Jatropha planted across a shallow, partly rehabilitated gully. (Simon Bach (CDE, Bern, Switerland))

Jatropha curcas hedge (Ethiopia)

Agulo Keter

Description

Gully rehabilitation and hill stabilization with Jatropha hedges.

In the area around Bati in Ethiopia, Jatropha is used to stabilize hills ore to rehabilitate gullies. The technology was introduced during the last decade by local farmers on their plots. The advantage of Jatropha against other shrubs is that it is poisonous and therefore not browsed by animals. Additionally the seeds can be collected by household members and sold on the local market. The seed's oil can be used as a lamp oil or even for the production of bio-fuel.

Purpose of the Technology: Besides hedges and living fences, Jatropha is used for combating sheet or gully erosion. To stop erosion processes the Jatropha cuttings are planted across a gully or along hill sides to stabilize them in the same manner as check dams or terraces do. The plant is chosen because of its very tolerant character, rather high accessibility in the area and because it is easy to propagate by cuttings. Often Jatropha is used in combination with traditional stone check dams or terraces aiming for an increased stability of the technology itself. For that purpose Jatropha is planted in front of the stone walls or also on top of them.

Establishment / maintenance activities and inputs: In earlier times Jatropha was planted by seeds but nowadays, since there are a lot of plants in the area, propagation by cuttings is the more prominent form. Since the plants are pruned every year anyway, the cuttings are accessible almost in any case for free. At markets further away, the cuttings cost around one cent per piece. In order to rehabilitate a gully Jatropha cuttings are planted as near as possible in the selected area in a row across the gully. After rooting, the spaces between the plants are filled up with litter, shrubs or stones. In order to have a thick stem and avoid competition with crops, the plants are pruned every year. The thick main stems reach a height of approximately one meter which delineates the maximum height of possible soil collection. If the area behind the filled up gaps and the cuttings has silted up, the height is increased by adding new litter in the higher up gaps. In off farming season, the Jatropha seeds are collected and sold on the market to create additional income.

Natural / human environment: The case study site, Bati, lays in an semiarid climatic zone on 1600 m a.s.l. Rainfalls are erratic and the rain sum per year is between 500-1000 mm. The landscape is very hilly with rather steep slopes. The area has a high population density and growth. The agricultural sector is very dominant and lead by a lot of small scale farming with a lot of livestock and small plots of cropland.

Location

Location: Bati, Ethiopia / Amhara Region, Ethiopia

No. of Technology sites analysed:

Geo-reference of selected sites
  • 40.01422, 11.15824

Spread of the Technology:

In a permanently protected area?:

Date of implementation: 10-50 years ago

Type of introduction
Detail view of the Jatropha curcas structure from downstream view. (Simon Bach (CDE, Bern, Switerland))

Classification of the Technology

Main purpose
  • improve production
  • reduce, prevent, restore land degradation
  • conserve ecosystem
  • protect a watershed/ downstream areas – in combination with other Technologies
  • preserve/ improve biodiversity
  • reduce risk of disasters
  • adapt to climate change/ extremes and its impacts
  • mitigate climate change and its impacts
  • create beneficial economic impact
  • create beneficial social impact
Land use
Land use mixed within the same land unit: Yes - Silvo-pastoralism

  • Cropland
    • Annual cropping: cereals - sorghum, corn
    • Tree and shrub cropping
    Number of growing seasons per year: 1
  • Grazing land
      Animal type: camels, cattle - dairy, goats, poultry, sheep
    Water supply
    • rainfed
    • mixed rainfed-irrigated
    • full irrigation

    Purpose related to land degradation
    • prevent land degradation
    • reduce land degradation
    • restore/ rehabilitate severely degraded land
    • adapt to land degradation
    • not applicable
    Degradation addressed
    • soil erosion by water - Wt: loss of topsoil/ surface erosion, Wg: gully erosion/ gullying
    SLM group
    • cross-slope measure
    SLM measures
    • vegetative measures - V1: Tree and shrub cover
    • structural measures - S1: Terraces, S6: Walls, barriers, palisades, fences

    Technical drawing

    Technical specifications
    Jatropha hedges as they can be found in the region of Bati. Often the plant is used for gully rehabilitation. For that purpose it is planted (mostly by cuttings) with a minimal interval between each plant to create a barrier-like hedge. The gaps are filled up with litter or stones.
    Approximately 1 m of soil can be collected by the trunk - above that height it is too thin. The Jatropha seed can create additional income besides the purpose of soil and water conservation. Often, the plant is used in combination with traditional technologies (terraces, stone walls) and planted on top or in front of these traditional structures to improve their stability.

