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)

Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) - Italy

Name 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) - Ethiopia

1.3 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

2.1 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

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.

3.1 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): 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

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

4.1 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

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.

5.1 Climate

5.2 Topography

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

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

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

6.1 On-site impacts the Technology has shown

Socio-economic impacts

Production

Income and costs

Socio-cultural impacts

Ecological impacts

Soil

Other ecological impacts

6.2 Off-site impacts the Technology has shown

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

Comments:

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