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

Name of project which facilitated the documentation/ evaluation of the Approach (if relevant)

Carbon optimized land management strategies for southern Amazonia (CARBIOCIAL / GLUES)

Name of the institution(s) which facilitated the documentation/ evaluation of the Approach (if relevant)

Georg August Universität Göttingen (Georg August Universität Göttingen) - Germany

Name of the institution(s) which facilitated the documentation/ evaluation of the Approach (if relevant)

Christian Albrechts Universität zu Kiel (CAU) - Germany

Name of the institution(s) which facilitated the documentation/ evaluation of the Approach (if relevant)

François Rabelais University Tours - France

Name of the institution(s) which facilitated the documentation/ evaluation of the Approach (if relevant)

Universidade Federal de Mato Grosso (Universidade Federal de Mato Grosso) - Brazil

1.3 Conditions regarding the use of data documented through WOCAT

When were the data compiled (in the field)?

01/01/2011

The compiler and key resource person(s) accept the conditions regarding the use of data documented through WOCAT:

Yes

1.4 Reference(s) to Questionnaire(s) on SLM Technologies

2.1 Short description of the Approach

Enrichment of tropical agicultural soils with local available organic matter in the cerrado agroscape, Brazil.

2.2 Detailed description of the Approach

Detailed description of the Approach:

Aims / objectives: Use local available organic matter (OM) to enrich Tropical agricultural soil (Ferrasol) as a strategy for sustainanle land use to improve efficiently soil fertility and/or crop production in the Brazilian Cerrado agroscape. The applied OMs are either cost-efficient or waste materials from nearby industrial suppliers.

Methods: We applied three different types of OM amendments. They include (a) Filter cake of sugarcane residues (Saccharum officinarum from alcohol/sugar-production, (b) sawdust of Peroba and Cedrinho (Peroba jaune and Erisma uncinatum, respectively) and (c) coarse chips of Eucalyptus sp.

We added 0 (control), 6, 12 and 18 tons of each amendment per hectare; using two disposition methods: direct on the soil and with harrow incorporation. Each treatment was done in triplicate. Subsequent to the first amendment application; there have not been further experimental OM additions. The experimental site was not fenced to allow the land user to continue with their arable field routines on all treatment plots.

By sampling soil and biomass, we have assessed the effect of OM addition on soil organic carbon, nutrients, water holding capacity and crop (soy and corn biomass and grain) production, after one, two and three years of a single application.



Stages of implementation: The experiment was set up in February 2012. The last soil and biomass sampling was carried out in February-March 2015.

Role of stakeholders: Mr. Antonio Huebner, owner of the Farm Rio Engano, provided us an experimetal area in his farm.
The local industies supplied the applied OM amendments.
Professors and researchers from the Christian-Albrechts University of Kiel (CAU Kiel), Federal University of Mato Grosso (UFMT) and François Rabelais University have given academic and scientifical support to the approach.


Other important information: From our outcomes, we intend to provide information for the development of soil C-enrichment schemes and carbon-friendly landscape management programs for land users, applying local resources in the Brazilian Cerrado.

2.3 Photos of the Approach

2.5 Country/ region/ locations where the Approach has been applied

2.6 Dates of initiation and termination of the Approach

2.7 Type of Approach

• project/ programme based

2.8 Main aims/ objectives of the Approach

The Approach focused mainly on SLM with other activities (crop production)

We aim to identify a feasible combination of types, amounts and disposition methods of OM amendments to improve efficiently soil fertility, carbon stock and/or crop production in the Brazilian Cerrado agroscape.

The SLM Approach addressed the following problems: Croplands have shown a reduction of organic matter, due to some traditional agricultural practices, such as soil plowing and tillage. These practices break down soil aggregates and expose organic matter to microbial decomposition, causing its loss to the atmosphere by mineralization (Zech et al. 1997; Tivet et al. 2013). It is especially critical in soil (Ferrasol) from the Brazilian Cerrado, as its OM content is relatively low, and tropical temperatures and humidity accelerate microbial activity (Price and Sowers 2004).

2.9 Conditions enabling or hindering implementation of the Technology/ Technologies applied under the Approach

3.1 Stakeholders involved in the Approach and their roles

3.2 Involvement of local land users/ local communities in the different phases of the Approach

	Involvement of local land users/ local communities	Specify who was involved and describe activities
initiation/ motivation	self-mobilization	Carbiocial Project
planning	interactive	Carbiocial Project. Scientific team of the Subproject 06 (SP-06: Experimental C-Enrichment of Tropical Agricultural Soil With Organic Matter) and land owner and user
implementation	interactive	Carbiocial Project (SP-06) and land owner and user
monitoring/ evaluation	interactive	Carbiocial Project (SP-06) and land owner and user
Research	self-mobilization	Carbiocial Project

3.3 Flow chart (if available)

3.4 Decision-making on the selection of SLM Technology/ Technologies

Specify who decided on the selection of the Technology/ Technologies to be implemented:

• mainly SLM specialists, following consultation with land users

Explain:

Decisions on the method of implementing the SLM Technology were made by mainly by SLM specialists with consultation of land users

4.1 Capacity building/ training

Was training provided to land users/ other stakeholders?

Yes

Specify who was trained:

• land users

4.2 Advisory service

Do land users have access to an advisory service?

Yes

Specify whether advisory service is provided:

• on land users' fields

Describe/ comments:

Name of method used for advisory service: Direct communication by visiting the land user; Key elements: Dialogue, Exchange of ideas

Advisory service is very adequate to ensure the continuation of land conservation activities; The extension system is very adequate to ensure continuation of activities. The research staff from the Soil and Rural Eng. Department, Federal University of Mato Grosso, Brazil have participated in this approach and plan to continue with research and monitoring activities.