    Location: South of Bati. Bati Woreda, Amhara Region, Ethiopia

    Date: 05.05.2011

    Technical knowledge required for land users: low (Planting takes place rather randomly in places of needs.)

    Main technical functions: control of concentrated runoff: retain / trap, control of concentrated runoff: impede / retard, reduction of slope angle, increase / maintain water stored in soil, increase of groundwater level / recharge of groundwater, sediment retention / trapping, sediment harvesting

    Secondary technical functions: reduction of slope length, improvement of ground cover, improvement of topsoil structure (compaction), increase in organic matter, increase in nutrient availability (supply, recycling,…), increase of infiltration, water harvesting / increase water supply, improvement of water quality, buffering / filtering water, reduction in wind speed, increase of biomass (quantity)

    Aligned: -contour
    Vegetative material: T : trees / shrubs
    Number of plants per (ha): 10 per m
    Vertical interval between rows / strips / blocks (m): ~1m
    Spacing between rows / strips / blocks (m): ~20m
    Vertical interval within rows / strips / blocks (m): 0.1
    Width within rows / strips / blocks (m): 1.5

    Vegetative measure: filling material
    Vegetative material: O : other

    Vegetative measure: Vegetative material: O : other

    Vegetative measure: Vegetative material: O : other

    Vegetative measure: Vegetative material: O : other

    Trees/ shrubs species: Jatropha curcas

    Other species: Stones, shrubs, sticks - things that can be found and utilized to fill up gaps between each plant.
    Author: Simon Bach, CDE, Bern, Switzerland

    Establishment and maintenance: activities, inputs and costs

    Calculation of inputs and costs
    • Costs are calculated:
    • Currency used for cost calculation: Ethiopian Birr
    • Exchange rate (to USD): 1 USD = 16.82 Ethiopian Birr
    • Average wage cost of hired labour per day: 1.00
    Most important factors affecting the costs
    Rough topology in the area, questionable availability of construction materials if they are not found nearby.
    Establishment activities
    1. One time initial sawing of Jatropha seeds (30 years ago). (Timing/ frequency: Initial. Wet season.)
    2. Cutting of the Jatropha cuttings (12.5 person days needed). (Timing/ frequency: dry season)
    3. Planting of the Jatropha cuttings (12.5 person days needed). (Timing/ frequency: dry season)
    Establishment inputs and costs
    Specify input Unit Quantity Costs per Unit (Ethiopian Birr) Total costs per input (Ethiopian Birr) % of costs borne by land users
    Labour
    Seeding person day 1.0 1.0 1.0 100.0
    Cutting of the Jatropha cuttings person day 12.5 1.0 12.5 100.0
    Planting of the Jatropha cuttings person day 12.5 1.0 12.5 100.0
    Equipment
    Tools for cutting 500m 1.0 5.0 5.0 100.0
    Plant material
    Seeds kg 1.0 2.0 2.0 100.0
    Total costs for establishment of the Technology 33.0
    Total costs for establishment of the Technology in USD 1.96
    Maintenance activities
    1. Collection of Jatropha seeds (5 person days needed). (Timing/ frequency: Off farming season(Okt.))
    2. Filling up the gaps with litter (5 person days needed). (Timing/ frequency: If necessary)
    3. Pruning of the Jatropha hedges (15 person days needed). (Timing/ frequency: Yearly before wet season.)
    Maintenance inputs and costs
    Specify input Unit Quantity Costs per Unit (Ethiopian Birr) Total costs per input (Ethiopian Birr) % of costs borne by land users
    Labour
    Collection of Jatropha seeds Person days 5.0 1.0 5.0 100.0
    Filling up the gaps with litter Person days 5.0 1.0 5.0 100.0
    Pruning of the Jatropha person days 15.0 1.0 15.0 100.0
    Equipment
    Tools Person days 15.0 0.333333333 5.0 100.0
    Construction material
    Wood 500m 1.0 100.0
    Stone 500m 1.0 100.0
    Total costs for maintenance of the Technology 30.0
    Total costs for maintenance of the Technology in USD 1.78

