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

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

Tajik Soil Insitute (Tajik Soil Institute) - Tajikistan

1.3 Conditions regarding the use of data documented through WOCAT

When were the data compiled (in the field)?

12/04/2011

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

Yes

2.1 Short description of the Technology

Definition of the Technology:

A water-saving irrigation technique is used to ensure the establishment of young seedlings in arid conditions which have a water deficit.

2.2 Detailed description of the Technology

Description:

Plastic bottles, 1.5-2 litres in size, are used for this technology. The bottom of the plastic bottle is removed and retained to be used as a cover. The bottle is then turned upside down and filled with water like a funnel. In this position, the lid of the bottle is twisted open very slowly until a drip rate of 5 drops per second is achieved. As soon as the desired water drip rate is reached, the lid is stuck to the bottle with some tape. At this drip rate 1.5 litres of water will drip out of the bottle every 90-100 minutes. The bottle is then buried in the soil next to the seedling with the wide part of the funnel sticking 10cm up out of the ground. The bottle's lid must be buried at the same level as the root collar. After this, grass, straw or black film is used to mulch the soil around the newly planted seedlings. Water drips slowly out and can go straight to the roots. Thus, no watering of the upper layer is needed. This technique also helps exclude evaporation of water from the upper layer of the soil. During the growth period bottles are filled with water once every 5 days. Bottles should be filled with clean water to avoid clogging of the lids.

Purpose of the Technology: The purpose of the technology is to improve the acclimation of seedlings with minimal use of water, as well as to help reduce erosion and risk of mudslides on these steep loess slopes which can occur as a result of other irrigation techniques.

Establishment / maintenance activities and inputs: Selection of a plot, digging holes, purchase of seedlings, fencing nets, plastic bottles, preparation of bottles, planting seedlings, mulching, post-planting care for seedlings, irrigation

Natural / human environment: Middle mountain area, typical mountain brown soil, 30° slopes, rainless dry summer period. Vegetation cover is mainly large-sized cereal semi-savanna. Local population is involved in cattle-breeding and gardening.

2.3 Photos of the Technology

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

2.6 Date of implementation

If precise year is not known, indicate approximate date:

• less than 10 years ago (recently)

2.7 Introduction of the Technology

Specify how the Technology was introduced:

• during experiments/ research

3.1 Main purpose(s) of the Technology

• reduce, prevent, restore land degradation

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

Comments:

Major land use problems (compiler’s opinion): Farming can lead to erosion. Steep slopes are prone to mudslides. There is lack of irrigation water. Vegetation cover is severely damaged by extensive grazing.

Semi-nomadism / pastoralism: Yes

Forest products and services: fuelwood, fruits and nuts

Future (final) land use (after implementation of SLM Technology): Cropland: Ct: Tree and shrub cropping

Livestock is grazing on crop residues

If land use has changed due to the implementation of the Technology, indicate land use before implementation of the Technology:

Grazing land: Ge: Extensive grazing land

3.3 Further information about land use

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

• rainfed

Comments:

Water supply: богарное, богарное

Number of growing seasons per year:

• 1

Livestock density (if relevant):

1-10 LU /km2

3.4 SLM group to which the Technology belongs

• improved ground/ vegetation cover
• irrigation management (incl. water supply, drainage)

3.5 Spread of the Technology

Comments:

Total area covered by the SLM Technology is 0.05 m2.

3.6 SLM measures comprising the Technology

Comments:

Main measures: vegetative measures, structural measures, management measures

Type of agronomic measures: mulching

3.7 Main types of land degradation addressed by the Technology

Comments:

Main type of degradation addressed: Wg: gully erosion / gullying

Secondary types of degradation addressed: Wt: loss of topsoil / surface erosion

Main causes of degradation: overgrazing, Heavy / extreme rainfall (intensity/amounts), land tenure

Secondary causes of degradation: over-exploitation of vegetation for domestic use, other natural causes (avalanches, volcanic eruptions, mud flows, highly susceptible natural resources, extreme topography, etc.) specify, population pressure

3.8 Prevention, reduction, or restoration of land degradation

Specify the goal of the Technology with regard to land degradation:

• prevent land degradation

Comments:

Main goals: prevention of land degradation

4.1 Technical drawing of the Technology

4.2 Technical specifications/ explanations of technical drawing

Installation of bottle when planting a seedling

Location: Mujiharv Jamoat. Nurabad

Date: 2011.04.05

Technical knowledge required for field staff / advisors: high

Technical knowledge required for land users: moderate

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

4.3 General information regarding the calculation of inputs and costs

Specify currency used for cost calculations:

• US Dollars

4.4 Establishment activities

	Activity	Type of measure	Timing
1.	Purchase of fencing net to fence the plot	Management	7 days
2.	Purchase of seedlings	Management	1 month
3.	Planting of seedlings	Management	10 days
4.	Fencing the plot	Management	10 days

4.5 Costs and inputs needed for establishment

	Specify input	Unit	Quantity	Costs per Unit	Total costs per input	% of costs borne by land users
Labour	Planting of seedlings	pieces	2000.0	0.227	454.0	100.0
Labour	Fencing the plot	ha	0.7	194.285	136.0	100.0
Equipment	Fencing net to fence the plot	meters	100.0	28.2	2820.0
Equipment	Plastic bottles	pieces	2000.0	0.0045	9.0
Plant material	Seedlings	pieces	2000.0	1.8865	3773.0
Total costs for establishment of the Technology					7192.0

4.6 Maintenance/ recurrent activities

	Activity	Type of measure	Timing/ frequency
1.	Mulching	Agronomic
2.	Watering	Agronomic
3.	Plastic bottles	Agronomic

4.7 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	Mulching	ha	1.0	454.0	454.0	100.0
Labour	Watering	ha	1.0	273.0	273.0	100.0
Labour	Plastic bottles placing	pieces	2000.0	0.023	46.0	100.0
Total costs for maintenance of the Technology					773.0

5.1 Climate

5.2 Topography

5.3 Soils

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 low

Soil drainage / infiltration is medium

Soil water storage capacity is medium

5.4 Water availability and quality

5.5 Biodiversity

5.6 Characteristics of land users applying the Technology

Indicate other relevant characteristics of the land users:

Land users applying the Technology are mainly common / average land users

Difference in the involvement of women and men: Wife takes care about the household (children, food)

Population density: 10-50 persons/km2

Annual population growth: > 4%

Off-farm income specification: Income is less for 30% in comparison with farmers, who didn't implement the technology

Market orientation of production system subsistence (self-supply): Growing fruits for personal consumption

5.7 Average area of land owned or leased by land users applying the Technology

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

Land ownership:

• communal/ village

Land use rights:

• leased

Water use rights:

• leased

5.9 Access to services and infrastructure

6.1 On-site impacts the Technology has shown

Socio-economic impacts

Production

Water availability and quality

Income and costs

Socio-cultural impacts

Ecological impacts

Water cycle/ runoff

Soil

Biodiversity: vegetation, animals

Other ecological impacts

6.2 Off-site impacts the Technology has shown

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	Type of climatic change/ extreme	How does the Technology cope with it?
annual temperature		increase	well

Climate-related extremes (disasters)

Meteorological disasters

	How does the Technology cope with it?
local rainstorm	not well
local windstorm	well

Climatological disasters

	How does the Technology cope with it?
drought	well

Hydrological disasters

	How does the Technology cope with it?
general (river) flood	not known

Other climate-related consequences

Other climate-related consequences

	How does the Technology cope with it?
reduced growing period	well

6.4 Cost-benefit analysis

How do the benefits compare with the establishment costs (from land users’ perspective)?

How do the benefits compare with the maintenance/ recurrent costs (from land users' perspective)?

6.5 Adoption of the Technology

• 1-10%

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

360 Households

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

• 0-10%

Comments:

2% of land user families have adopted the Technology with external material support

360 land user families have adopted the Technology with external material support

There is a little trend towards spontaneous adoption of the Technology

Comments on adoption trend: further implementations of the technology is limited by the lack of fund

6.7 Strengths/ advantages/ opportunities of the Technology

Strengths/ advantages/ opportunities in the compiler’s or other key resource person’s view
Prevents water erosion on steep slopes How can they be sustained / enhanced? The demand for this technology among farmers will grow together with the development of gardening and reduction of risk of natural disasters which cause land slides, mudslides and erosion.
Prevents land slides How can they be sustained / enhanced? For the period of existence of the orchard
Increases the percentage of fruit trees that aclimatise and survive. How can they be sustained / enhanced? Used for a period of two to three years until the root system is two-metres deep
Bottle irrigation saves water resources How can they be sustained / enhanced? For a period of two to three years
Furrow irrigation is inappropriate for steep slopes since a surplus of water saturates loess soils causing land slides How can they be sustained / enhanced? Not recommended

6.8 Weaknesses/ disadvantages/ risks of the Technology and ways of overcoming them

Weaknesses/ disadvantages/ risks in the compiler’s or other key resource person’s view	How can they be overcome?
Bottle irrigation requires frequent re-filling and is labour intensive	Introduce drip irrigation