4.3 Institution strengthening (organizational development)

Have institutions been established or strengthened through the Approach?

• yes, greatly

Specify the level(s) at which institutions have been strengthened or established:

• local

Specify type of support:

• capacity building/ training
• equipment

Give further details:

In the frame of the Carbiocial Project, several students from the UFMT carried out their master or PhD thesis and undergraduate student got practical experience. Particularly, in SP-06 one student got his master degree. Different equipments were also donate to this university.

4.4 Monitoring and evaluation

Is monitoring and evaluation part of the Approach?

Yes

Comments:

bio-physical aspects were ad hoc monitored by project staff through observations; indicators: Experimental site observation during sampling campaings by Carbiocial

bio-physical aspects were regular monitored by project staff through measurements; indicators: Regularly sampling campaings of soil and biomass

economic / production aspects were ad hoc monitored by project staff through observations; indicators: Ideas exchange with land user

economic / production aspects were regular monitored by project staff through measurements; indicators: assessment of grain and biomass crop production

There were no changes in the Approach as a result of monitoring and evaluation

There were no changes in the Technology as a result of monitoring and evaluation

4.5 Research

Was research part of the Approach?

Yes

Give further details and indicate who did the research:

A detailed study on the enrichment effects of different organic matter types on soil carbon enrichment was undertaken (laboratory analysis of field samples). Further topics covered include sustainable land management and crop production.

By research staff from the Department of Applied Ecology, Institute for Ecosystem Research, CAU university of Kiel,
Germany; the Soil and Rural Eng. Department, Faculty of Agronomy, Veterinary Medicine, and Zootechnology (FAMEVZ),
Federal University of Mato Grosso, Cuiabá, Brazil and the Interdisciplinary Research Center for Cities, Territories,
Environment and Society (CITERES-CNRS UMR 7324), François Rabelais University, Tours, France.


Research was carried out on-farm

5.1 Annual budget for the SLM component of the Approach

If precise annual budget is not known, indicate range:

• 2,000-10,000

Comments (e.g. main sources of funding/ major donors):

Approach costs were met by the following donors: international (Carbiocial Project): 100.0%; private sector (Donation of OM amendments); local community / land user(s) (Granted an experimental area on agricultural soil for at least 3 years)

5.2 Financial/ material support provided to land users

Did land users receive financial/ material support for implementing the Technology/ Technologies?

Yes

If yes, specify type(s) of support, conditions, and provider(s):

Private sector provided OM amendments for soil enrichment

5.3 Subsidies for specific inputs (including labour)

If labour by land users was a substantial input, was it:

• voluntary

Comments:

The land owner and user lent machinery for OM addition to soil. He also provided when possible, accomodation and food for the Cabiocial Project stuff during the approach implementation and monitoring

5.4 Credit

Was credit provided under the Approach for SLM activities?

No

6.1 Impacts of the Approach

6.2 Main motivation of land users to implement SLM

6.3 Sustainability of Approach activities

Can the land users sustain what has been implemented through the Approach (without external support)?

• yes

If yes, describe how:

• OM addition to tropical agricultural soil (Ferrasol) can increase significantly soil organic carbon and water retention, even in small amounts such as 6 ton/ha
• Biomass reapplication should be done in 2 years intervals
• The biomass type and disposition method did not have a significant effect on increasing soil organic carbon

6.4 Strengths/ advantages of the Approach

Strengths/ advantages/ opportunities in the land user’s view
The approach improves soil quality and could enhance crop resilience in dryer years.

Strengths/ advantages/ opportunities in the compiler’s or other key resource person’s view

As this approach uses industrial biomass residues, we consider it a win-win solution for organic matter waste disposition and to improve soil quality. (How to sustain/ enhance this strength: The costs of transport and application can limit the extensive use of soil organic matter enrichment practices among land users in the Brazilian Cerrado. Therefore, subsidies could contribute to the adoption of this approach by a broader number of farmers.)

6.5 Weaknesses/ disadvantages of the Approach and ways of overcoming them

Weaknesses/ disadvantages/ risks in the land user’s view

How can they be overcome?

The costs of OM transport and application

Mr. Antonio Huebner, the land owner and user in this approach, has been cultivating with soybean and corn rotation under conservational farming practices, i.e. no-tillage, for more than 20 years. He thinks a possible more economic alternative for this approach is to create soy and corn varieties which have more abundant foliage and the same capacity of grain production. In an approach that combines these varieties and no-tillage, the farmers could continue cultivating in their traditional way, without having to incur in extra costs due to application of OM amendments; however, increasing organic matter inputs to the soil.

Weaknesses/ disadvantages/ risks in the compiler’s or other key resource person’s view	How can they be overcome?
Lack of adequate machinery for OM addition	Designing or adapting machinery for this purpose.

7.1 Methods/ sources of information

7.2 References to available publications

Title, author, year, ISBN:

Price PB, Sowers T (2004) Temperature dependence of metabolic rates for microbial growth, maintenance, and survival. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America 101:4631–4636

Title, author, year, ISBN:

Tivet F, De Moraes Sa JC, Lal R, Briedis C, Borszowskei PR, Bürkner dos Santos J, Farias A, Eurich G, Da Cruz Hartman D, Nadolny Junior M, Bouzinac S, Séguy L (2013) Aggregate C depletion by plowing and its restoration by diverse biomass-C inputs under no-till in sub-tropical and tropical regions of Brazil. Soil and tillage research, 126 :203-218

Title, author, year, ISBN:

Zech W, Senesi N, Guggenberger G, Kaiser K, Lehmann J, Miano TM, Miltner A, Schroth G (1997) Factors controlling humific G. ation and Mineralization of soil organic matter in the tropics. Geoderma 79 : 117-161