    Natural environment

    Average 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
    Agro-climatic zone
    • humid
    • sub-humid
    • semi-arid
    • arid
    Specifications on climate
    Erratic rainfall (rainseason from June until September)
    751-1000 mm ranked 1
    501-750 mm ranked 2
    Thermal climate class: tropics
    LGP shorter than 90 days.
    Slope
    • 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
    Altitude
    • 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.
    Technology is applied in
    • convex situations
    • concave situations
    • not relevant
    Soil depth
    • 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)
    • coarse/ light (sandy)
    • medium (loamy, silty)
    • fine/ heavy (clay)
    Soil texture (> 20 cm below surface)
    • coarse/ light (sandy)
    • medium (loamy, silty)
    • fine/ heavy (clay)
    Topsoil organic matter content
    • high (>3%)
    • medium (1-3%)
    • low (<1%)
    Groundwater table
    • on surface
    • < 5 m
    • 5-50 m
    • > 50 m
    Availability of surface water
    • excess
    • good
    • medium
    • poor/ none
    Water quality (untreated)
    • good drinking water
    • poor drinking water (treatment required)
    • for agricultural use only (irrigation)
    • unusable
    Water quality refers to:
    Is salinity a problem?
    • Yes
    • No

    Occurrence of flooding
    • Yes
    • No
    Species diversity
    • high
    • medium
    • low
    Habitat diversity
    • high
    • medium
    • low

    Characteristics of land users applying the Technology

    Market orientation
    • subsistence (self-supply)
    • mixed (subsistence/ commercial)
    • commercial/ market
    Off-farm income
    • less than 10% of all income
    • 10-50% of all income
    • > 50% of all income
    Relative level of wealth
    • very poor
    • poor
    • average
    • rich
    • very rich
    Level of mechanization
    • manual work
    • animal traction
    • mechanized/ motorized
    Sedentary or nomadic
    • Sedentary
    • Semi-nomadic
    • Nomadic
    Individuals or groups
    • individual/ household
    • groups/ community
    • cooperative
    • employee (company, government)
    Gender
    • women
    • men
    Age
    • children
    • youth
    • middle-aged
    • elderly
    Area used per household
    • < 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
    Scale
    • small-scale
    • medium-scale
    • large-scale
    Land ownership
    • state
    • company
    • communal/ village
    • group
    • individual, not titled
    • individual, titled
    Land use rights
    • open access (unorganized)
    • communal (organized)
    • leased
    • individual
    Water use rights
    • open access (unorganized)
    • communal (organized)
    • leased
    • individual
    Access to services and infrastructure
    health

    poor
    x
    good
    education

    poor
    x
    good
    technical assistance

    poor
    x
    good
    employment (e.g. off-farm)

    poor
    x
    good
    markets

    poor
    x
    good
    energy

    poor
    x
    good
    roads and transport

    poor
    x
    good
    drinking water and sanitation

    poor
    x
    good
    financial services

    poor
    x
    good

    Impacts

    Socio-economic impacts
    Crop production
    decreased
    x
    increased


    gullies are transformed to fields

    risk of production failure
    increased
    x
    decreased


    improving soil moisture

    product diversity
    decreased
    x
    increased


    selling the Jatropha curcas seeds

    production area (new land under cultivation/ use)
    decreased
    x
    increased


    gullies are transformed to fields. Structure needs space but also gains space

    land management
    hindered
    x
    simplified


    gully is now flat land and traversable, structure as a new obstacle

    energy generation (e.g. hydro, bio)
    decreased
    x
    increased


    Jatropha curcas seed oil as a biofuel

    drinking water availability
    decreased
    x
    increased

    expenses on agricultural inputs
    increased
    x
    decreased


    alluvial soil is relatively fertile

    farm income
    decreased
    x
    increased


    new fields lead to higher productivity

    diversity of income sources
    decreased
    x
    increased


    selling the Jatropha curcas seeds

    economic disparities
    increased
    x
    decreased


    additional income by selling Jatropha seeds

    workload
    increased
    x
    decreased


    slightly labor increase, establishment and maintenance work

    Socio-cultural impacts
    food security/ self-sufficiency
    reduced
    x
    improved


    additional space for new fields

    community institutions
    weakened
    x
    strengthened

    national institutions
    weakened
    x
    strengthened

    SLM/ land degradation knowledge
    reduced
    x
    improved


    positive examples for other land users

    situation of socially and economically disadvantaged groups (gender, age, status, ehtnicity etc.)
    worsened
    x
    improved


    up -downstream problems may be solved

    Improved livelihoods and human well-being
    decreased
    x
    increased


    Accumulation of soil leads to new space for fields and additional food security or even income (if crop surplus is sold). Collection of Jatropha curcas seeds - they can be sold (additional income) or processed to oil (lamp oil etc.)

