Earth checks for Gully reclamation [Ethiopia]
- Creation:
- Update:
- Compiler: Daniel Danano
- Editor: –
- Reviewer: Fabian Ottiger
technologies_1069 - Ethiopia
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Expand all Collapse all1. General information
1.2 Contact details of resource persons and institutions involved in the assessment and documentation of the Technology
SLM specialist:
Estifanos Zena
Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development
Ethiopia
SLM specialist:
Desta Hiwot
Boditi, Department of Agriculture and Rural Development
Ethiopia
Name of the institution(s) which facilitated the documentation/ evaluation of the Technology (if relevant)
Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) - ItalyName of the institution(s) which facilitated the documentation/ evaluation of the Technology (if relevant)
Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development of Ethiopia (Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development) - Ethiopia1.3 Conditions regarding the use of data documented through WOCAT
When were the data compiled (in the field)?
30/05/2011
The compiler and key resource person(s) accept the conditions regarding the use of data documented through WOCAT:
Yes
2. Description of the SLM Technology
2.1 Short description of the Technology
Definition of the Technology:
Earh-checks are constructed of earth embankment put across in a deep gully in such a way to trap sediment and store water passing by it.
2.2 Detailed description of the Technology
Description:
Active deep gullies are plugged by digging earth from the bottom as well as gully sides and embanked forming a barrier to runoff passing through it. The embankment is reinforced by planting useful plants such as banana, sesbania, gravillea, gesho, etc., The purpose is to rehabilitate gullies having depth and expand along sides and towards the head. By constructing earth checks the water is stored in the checks. The water percolates down the ground enriching the ground water. The soil is trapped in the checks and later brings up the gully gradient higher. As a result, a cultivable/cropable strip is formed. Weeding and cultivation done to plants established.The gully fence and breaks are repaired. The technology is seen to be suitable to humid highlands where land loss by gully is a serious problem and land under cultivation and grazing is getting here and there. In brief it is suitable in areas where land degradation problem is increasing with currently cultivated and grazed lands are encroched by gully expansion.
2.3 Photos of the Technology
2.5 Country/ region/ locations where the Technology has been applied and which are covered by this assessment
Country:
Ethiopia
Region/ State/ Province:
SNNPR
Further specification of location:
SNNPR/Damot Galle/Bilate
Map
×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.):
The technology is introduced but highly modified by adjesting design, layout and by increasing use of locally available materials for construction.
3. Classification of the SLM Technology
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
Cropland
- Annual cropping
- Perennial (non-woody) cropping
- Tree and shrub cropping
Main crops (cash and food crops):
Major cash crop annual cropping: Teff
Major food crop annual cropping: Maize, sweet potato, enset
Major other crop annual cropping: Taro, potato
Major cash crop perennial (non-woody) cropping: Sugar cane
Major cash crop tree and shrub cropping: Sugar cane
Major other crop tree and shrub cropping: Fruit trees
Mixed (crops/ grazing/ trees), incl. agroforestry
- Agro-silvopastoralism
Comments:
Major land use problems (compiler’s opinion): Monocropping, soil erosion, fertility mining, overgrazing, improper runoff management.
Grazingland comments: Livestock such as cows, oxen, donkeys and horse are thethered at a very small piece of land left infront of houses usually meant for social purposes. Some farmers thether their animals in a piece of land left uncropped in the field. The most part of livestock feed comes from crop residue which is collected from crop fields. Maize stalk, teff straw and enset leaves are fed stall.
Forest products and services: timber, fuelwood, grazing / browsing
Type of cropping system and major crops comments: Maize-sweet potato-Teff-potato-sorghum
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: 210 Longest growing period from month to month: Apr - Oct Second longest growing period in days: 180 Second longest growing period from month to month: Aug - Jun
3.4 SLM group to which the Technology belongs
- cross-slope measure
- water harvesting
3.5 Spread of the Technology
Comments:
Total area covered by the SLM Technology is 51.2 m2.
