Summary

Description

Irrigation of a young orchard using locally available and low-cost materials for a drip irrigation system in the Pamir’s arid zone

The system consists of a reservoir and polyethylene irrigation tubes and emitters installed along the rows of trees. Water accumulates in the reservoir during spring and early summer when there is no deficit in irrigation water. During the dry summer months water is then used for drip irrigation. Located in the upper part of the system, the reservoir ensures water pressure in the system. Due to the complex local topography, this irrigation method can be used without water pumps since natural water pressure ensures normal functioning of the system. Even though this water saving technology is quite effective, drip irrigation is rarely used since both the construction and maintenance of the system are quite expensive. With the introduction of this technology into the poor mountain communities of GBAO, the overall objective was to make drip irrigation technology cheaper and more easily available to farmers. The objective was achieved by the use of simple polyethylene irrigation tubes, simple screws instead of expensive emitters, and natural water pressure excluding the construction of a water pump station. Water is dripped directly to the roots of the trees, thus excluding loss of water and soil erosion. Fertilisers can be added directly to the water reservoir. This technology allows increased water savings of 50%, and 90% of fertilisers. During the growing period trees are watered once every 6 days.

Purpose of the Technology: The purpose of this technology is to improve the water supply for fruit orchards during the growing period in the arid conditions of the Pamirs where available water is very limited.

Establishment / maintenance activities and inputs: Steps to implement the technology include the following: dig holes for trees, plant trees, establish water reservoir, lay polyethylene tubes, install emitters and regularly clean irrigation system.

Natural / human environment: The plot is located in an arid zone at the height of 2000m above sea level. It is a high mountain area with typical brown soils and slopes up to 60 degrees steepness. Annual precipitation is quite low and mainly occurs in the autumn and winter period. Summers are extremely dry. The main occupations of the local population include agriculture and cattle breeding.

Location

Location: Shugnan, GBAO, Tajikistan

No. of Technology sites analysed:

Geo-reference of selected sites

71.5191, 37.5832

Spread of the Technology: evenly spread over an area (approx. < 0.1 km2 (10 ha))

In a permanently protected area?:

Date of implementation: less than 10 years ago (recently)

Type of introduction

through land users' innovation
as part of a traditional system (> 50 years)
during experiments/ research
through projects/ external interventions

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
adapt to enviroment

Land use

Cropland
- Annual cropping: fodder crops - alfalfa
- Tree and shrub cropping: stone fruits (peach, apricot, cherry, plum, etc), tree nuts (brazil nuts, pistachio, walnuts, almonds, etc.), pome fruits (apples, pears, quinces, etc.)
Number of growing seasons per year: 1

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

biological degradation - Bc: reduction of vegetation cover

water degradation - Ha: aridification

SLM group

irrigation management (incl. water supply, drainage)

SLM measures

agronomic measures - A1: Vegetation/ soil cover

vegetative measures - V1: Tree and shrub cover

management measures - M4: Major change in timing of activities

Technical drawing

Technical specifications

The system consists of a reservoir and polyethylene irrigation tubes and emitters installed along the rows of trees.

Technical knowledge required for field staff / advisors: moderate

Technical knowledge required for land users: moderate

Main technical functions: stabilisation of soil (eg by tree roots against land slides), increase / maintain water stored in soil, water harvesting / increase water supply

Secondary technical functions: improvement of ground cover, increase in organic matter, increase in nutrient availability (supply, recycling,…), water spreading, increase of biomass (quantity), promotion of vegetation species and varieties (quality, eg palatable fodder)

Aligned: -linear
Vegetative material: F : fruit trees / shrubs
Number of plants per (ha): 400
Vertical interval between rows / strips / blocks (m): 1
Spacing between rows / strips / blocks (m): 3
Vertical interval within rows / strips / blocks (m): 3