    Ecological impacts
    water quantity
    decreased
    x
    increased


    increased soil moisture

    harvesting/ collection of water (runoff, dew, snow, etc)
    reduced
    x
    improved


    Jatropha curcas dam blocks water flow

    surface runoff
    increased
    x
    decreased


    increased infiltration, reduced flow velocity

    groundwater table/ aquifer
    lowered
    x
    recharge


    increased infiltration

    evaporation
    increased
    x
    decreased


    maybe due to the Jatropha curcas canopy

    soil moisture
    decreased
    x
    increased


    Jatropha curcas dam blocks water flow,. But additional groundwater may be logged

    soil cover
    reduced
    x
    improved


    Jatropha curcas canopy

    soil loss
    increased
    x
    decreased


    alluvial accumulation behind the structure

    soil crusting/ sealing
    increased
    x
    reduced


    increased rooting

    soil compaction
    increased
    x
    reduced


    increased rooting

    nutrient cycling/ recharge
    decreased
    x
    increased


    Jatropha curcas leaves & litter

    soil organic matter/ below ground C
    decreased
    x
    increased


    Jatropha curcas leaves & litter

    biomass/ above ground C
    decreased
    x
    increased


    Jatropha curcas biomass

    plant diversity
    decreased
    x
    increased


    Jatropha curcas as a new habitat

    animal diversity
    decreased
    x
    increased


    Jatropha curcas as a new habitat

    beneficial species (predators, earthworms, pollinators)
    decreased
    x
    increased


    Jatropha curcas new habitat for worms etc

    habitat diversity
    decreased
    x
    increased


    Jatropha curcas as a new habitat

    pest/ disease control
    decreased
    x
    increased


    new habitat for rodents etc.

    flood impacts
    increased
    x
    decreased


    flood controll by Jatropha curcas dams

    emission of carbon and greenhouse gases
    increased
    x
    decreased


    little effect by additional plants

    fire risk
    increased
    x
    decreased


    Jatropha curcas wood is a bad fire wood

    wind velocity
    increased
    x
    decreased


    Jatropha curcas shrub as a wind breaker

    Increased competition
    increased
    x
    decreased


    Over water and sunlight

    Off-site impacts
    water availability (groundwater, springs)
    decreased
    x
    increased


    possibility of spring development

    reliable and stable stream flows in dry season (incl. low flows)
    reduced
    x
    increased


    if a spring can develop

    downstream flooding (undesired)
    increased
    x
    reduced


    increased infiltration/reduced flooding

    downstream siltation
    increased
    x
    decreased


    trapping of the sediments by the structure

    groundwater/ river pollution
    increased
    x
    reduced


    trapping of the sediments by the structure

    buffering/ filtering capacity (by soil, vegetation, wetlands)
    reduced
    x
    improved


    increased infiltration

    wind transported sediments
    increased
    x
    reduced

    damage on neighbours' fields
    increased
    x
    reduced


    due to gully rehabilitation

    damage on public/ private infrastructure
    increased
    x
    reduced


    due to gully rehabilitation

    Cost-benefit analysis

    Benefits compared with establishment costs
    Short-term returns
    very negative
    x
    very positive

    Long-term returns
    very negative
    x
    very positive

    Benefits compared with maintenance costs
    Short-term returns
    very negative
    x
    very positive

    Long-term returns
    very negative
    x
    very positive

    Establishment needs a little time, although not very much. Maintenance work is very little needed and can be done if needed or in off-farming season. Establishment and mainentance costs are none or very little.

    Climate change

    Gradual climate change
    annual temperature increase

    not well at all
    x
    very well
    Climate-related extremes (disasters)
    local rainstorm

    not well at all
    x
    very well
    local windstorm

    not well at all
    x
    very well
    drought

    not well at all
    x
    very well
    general (river) flood

    not well at all
    very well
    Answer: not known
    Other climate-related consequences
    reduced growing period

    not well at all
    x
    very well

    Adoption and adaptation

    Percentage of land users in the area who have adopted the Technology
    • single cases/ experimental
    • 1-10%
    • 11-50%
    • > 50%
    Of all those who have adopted the Technology, how many have done so without receiving material incentives?
    • 0-10%
    • 11-50%
    • 51-90%
    • 91-100%
    Has the Technology been modified recently to adapt to changing conditions?
    • Yes
    • No
    To which changing conditions?
    • climatic change/ extremes
    • changing markets
    • labour availability (e.g. due to migration)

    Conclusions and lessons learnt

    Strengths: land user's view
    • Soil and water conservation are very important. Also the conservation of soil moisture.