3.6 SLM measures comprising the Technology
3.7 Main types of land degradation addressed by the Technology
soil erosion by water
- Wt: loss of topsoil/ surface erosion
- Wg: gully erosion/ gullying
chemical soil deterioration
- Cn: fertility decline and reduced organic matter content (not caused by erosion)
Comments:
Main type of degradation addressed: Wt: loss of topsoil / surface erosion, Wg: gully erosion / gullying
Secondary types of degradation addressed: Cn: fertility decline and reduced organic matter content
3.8 Prevention, reduction, or restoration of land degradation
Specify the goal of the Technology with regard to land degradation:
- prevent land degradation
- reduce land degradation
Comments:
Main goals: Also rehabilitation / reclamation of denuded land
4. Technical specifications, implementation activities, inputs, and costs
4.1 Technical drawing of the Technology
4.2 Technical specifications/ explanations of technical drawing
SNNPR
Technical knowledge required for field staff / advisors: high
Technical knowledge required for land users: moderate
Main technical functions: water harvesting / increase water supply, sediment retention / trapping, sediment harvesting
Secondary technical functions: control of concentrated runoff: retain / trap, reduction of slope angle, reduction of slope length
Early planting
Material/ species: maize
Quantity/ density: 85000/ha
Remarks: sawn in lines
Mixed cropping / intercropping
Material/ species: maize-sweet potato/haricot bean
Remarks: inter cropped & strip cropped
Contour planting / strip cropping
Material/ species: maize-taro-enset
Mulching
Material/ species: enset
Manure / compost / residues
Material/ species: maize, potato, sweet potato, traro
Mineral (inorganic) fertilizers
Material/ species: Teff, maize, sorghum
Rotations / fallows
Material/ species: maize-tarro-sorghum
Remarks: only rotations
Breaking compacted topsoil
Remarks: primary and secondary oxen tillage
Contour tillage
Remarks: tillage done following contour
Agronomic measure: harrowing
Aligned: -contour
Vegetative material: O : other
Vertical interval between rows / strips / blocks (m): 0.2-0.5
Spacing between rows / strips / blocks (m): 2-4
Vertical interval within rows / strips / blocks (m): 0.5-2
Width within rows / strips / blocks (m): 0.5-1
Scattered / dispersed
Vegetative material: T : trees / shrubs
Number of plants per (ha): 4000
Vertical interval between rows / strips / blocks (m): 0.2
Spacing between rows / strips / blocks (m): 1.5x1.5
Vertical interval within rows / strips / blocks (m): 1.5
Width within rows / strips / blocks (m): 1.5
In blocks
Vegetative material: T : trees / shrubs
Number of plants per (ha): 2500
Vertical interval between rows / strips / blocks (m): 0.5
Spacing between rows / strips / blocks (m): 2x2
Vertical interval within rows / strips / blocks (m): 2
Width within rows / strips / blocks (m): 2
Trees/ shrubs species: Leucaena, Sesbania, Grevillea
Fruit trees / shrubs species: Mango, papaya, Avocado
Perennial crops species: Casava
Slope (which determines the spacing indicated above): 10.00%
If the original slope has changed as a result of the Technology, the slope today is (see figure below): 8.00%
Gradient along the rows / strips: 0.00%
Diversion ditch/ drainage
Depth of ditches/pits/dams (m): 0.5
Width of ditches/pits/dams (m): 0.5
Length of ditches/pits/dams (m): 100
Height of bunds/banks/others (m): 0.6
Width of bunds/banks/others (m): 0.5
Length of bunds/banks/others (m): 100
Retention/infiltration ditch/pit, sediment/sand trap
Vertical interval between structures (m): 0.5
Depth of ditches/pits/dams (m): 0.6
Width of ditches/pits/dams (m): 0.7
Length of ditches/pits/dams (m): 4
Height of bunds/banks/others (m): 0.75
Width of bunds/banks/others (m): 0.6
Terrace: backward sloping
Vertical interval between structures (m): 1.5
Spacing between structures (m): 12
Depth of ditches/pits/dams (m): 0.9
Width of ditches/pits/dams (m): 0.5
Length of ditches/pits/dams (m): 50-75
Bund/ bank: level
Vertical interval between structures (m): 1.2
Spacing between structures (m): 10
Depth of ditches/pits/dams (m): 0.6
Width of ditches/pits/dams (m): 0.7
Length of ditches/pits/dams (m): 50-80
Height of bunds/banks/others (m): 0.75
Construction material (earth): Most of the structural measures are made by earth involving excavation and embankment.
Construction material (stone): Stone is mainly used for demonstration.
Slope (which determines the spacing indicated above): 10%
If the original slope has changed as a result of the Technology, the slope today is: 8%
Lateral gradient along the structure: 0%
Vegetation is used for stabilisation of structures.
