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)

SNNPR Bureau of Agriculture - 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:

Desho grass strip is a vegetative SWC measure used for stablizing the bund and provide fodder for animals.

2.2 Detailed description of the Technology

Description:

Desho grass is established by planting tillered cuttings. It establishes easily with little soil moisture. It is a perennial herbaceous grass which has massive fibrous root system that anchors the plant to the bind. It provides better cover to the bund and establishes agressively. The growth is upright with a growth potential of 90-120 cm depending on the fertility of the soil and regenerates quickly. It can grow and mature (ready for harvesting) at least once in a month and it requires only one seasontime rain to cover the whole bund.

Purpose of the Technology: The purpose of Desho grass is to stablize the bund and provide palatable grass for livestock.

Establishment / maintenance activities and inputs: Desho grass can be established/regenerate by tiller splitting and planting. The soil should be moist during establishment of Desho grass.

Natural / human environment: Desho grass can grow at 1500-2800 m asl and its best performs at an altitude of 1700-2800m asl.

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.):

SOS Sahel introduced Desho grass to be plant on bunds for stablization and forage development through Integrated Watershed Management Approach.

3.1 Main purpose(s) of the Technology

• improve production
• 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): Population pressure, lack of land management skill, shortage of farm land, decline of soil fertility, low income (food insecurity)

Major land use problems (land users’ perception): Shortage of farm land, decline of soil fertility, low productivity per unit area of land and climate change (drought)

Grazingland comments: After Desho grass introduction the trends of grazing system change from open grazing on farm land to stall feeding and as a result land degradation problems are reduced in the area. The grass is used by cutoff and carry system.

Problems / comments regarding forest use: Focus on eucalyptus planting reduced crop production. Other multipurpose indeginous species should be considered.

Type of cropping system and major crops comments: Irish potato or haricot bean - wheat or barley or teff

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: 180 Longest growing period from month to month: Apr - Sep Second longest growing period in days: 120 Second longest growing period from month to month: Jul - Sep

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:

• 10-100 km2

Comments:

Importance in bund stablization of desho grass (Pennisetum pedecillatum Trin) is not well known. But it is fast growing and best for soil bund stablization in crop lands with multipurpose use. Desho grass increases the productivity of land taken by the bund. It is a good sources of forage. It also support food security efforts by substituting enset feeding.

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

Secondary types of degradation addressed: Wg: gully erosion / gullying

3.8 Prevention, reduction, or restoration of land degradation

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

• restore/ rehabilitate severely degraded land

Comments:

Secondary goals: prevention of land degradation, mitigation / reduction of land degradation

4.1 Technical drawing of the Technology

4.2 Technical specifications/ explanations of technical drawing

SNNPR

Technical knowledge required for field staff / advisors: moderate

Technical knowledge required for land users: high

Main technical functions: control of dispersed runoff: retain / trap, control of dispersed runoff: impede / retard

Secondary technical functions: control of concentrated runoff: retain / trap, control of concentrated runoff: impede / retard, control of concentrated runoff: drain / divert, reduction of slope length, increase of infiltration, sediment retention / trapping, sediment harvesting

Contour planting / strip cropping
Material/ species: Desho grass
Quantity/ density: 15m3/km
Remarks: 10m X 10m

Contour tillage
Remarks: farm implements

Contour ridging
Remarks: shovel, hoe, pick axe

Aligned: -contour
Vegetative material: T : trees / shrubs, F : fruit trees / shrubs, G : grass
Number of plants per (ha): 750
Vertical interval between rows / strips / blocks (m): 1
Vertical interval within rows / strips / blocks (m): 0.1
Width within rows / strips / blocks (m): 1

Trees/ shrubs species: Cajans cajan, Sesbania sesban

Fruit trees / shrubs species: Avocado, casmir

Grass species: Desho grass

Slope (which determines the spacing indicated above): 30.00%

If the original slope has changed as a result of the Technology, the slope today is (see figure below): 15.00%

Gradient along the rows / strips: 0.00%

Bund/ bank: level
Vertical interval between structures (m): 1
Spacing between structures (m): 20-30
Depth of ditches/pits/dams (m): 0.3
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): 0.8-1.2
Length of bunds/banks/others (m): 100

Structural measure: diversion ditch / cut-off drain
Depth of ditches/pits/dams (m): 0.4
Width of ditches/pits/dams (m): 0.5
Length of ditches/pits/dams (m): 100
Height of bunds/banks/others (m): 0.3
Width of bunds/banks/others (m): 0.5
Length of bunds/banks/others (m): 100

Construction material (earth): Soil bund

Slope (which determines the spacing indicated above): 30%

If the original slope has changed as a result of the Technology, the slope today is: 15%

Lateral gradient along the structure: 0%

Vegetation is used for stabilisation of structures.