Fruit trees / shrubs species: apricot, peach, european walnut, apple

Perennial crops species: alfalfa

Slope (which determines the spacing indicated above): 8.00%

Establishment and maintenance: activities, inputs and costs

Calculation of inputs and costs

Costs are calculated:
Currency used for cost calculation: Tajik Somony
Exchange rate (to USD): 1 USD = 4.45 Tajik Somony
Average wage cost of hired labour per day: 3.00

Most important factors affecting the costs

equipment for irrigation system (polyethylene tubes)

Establishment activities

tree planting (Timing/ frequency: first year)
mounting of drip irrigation system (Timing/ frequency: before planting)

Establishment inputs and costs

Specify input	Unit	Quantity	Costs per Unit (Tajik Somony)	Total costs per input (Tajik Somony)	% of costs borne by land users
Labour
Tree planting	Persons/day	2.0	11.0	22.0	100.0
Mounting of drip irrigation system	Persons/day	5.0	25.2	126.0
Equipment
Tools	pieces	5.0	1.2	6.0	100.0
Other Tools	pieces	5.0	2.2	11.0
Polyethylene tube	meters	2200.0	0.445454545	980.0
Watertank	pieces	1.0	600.0	600.0
Plant material
Tree seedlings	pieces	360.0	0.675	243.0	100.0
Fertilizers and biocides
Fertilizer	kg	10.0	1.7	17.0	100.0
Total costs for establishment of the Technology				2'005.0
Total costs for establishment of the Technology in USD				450.56

Maintenance activities

sanitary cutting of trees (Timing/ frequency: every 3-5 years)
hay harvest (Timing/ frequency: three time per year)
unclogging the irrigation tubes (Timing/ frequency: every year)

Maintenance inputs and costs

Specify input	Unit	Quantity	Costs per Unit (Tajik Somony)	Total costs per input (Tajik Somony)	% of costs borne by land users
Labour
Sanitary cutting of trees	Persons/day	0.6	16.66667	10.0	100.0
Hay harvest	Persons/day	1.0	9.0	9.0	100.0
Unclogging the irrigation tubes	Persons/day	1.0	11.0	11.0
Equipment
Tools (Scissors)	pieces	2.0	2.5	5.0	100.0
Tool for harvesting	pieces	1.0	2.0	2.0	100.0
Tools for unclogging tubes	pieces	2.0	2.25	4.5	100.0
Polyethylene tube	meters	56.0	0.445454545	24.95	100.0
Water tank	repair	1.0	10.0	10.0	100.0
Plant material
Seedlings tree replacement	pieces	15.0	0.675	10.13	100.0
Fertilizers and biocides
Fertilizer	kg	10.0	1.7	17.0	100.0
Total costs for maintenance of the Technology				103.58
Total costs for maintenance of the Technology in USD				23.28

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

260mm per year, winter summer rains. Length of dry period is about 120 days.
Thermal climate class: temperate. 2 mounth below 5°C and 6 mounth above 10°C

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?

Occurrence of flooding

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

good

education

poor

good

technical assistance

poor

good

employment (e.g. off-farm)

poor

good

markets

poor

good

energy

poor

good

roads and transport

poor

good

drinking water and sanitation

poor

good

financial services

poor

good

Impacts

Socio-economic impacts

Crop production

decreased

increased

Quantity before SLM: 45kg per ha
Quantity after SLM: 80kg per ha
water availability increase production of fruits

fodder production

decreased

increased

Quantity before SLM: 5 centner/ha
Quantity after SLM: 20 centner/ha
grass between rows used for fodder

fodder quality

decreased

increased

Quantity before SLM: bad
Quantity after SLM: high
before natural grass - after alfa alfa

animal production

decreased

increased

Quantity before SLM: 2- 5per hose
Quantity after SLM: 6-15 per hose
increase of fodder production stimulate livestock development

wood production

decreased

increased

Quantity before SLM: 0.5 m3/hose
Quantity after SLM: 1-5m3/hose
sanitary cutting of tress

risk of production failure

increased

decreased

Quantity before SLM: 0
Quantity after SLM: 100%
increased water availability

production area (new land under cultivation/ use)

decreased

increased

Quantity before SLM: 10%
Quantity after SLM: 70%
technology helps to use steep slopes

expenses on agricultural inputs

increased

decreased

Quantity before SLM: 0
Quantity after SLM: 50%

farm income

decreased

increased

Quantity before SLM: 10%
Quantity after SLM: 80%
increased harvest

Socio-cultural impacts

food security/ self-sufficiency

reduced

improved

Quantity before SLM: 0
Quantity after SLM: None

conflict mitigation

worsened

improved

Quantity before SLM: 50%
Quantity after SLM: 0%
decreased conflict related to irrigation water use

