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)

Department of Geography, University of Basel (Department of Geography, University of Basel) - Switzerland

1.3 Conditions regarding the use of data documented through WOCAT

When were the data compiled (in the field)?

05/09/2003

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

Yes

1.5 Reference to Questionnaire(s) on SLM Approaches

2.1 Short description of the Technology

Definition of the Technology:

level bund with double stone walls with soil and grass to stabilize the structure

2.2 Detailed description of the Technology

Description:

Two level rows of stones are piled up and the space between them is filled up with soil. Grass is growing on it so it can stabilize the bund. The soil can accumulate behind the bund. The land and the bunds slowly develop into terraces. It is combined with contour ploughing.

Purpose of the Technology: control runoff and soil erosion

Establishment / maintenance activities and inputs: through food-for-work program. Maintenance is up to the farmers, some maintain it regularly, throughout the year, others don't.

Natural / human environment: on gentle and steep slopes

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:

• through projects/ external interventions

Comments (type of project, etc.):

it was implemented by the government

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): erosion, decline of soil fertility and yield decline other major SWC specialist: shortage of grazing land and of forage

Major land use problems (land users’ perception): erosion, runoff, drought, climate

Grazingland comments: area closure: only during July-October some areas are closed, otherwise no area closure any more. Make hay for the cattle to feed them in the dry season.

Type of cropping system and major crops comments: barley/wheat/emmer wheat - beans or teff - maize - barley/wheat/emmer wheat - beans or teff - maize

3.3 Further information about land use

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

• rainfed

Number of growing seasons per year:

• 2

Specify:

Longest growing period in days: 150 Longest growing period from month to month: Jul - Nov Second longest growing period in days: 150 Second longest growing period from month to month: Feb - Jun

3.4 SLM group to which the Technology belongs

• improved ground/ vegetation cover
• cross-slope measure

3.5 Spread of the Technology

Specify the spread of the Technology:

• evenly spread over an area

If the Technology is evenly spread over an area, indicate approximate area covered:

• 0.1-1 km2

3.6 SLM measures comprising the Technology

Comments:

Main measures: structural measures

Secondary measures: vegetative measures

Type of agronomic measures: contour tillage

3.7 Main types of land degradation addressed by the Technology

Comments:

Main type of degradation addressed: Wt: loss of topsoil / surface erosion

Secondary types of degradation addressed: Wo: offsite degradation effects

4.1 Technical drawing of the Technology

4.2 Technical specifications/ explanations of technical drawing

Drawing showing a level bund with double stone walls, Maybar, Ethiopia

Location: Maybar. Wello

Technical knowledge required for field staff / advisors: moderate

Technical knowledge required for land users: low

Main technical functions: reduction of slope angle, reduction of slope length

Secondary technical functions: improvement of soil structure, increase in soil fertility

Contour tillage
Remarks: because of the design of the terraces

If the original slope has changed as a result of the Technology, the slope today is (see figure below): 10.00%

Construction material (earth): earth from the ditch just behind the structure on the upper side

Construction material (stone): normal, big stones from the field

If the original slope has changed as a result of the Technology, the slope today is: 10%

Lateral gradient along the structure: 0%

Vegetation is used for stabilisation of structures.

4.3 General information regarding the calculation of inputs and costs

other/ national currency (specify):

birr

Indicate exchange rate from USD to local currency (if relevant): 1 USD =:

8.8

4.4 Establishment activities

	Activity	Type of measure	Timing
1.	it has grown itself on the bund	Vegetative
2.	measurement of fields, to know where to build the bunds	Structural
3.	constructing the stonewalls	Structural	December - January
4.	filling the bunds in between with soils from the ditch behind the structure, on the upper side	Structural	December - January, sometimes in November and June

4.6 Maintenance/ recurrent activities

	Activity	Type of measure	Timing/ frequency
1.	contour ploughing	Agronomic	dry season and rainseason / several times
2.	none, cattle are grazing on it	Vegetative
3.	observation	Structural	December-January/every year after harvesting
4.	rebuilding the structure	Structural	December-January/every 1-3 years

4.8 Most important factors affecting the costs

Describe the most determinate factors affecting the costs:

the slope: the steeper, the more bunds are needed; labour is a problem if there is no food-for-work any more

5.1 Climate

5.2 Topography

Comments and further specifications on topography:

Landforms: Hill slopes (ranked1, mainly steep hills), footslopes and ridges (both ranked 2)
Slopes on average: Hilly (ranked 1), rolling (ranked 2, more than 80% of the land has a slope degree from over 13%) and steep (ranked 3)

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 depth on average: Very shallow (about 40% of the area) and moderately deep (both ranked 1), shallow and deep (both ranked 2)
Soil texture: Fine/heavy (of the major soil type)
Soil fertility: Medium
Topsoil organic matter: High (ranked 1, in the major soil type) and medium (ranked 2)
Soil drainage/infiltration: Medium (ranked 1) and poor (ranked 2, somtimes there is waterlogging)
Soil water storage capacity: Low (ranked 1) and medium (ranked 2)

5.6 Characteristics of land users applying the Technology

Indicate other relevant characteristics of the land users:

Population density: 100-200 persons/km2
10% of the land users are rich and own 38% of the land (only rough estimates).
58% of the land users are average wealthy and own 36% of the land (only rough estimates).
32% of the land users are poor and own 26% of the land (only rough estimates).
Off-farm income specification: farmers employ others for ploughing, so they can go to the market
Level of mechanization: Animal traction (ranked 1, ploughing with oxen) and manual work (ranked 2, hacking)

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

Land ownership:

• state

Land use rights:

• individual

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

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

200

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:

100% of land user families have adopted the Technology with external material support

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

Comments on acceptance with external material support: estimates

Comments on spontaneous adoption: estimates

There is a little trend towards spontaneous adoption of the Technology

Comments on adoption trend: some farmers are building level bund with double stone wallss without any incentives

7.2 References to available publications

Title, author, year, ISBN:

Biological soil conservation techniques for Maybar area, Ethiopia. Kassaye Goshu. 1997.

Available from where? Costs?

CDE, Bern

Title, author, year, ISBN:

Classification of the Environment Conditions. H.-J. Krüger. 2003.

Available from where? Costs?

CDE, Bern

Title, author, year, ISBN:

Area of Maybar, Wello, Ethiopia: Long-term Monitoring of the Agricultural Environment 1981-1994

Available from where? Costs?

CDE, Bern

Title, author, year, ISBN:

The Use, Maintenance and Development of Soil and Water Conservation Measures by Small-Scale Farming Householfs in Different Agro-Climatic Zones of Northern Shewa and Southern Wello, Ethiopia.Yohannes Gebre Michael. 1999.

Available from where? Costs?

CDE, Bern