation of inputs and costs

other/ national currency (specify):

YTL

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

1,3

Indicate average wage cost of hired labour per day:

20.00

4.3 Establishment activities

Activity Timing (season)
1. Buying a harvest machine

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
Equipment Machine use ha 1,0 50,0 50,0 100,0
Total costs for establishment of the Technology 50,0
Total costs for establishment of the Technology in USD 38,46
Comments:

Duration of establishment phase: 1 month(s)
Life span of the harvest machine: 20 years

4.5 Maintenance/ recurrent activities

Activity Timing/ frequency
1. Ploughing before harvest/ annually
2. Provide seeds from agricultural agencies
3. Fertilizing
4. Irrigation

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 Labour ha 1,0 300,0 300,0 100,0
Equipment Machine use ha 1,0 25,0 25,0 100,0
Equipment Ploughing ha 1,0 175,0 175,0 100,0
Plant material Seeds ha 1,0 300,0 300,0 75,0
Plant material Fertilizer ha 1,0 100,0 100,0 100,0
Plant material Biocides ha 1,0 20,0 20,0 100,0
Plant material Irrigation ha 1,0 280,0 280,0 100,0
Total costs for maintenance of the Technology 1200,0
Total costs for maintenance of the Technology in USD 923,08

4.7 Most important factors affecting the costs

Describe the most determinate factors affecting the costs:

Certified seed material and tillage costs (e.g. oil, machines) are the most determining factors affecting the costs.

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
Specifications/ comments on rainfall:

3-4 months

Agro-climatic zone
  • semi-arid

Thermal climate class: temperate

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:
  • concave situations

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)
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 medium
Soil drainage/infiltration is medium
Soil water storage capacity is medium

5.4 Water availability and quality

Ground water table:

5-50 m

Availability of surface water:

medium

Water quality (untreated):

good drinking water

Comments and further specifications on water quality and quantity:

Ground water table 5-50m (high in winter and spring; low in summer; medium in autumn)
Availability of surface water is medium (high in winter and spring; low in summer and autumn)
Water quality (untreated) is good drinking water ( Both ground and surface water)

5.5 Biodiversity

Species diversity:
  • low

5.6 Characteristics of land users applying the Technology

Market orientation of production system:
  • commercial/ market
Off-farm income:
  • less than 10% of all income
Relative level of wealth:
  • poor
  • average
Individuals or groups:
  • individual/ household
Level of mechanization:
  • mechanized/ motorized
Indicate other relevant characteristics of the land users:

Population density: 10-50 persons/km2

Annual population growth: < 0.5%

2% of the land users are rich and own 29% of the land.
96% of the land users are average wealthy and own 70% of the land.
2% of the land users are poor and own 1% of the land.

Off-farm income specification: 1 % of land users have off farm income

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
Comments:

Average area of land owned or leased by land users applying the Technology: < 0.5 ha, 0.5-1 ha (cropland), 50-100 ha (grazing land)

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

Land ownership:
  • communal/ village
  • individual, titled
Water use rights:
  • leased

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
Comments/ specify:

20 % increase

fodder production

decreased
increased
Comments/ specify:

75% increase

fodder quality

decreased
increased
Comments/ specify:

75% increase

Water availability and quality

demand for irrigation water

increased
decreased
Quantity before SLM:

50%

Quantity after SLM:

50%

Income and costs

expenses on agricultural inputs

increased
decreased
Quantity before SLM:

50%

Quantity after SLM:

50%

farm income

decreased
increased
Comments/ specify:

20% increase

Socio-cultural impacts

food security/ self-sufficiency

reduced
improved

health situation

worsened
improved
Comments/ specify:

Imncreased 40%

SLM/ land degradation knowledge

reduced
improved
Comments/ specify:

increased 30%

conflict mitigation

worsened
improved

Improved livelihoods and human well-being

decreased
increased
Comments/ specify:

The improved livestock feeding increases income

Ecological impacts

Water cycle/ runoff

water quantity

decreased
increased
Quantity before SLM:

50%

Quantity after SLM:

50%

harvesting/ collection of water

reduced
improved

surface runoff

increased
decreased

groundwater table/ aquifer

lowered
recharge
Quantity before SLM:

25%

Quantity after SLM:

50%

Soil

soil moisture

decreased
increased

soil cover

reduced
improved

soil loss

increased
decreased

soil crusting/ sealing

increased
reduced
Quantity before SLM:

10%

Quantity after SLM:

15%

nutrient cycling/ recharge

decreased
increased

salinity

increased
decreased

soil organic matter/ below ground C

decreased
increased
Biodiversity: vegetation, animals

biomass/ above ground C

decreased
increased

plant diversity

decreased
increased

beneficial species

decreased
increased

habitat diversity

decreased
increased
Climate and disaster risk reduction

wind velocity

increased
decreased

6.2 Off-site impacts the Technology has shown

water availability

decreased
increased

downstream flooding

increased
reduced

downstream siltation

increased
decreased

buffering/ filtering capacity

reduced
improved

wind transported sediments

increased
reduced

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?
annual temperature increase not well

Climate-related extremes (disasters)

Meteorological disasters
How does the Technology cope with it?
local rainstorm well
local windstorm well
Climatological disasters
How does the Technology cope with it?
drought not well
Hydrological disasters
How does the Technology cope with it?
general (river) flood well

Other climate-related consequences

Other climate-related consequences
How does the Technology cope with it?
reduced growing period not well
temperature below 10°C not well

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:

positive

Long-term returns:

very positive

6.5 Adoption of the Technology

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

100

Of all those who have adopted the Technology, how many did so spontaneously, i.e. without receiving any material incentives/ payments?
  • 0-10%
Comments:

90% of land user families have adopted the Technology with external material support
95 land user families have adopted the Technology with external material support
Comments on acceptance with external material support: financial support in cash
5% of land user families have adopted the Technology without any external material support
5 land user families have adopted the Technology without any external material support
Comments on spontaneous adoption: Because of the high costs of the inputs land users do not want to apply the technology without external support
There is a little trend towards spontaneous adoption of the Technology
Comments on adoption trend: Input prices are increasing and therefore farmers do not readily adopt the technology without some inducement.

6.7 Strengths/ advantages/ opportunities of the Technology

Strengths/ advantages/ opportunities in the land user’s view
It reduces the cost of fodder input

How can they be sustained / enhanced? Subsidies should be continued
It increases productivity of livestock

How can they be sustained / enhanced? Technical knowledge should be given
Strengths/ advantages/ opportunities in the compiler’s or other key resource person’s view
It improves the soil fertility

How can they be sustained / enhanced? Technical and economic support is needed
It improves the livestock health by means of mixed fodder

How can they be sustained / enhanced? Technical and economic support is needed
Increased protection of soil from water erosion

How can they be sustained / enhanced? Trials in plots should be done to demonstrate the magnitude of this advantage, so that the farmers can easily accept this technology

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?
Technology increases water use Drip irrigation in the suitable crops can be a partial solution
Weaknesses/ disadvantages/ risks in the compiler’s or other key resource person’s view How can they be overcome?
Land users awareness is low They can be trained

7. References and links

7.1 Methods/ sources of information

7.2 References to available publications

Title, author, year, ISBN:

Ryder, M.H., Fares, A., 2008. Evaluating cover crops (sudex, sunn hemp, oats) for use as vegetative filters to control sediment and nutrient loading from agricultural runoff in a Hawaiian watershed. J. Am. Water Res. Assoc. 44, 640–653.

Title, author, year, ISBN:

De Baets, S., Poesen, J., Meersmans, J., Serlet, L., 2011. Cover crops and their erosion-reducing effects during concentrated flow erosion. Catena, 85: 237–244.

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