      How can they be sustained / enhanced? Create farmer's awareness that SWC is very important for a sustainable land management.
    • In combination, Jatropha curcas can also be used to stabilize traditional stone structuress (terraces, dams). These physical structures are not consideret very stable and need a lot of work to establish and maintain.

      How can they be sustained / enhanced? Further research to improve physical structures, Jatropha curcas structures as well as their combination.
    • The roots bind the soil and holding it together and help collecting additional soil that otherwise would be washed out. The root and the plant also help to slow down flowing water.

      How can they be sustained / enhanced? Research on how tolerant is the plant on flooding etc.
    • Jatropha curcas is also a very good life fence that animals do not browse through because the leaves are poisonous.

      How can they be sustained / enhanced? Create awareness in the society that the plant is poisonous and should not be eaten.
    • The seeds can be sold.

      How can they be sustained / enhanced? Creating and improving markets, infrastructures and technologies that need Jatropca curcas oil or biofuel.
    Strengths: compiler’s or other key resource person’s view
    • Very low labor and money input for establishment and maintenance.

      How can they be sustained / enhanced? Keep the technology as simple as it is today.
    • Easy to atopt in a wide range of environments (Jatroha curcas is a rather tolerant plant).

      How can they be sustained / enhanced? Additional research to improve knowledge of Jatropha curcas.
    • Selling of the seeds is an additional income. If the seeds are crushed to oil it can substitute for example lamp oil that has to be bought.

      How can they be sustained / enhanced? Improve market situation and find technologies suitable to use Jatropha curcas oil or biofuel.
    • The plant can be used in a wide range of rehabilitation purposes (gully rehabilitation, hill stabilization, improvment of micro climate etc.)

      How can they be sustained / enhanced? Create and maintain awareness of the farmers.
    • If plantet on bare land only, the plant does not compete with food production.

      How can they be sustained / enhanced? Sensitize the farmers that food is more important than gaining an extra income so they do not give up their fields for Jatropha seed production.
    Weaknesses/ disadvantages/ risks: land user's viewhow to overcome
    • If children eat the seeds they get sick. Rise awareness that the plant is poisonous.
    • Plant competes for soil moisture. Find a good compromise betweeen pruning and maximum toleratet shade as well as maximum soil moisture that can be taken by the plant to maximize yield.
    • Plant competes for sun light. Find a good compromise betweeen pruning and maximum toleratet shade as well as maximum soil moisture that can be taken by the plant to maximize yield.
    Weaknesses/ disadvantages/ risks: compiler’s or other key resource person’s viewhow to overcome
    • Jatropha curcas is an alien plant although it is used for more than 30 years in the region. Research on the long term effects of Jatropha curcas in specific areas.
    • If the plant should reach maximum yields inputs have to be increased as well and it has to be planted on fertile soil (food competition). Make shure people only use it as fence or as a SWC plant on bare land.
    • To avoid shading the plant is often pruned every year and the yield is therefore very small (economically irrelevant). Find a good compromise betweeen pruning and maximum toleratet shade to maximize yield.
    • The plant is poisonous. People have to take care and children have to be sensitized. But acording to the farmers eating the leaves or the seeds leads to stomach ache and is not too dangerous. Create awareness in the society that the plant is poisonous and should not be eaten.
    • Farmers plant and use Jatropha curcas quite randomly and without any specific approach. The role of science: find the best practice.

    References

    Compiler
    • Simon Bach
    Editors
    Reviewer
    • Fabian Ottiger
    • Alexandra Gavilano
    Date of documentation: Sept. 2, 2011
    Last update: Sept. 10, 2019
    Resource persons
    Full description in the WOCAT database
    Linked SLM data
    Documentation was faciliated by
    Institution Project
    Key references
    • Bach S. (2012) Potentials and limitations of Jatropha curcas as a multipurpose crop for sustainable energy supply and soil and water conservation - a case study in Bati, Ethiopia, using the WOCAT approach. Unpublished master’s thesis, Centre for Development and Environment, University of Bern.:
    This work is licensed under Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareaAlike 4.0 International