Change of land use type: open grazing to cut and carry

Major change in timing of activities: harvesting Desho grass every two month

Other type of management: change of management / intensity level - from mono-crop to rotational 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 =:

8.6

4.4 Establishment activities

	Activity	Type of measure	Timing
1.	Collecting grass	Vegetative	beginning of rain season
2.	Transporting planting materials	Vegetative	beginning of rain season
3.	Planting grass on the bund	Vegetative	beginning of rain season
4.	Catchment survey	Structural	dry season
5.	Cutoff drain construction	Structural	dry season
6.	Soil bund construction	Structural	dry season
7.	Grass transplanting	Structural	onset of rains
8.	Grass planting	Structural	onset of rains

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	8.0	8.0	100.0
Equipment	Machine use	ha	1.0	1.21	1.21
Equipment	Tools	ha	1.0	1.7	1.7
Plant material	Seedlings	ha	1.0	3.2	3.2
Total costs for establishment of the Technology					14.11

Comments:

Duration of establishment phase: 12 month(s)

4.6 Maintenance/ recurrent activities

	Activity	Type of measure	Timing/ frequency
1.	Land preparation	Agronomic	onset of rains / 1-3
2.	Sowing	Agronomic	during rains / each cropping season
3.	Weeding	Agronomic
4.	Collecting grass	Vegetative
5.	Transporting planting materials	Vegetative
6.	Planting grass on the bund	Vegetative
7.	Cutoff drain desilted	Structural	before rains/annual
8.	Soil bund maintenance	Structural	before rains/annual
9.	Grass replanting	Structural	during rains/annual

4.7 Costs and inputs needed for maintenance/ recurrent activities (per year)

Comments:

Machinery/ tools: shovel, hoe

Length of structure and grass strip

4.8 Most important factors affecting the costs

Describe the most determinate factors affecting the costs:

Cost/labour and requirment increased as slope increased.

5.1 Climate

5.2 Topography

Comments and further specifications on topography:

Altitudinal zone: <2400m a.s.l.
Landforms: Hill slopes (most of the catchment area up to 50% slope, ranked 1) and plateau/plains (around 10% slope, ranked 2)
Slopes on average: Also hilly (ranked 2) and rolling (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 texture: Fine/heavy (clay loam)
Soil fertility: Very low (production is very low with out organic/chemical fertilizer, ranked 1) and low (production is low with out organic/chemical fertilizer, ranked 2)
Topsoil organic matter: Low (top fertile soil is eroded away)
Soil drainage/infiltration: Good (well drained nitosols)
Soil water storage capacity: Medium (lack of organic matter)

5.6 Characteristics of land users applying the Technology

Indicate other relevant characteristics of the land users:

Population density: 200-500 persons/km2
Annual population growth: 3% - 4%
28% of the land users are rich and own 40% of the land.
58% of the land users are average wealthy and own 50% of the land.
14% of the land users are poor and own 10% of the land.
Off-farm income specification: There is little difference between them.
Level of mechanization: Animal traction (ranked 1, on gentle to hilly slope oxen is used for ploughing) and manual work (ranked 2, manual labour is used on steep slopes)
Market orientation of cropland production system: subsistence (self-supply) land users produce crop for household consumption
Market orientation of grazing land production system: subsistence (self-supply) cattle rearing is for own use, traction and saving.
Market orientation of forest production system: subsistence (self-supply) and agroforestry
Market orientation of production system: agroforestry

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

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:

66% of land user families have adopted the Technology with external material support

4145 land user families have adopted the Technology with external material support

Comments on acceptance with external material support: survey results

There is a strong trend towards spontaneous adoption of the Technology

Comments on adoption trend: The grass is very fast growing, easly to established and naturally palatable, good for stablizing bund, harvest once a month during rainy season and grows at right position and therefore it does not hinder other farm activities.

6.7 Strengths/ advantages/ opportunities of the Technology

Strengths/ advantages/ opportunities in the land user’s view
Palatable grass How can they be sustained / enhanced? encourage cut and carry system.
fast growing grass
Substitute enset as a source of forage
Generate income

Strengths/ advantages/ opportunities in the compiler’s or other key resource person’s view
Good and fast growing grass that can cover the bund with in short time. How can they be sustained / enhanced? avoid free grazing and encourage cut and carry system.
Little investment for establishment How can they be sustained / enhanced? Provision of planting materials for resource poor land users.
Good palatable nature How can they be sustained / enhanced? encourage cut and carry system.
Land productivity improved How can they be sustained / enhanced? access to market and introduce improved varities.

7.2 References to available publications

Title, author, year, ISBN:

SOS Sahel IFSSP Terminal evaluation Report. 2003.

Title, author, year, ISBN:

Case study assessing the signifcance of Desho grass intervention on SWC structures, Food security Strategy, by Daniel Dantamo.