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

worsened

improved

Quantity before SLM: 0
Quantity after SLM: 50%
increased incomes of poor farmers

Livelihoods and human well-being

reduced

improved

After the implementation of the technology the households were protected from negative influence of dry season.

Ecological impacts

water quantity

decreased

increased

Quantity before SLM: 10%
Quantity after SLM: 60%

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

reduced

improved

Quantity before SLM: 0%
Quantity after SLM: 100%

surface runoff

increased

decreased

Quantity before SLM: 100%
Quantity after SLM: 0%
all the water can be absorbed by soil

evaporation

increased

decreased

Quantity before SLM: 0
Quantity after SLM: 10%
transpiration of trees and grass

soil moisture

decreased

increased

Quantity before SLM: 0%
Quantity after SLM: 80%
during the dry season

soil cover

reduced

improved

Quantity before SLM: 0%
Quantity after SLM: 20%

soil loss

increased

decreased

soil crusting/ sealing

increased

reduced

soil compaction

increased

reduced

biomass/ above ground C

decreased

increased

plant diversity

decreased

increased

habitat diversity

decreased

increased

Hazards towards adverse events

improved

reduced

Quantity before SLM: 0%
Quantity after SLM: 100%
reduced dry season effect

Off-site impacts

water availability (groundwater, springs)

decreased

increased

Quantity before SLM: 0%
Quantity after SLM: 50%

Irrigation of orchards by using low cost drip irrigation technique (Tajikistan)

Description

Irrigation of a young orchard using locally available and low-cost materials for a drip irrigation system in the Pamir’s arid zone

Location

Classification of the Technology

Main purpose

Land use

Water supply

Purpose related to land degradation

Degradation addressed

SLM group

SLM measures

Technical drawing

Technical specifications

Establishment and maintenance: activities, inputs and costs

Calculation of inputs and costs

Most important factors affecting the costs

Establishment activities

Establishment inputs and costs

Maintenance activities

Maintenance inputs and costs

Natural environment

Average annual rainfall

Agro-climatic zone

Specifications on climate

Slope

Landforms

Altitude

Technology is applied in

Soil depth

Soil texture (topsoil)

Soil texture (> 20 cm below surface)

Topsoil organic matter content

Groundwater table

Availability of surface water

Water quality (untreated)

Is salinity a problem?

Occurrence of flooding

Species diversity

Habitat diversity

Characteristics of land users applying the Technology

Market orientation

Off-farm income

Relative level of wealth

Level of mechanization

Sedentary or nomadic

Individuals or groups

Gender

Age

Area used per household

Scale

Land ownership

Land use rights

Water use rights

Access to services and infrastructure

Impacts

Socio-economic impacts

Socio-cultural impacts

Ecological impacts

Off-site impacts

Cost-benefit analysis

Benefits compared with establishment costs

Benefits compared with maintenance costs

Climate change

Gradual climate change

Climate-related extremes (disasters)

Other climate-related consequences

Adoption and adaptation

Percentage of land users in the area who have adopted the Technology

Of all those who have adopted the Technology, how many have done so without receiving material incentives?

Number of households and/ or area covered

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

To which changing conditions?

Conclusions and lessons learnt

Strengths: land user's view

Strengths: compiler’s or other key resource person’s view

Weaknesses/ disadvantages/ risks: land user's viewhow to overcome

Weaknesses/ disadvantages/ risks: compiler’s or other key resource person’s viewhow to overcome

References

Compiler