Change of land use type: The land after treatment is closed
Control / change of species composition: Grazing land changed to plantation and cropping
Other type of management: change of management / intensity level - Grazing land changed to plantation and cropping
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 =:
8.5
Indicate average wage cost of hired labour per day:
0.60
4.4 Establishment activities
Activity | Type of measure | Timing | |
---|---|---|---|
1. | Land preparation | Vegetative | September, october |
2. | Sugar cane planting | Vegetative | November |
3. | Sugar cane cultivation | Vegetative | January/August |
4. | Casava planting | Vegetative | April |
5. | Casava cultivation | Vegetative | June |
6. | Maize planting | Vegetative | January-1st plough, April 2nd plough |
7. | Maize cultivation | Vegetative | June |
8. | Sweet potato planting | Vegetative | September |
9. | Sweet potato cultivation | Vegetative | October |
10. | Fruite trees | Vegetative | June |
11. | Digging foundation | Structural | November-February |
12. | Forming embankment | Structural | November-February |
13. | Side wall shaping | Structural | November-February |
14. | Planting trees and shrubs | Structural | March-1st planting & June 2nd planting |
15. | Excluding animals by fencing and guarding | Management | all year |
16. | Construct cutoff drain | Management | dry season |
17. | Establish buffer zone between Area enclosure and crop land by strip of plantation | Management | June/July |
18. | Construct earth checks and trenches in the gully | Management | dry season |
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 | Labour | ha | 1.0 | 282.3 | 282.3 | 100.0 |
Equipment | Tools | ha | 1.0 | 270.6 | 270.6 | 100.0 |
Plant material | Seedlings | ha | 1.0 | 117.6 | 117.6 | 100.0 |
Total costs for establishment of the Technology | 670.5 |
Comments:
Duration of establishment phase: 24 month(s)
4.6 Maintenance/ recurrent activities
Activity | Type of measure | Timing/ frequency | |
---|---|---|---|
1. | Land preparation | Agronomic | september, october / 2 times |
2. | Sweet potato planting | Agronomic | September / each cropping season |
3. | Sweet potato cultivation | Agronomic | October / each cropping season |
4. | Maize planting | Agronomic | January/April / each cropping season |
5. | Maize cultivation | Agronomic | June / each cropping season |
6. | Teff sawing | Agronomic | |
7. | Teff weeding | Agronomic | |
8. | Prunning | Vegetative | october /once |
9. | Mulching | Vegetative | october /once |
10. | Thining | Vegetative | october /once |
11. | Fencing | Vegetative | any time /once |
12. | Weeding | Structural | June/each cropping season |
13. | Cultivation | Structural | March/each cropping season |
14. | Replanting | Structural | June/each cropping season |
15. | Repair in breaks | Structural | November-February/each cropping season |
16. | Fence | Structural | each cropping season |
17. | Repair breaks on cutoff drain and earth checks | Management | dry season / 2 years |
18. | Prunning, weeding and cultivation | Management | end of rains / each cropping season |
4.7 Costs and inputs needed for maintenance/ recurrent activities (per year)
Comments:
Machinery/ tools: spade, hoe
Length and width of structure
4.8 Most important factors affecting the costs
Describe the most determinate factors affecting the costs:
Factors affecting costs in this technology are the depth and width of gully, steepness of slope, planting and replanting of vegetative materials.
5. Natural and human environment
5.1 Climate
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
- sub-humid
5.2 Topography
Slopes on average:
- 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
Altitudinal zone:
- 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.
Comments and further specifications on topography:
Slopes on average: Moderate (ranked 1, about 70%), gentle and rolling (both ranked 2) and flat (ranked 3)
5.3 Soils
Soil depth on average:
- 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):
- medium (loamy, silty)
Topsoil organic matter:
- medium (1-3%)
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: Deep (Soils are very deep (75%))
Soil texture: Medium (fertile loam soils)
Soil fertility is medium (ranked 1) and high (ranked 2)
Topsoil organic matter: Medium (ranked 1, in the crop lands), low (ranked 2, degraded areas) and high (ranked 3, around the homestead)
Soil water storage capacity: Medium (ranked 1, on crop land) and high (ranked 2, on flat plateau land)
5.6 Characteristics of land users applying the Technology
Market orientation of production system:
- subsistence (self-supply)
- mixed (subsistence/ commercial
Off-farm income:
- 10-50% of all income
Relative level of wealth:
- average
Level of mechanization:
- manual work
- animal traction
Indicate other relevant characteristics of the land users:
Population density: > 500 persons/km2
Annual population growth: 2% - 3%
5% of the land users are rich.
10% of the land users are average wealthy.
45% of the land users are poor.
40% of the land users are poor.
Off-farm income specification: Farmers who have SWC measures on their land produce more and hence have better financial income, which could allow them get involved in petty trade and other activities.
Level of mechanization: Animal traction (ranked 1, crop lands) and manual work ( ranked 2, homstead and gully lands)
Market orientation of cropland production system: subsistence (self-supply, maize) and mixed (subsistence/ commercial, sweet potato, teff, coffee)
5.7 Average area of land owned or leased by land users applying the Technology
- < 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
Comments:
Cropland: 0.5-1 ha (more than 80% of farmers) and 1-2 ha
grazing land: 0.5-1 ha (communal grazing lands are severly degraded)
6. Impacts and concluding statements
6.1 On-site impacts the Technology has shown
Socio-economic impacts
Production
crop production
fodder production
fodder quality
production area
Comments/ specify:
Shortage of grazing land: Animals are thethered in a small plots
Income and costs
farm income
Socio-cultural impacts
community institutions
Comments/ specify:
teams are formed
national institutions
SLM/ land degradation knowledge
conflict mitigation
Comments/ specify:
many wants to be beneficiaries but only the poor given the opportunities
Ecological impacts
Soil
soil moisture
soil cover
soil loss
Other ecological impacts
Biodiversity enhancement
6.2 Off-site impacts the Technology has shown
downstream flooding
Comments/ specify:
all runoff retained
downstream siltation
Comments/ specify:
all soil trapped
6.4 Cost-benefit analysis
How do the benefits compare with the establishment costs (from land users’ perspective)?
Short-term returns:
slightly positive
Long-term returns:
positive
How do the benefits compare with the maintenance/ recurrent costs (from land users' perspective)?
Short-term returns:
positive
Long-term returns:
positive
6.5 Adoption of the Technology
Comments:
50 land user families have adopted the Technology with external material support
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