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)

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

1.5 Reference to Questionnaire(s) on SLM Approaches

2.1 Short description of the Technology

Definition of the Technology:

A terrace constructed along the contour with the embankment above the basin to prevent/control or reduce runoff.

2.2 Detailed description of the Technology

Description:

The technology is integrated with cutoff drain, stablized by grass and trees and also integrated with some agronomic measures such as inter cropping, crop rotation and green manuring.

Purpose of the Technology: It aims at controlling runoff velocity and soil erosion, changes the slope inclination, recharge ground water, conserve soil moisture and increase the productivity per unit of land.

Establishment / maintenance activities and inputs: It is done or maintained on self-help bases. When the basin is filled up with sediment or it is damaged by over flowing of runoff, repair work is undertaken.

Natural / human environment: It is environmentaly sound, conducive and accepted by the communit

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.):

from expriences in other countries and also other woredas in the country.

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): Low soil fertility, land degradation, decline in productivity.

Major land use problems (land users’ perception): Productivity has highly declined, high amounts of inputs required to improve the soil fertility.

Type of cropping system and major crops comments: Teff - Maize - Beans - Sweet potato

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: 240 Longest growing period from month to month: Mar - Oct Second longest growing period in days: 180 Second longest growing period from month to month: Jun - Dec

3.4 SLM group to which the Technology belongs

• cross-slope measure

3.5 Spread of the Technology

Comments:

Total area covered by the SLM Technology is 15.18 m2.

The technology is integrated with different biological measures such as bund stablized by grass, legumes and tree species and supplimented with cutoff drain.

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, 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:

• reduce land degradation

Comments:

Secondary goals: prevention of land degradation, 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: moderate

Technical knowledge required for land users: high

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

Secondary technical functions: control of concentrated runoff: drain / divert, increase of infiltration, increase / maintain water stored in soil, water harvesting / increase water supply

Early planting
Material/ species: maize, teff
Remarks: broad casting, row planting

Mixed cropping / intercropping
Material/ species: maize with beans
Quantity/ density: 25kg/ha
Remarks: row planting

Agronomic measure: sweet potato
Quantity/ density: 55000

Legume inter-planting
Remarks: row planting

Contour tillage
Remarks: furrow formation

Aligned: -contour
Vegetative material: G : grass
Vertical interval between rows / strips / blocks (m): 1m
Spacing between rows / strips / blocks (m): 7m

In blocks
Vegetative material: T : trees / shrubs, F : fruit trees / shrubs
Vertical interval between rows / strips / blocks (m): 1
Spacing between rows / strips / blocks (m): 33

Trees/ shrubs species: sesbania, Shinus molle

Fruit trees / shrubs species: mango, avocado, papaya

Perennial crops species: coffee

Grass species: elephant grass, phalaris

Slope (which determines the spacing indicated above): 8.00%

Gradient along the rows / strips: 0.00%

Diversion ditch/ drainage
Depth of ditches/pits/dams (m): 0.75
Width of ditches/pits/dams (m): 1.5
Length of ditches/pits/dams (m): 300
Height of bunds/banks/others (m): 0.75
Width of bunds/banks/others (m): 1.2
Length of bunds/banks/others (m): 300

Bund/ bank: level
Vertical interval between structures (m): 1-1.5
Spacing between structures (m): 10-20
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): 1.2m
Length of bunds/banks/others (m): 100

Construction material (earth): At the time of ditch construction, the excavated soil is used to make the embankment.

Construction material (stone): Stones are used for ditch pavement

Slope (which determines the spacing indicated above): 20%

Lateral gradient along the structure: 0%

Vegetation is used for stabilisation of structures.

Other type of management: change of management / intensity level

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 of planting materials (seeds)	Vegetative	during rainy season
2.	Planting on bunds	Vegetative	during rainy season
3.	Cultivation	Vegetative	during rainy season
4.	Fencing	Vegetative	during rainy season
5.	Survey	Structural	dry season
6.	Layout	Structural	dry season
7.	Constructing the terrace	Structural	dry season
8.	Stablization of terrace	Structural	rain season
9.	control grazing	Management

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	140.0	140.0	100.0
Labour	Person days	ha	1.0	29.0	29.0
Equipment	Animal traction	ha	1.0	101.0	101.0
Equipment	Tools	ha	1.0	47.0	47.0
Plant material	Seeds	ha	1.0	24.0	24.0
Fertilizers and biocides	Fertilizer	ha	1.0	55.0	55.0
Total costs for establishment of the Technology					396.0

Comments:

Duration of establishment phase: 12 month(s)

4.6 Maintenance/ recurrent activities

	Activity	Type of measure	Timing/ frequency
1.	Land preparation	Agronomic	before and onset of rains / each cropping season
2.	Planting/Sowing	Agronomic	during rains / each cropping season
3.	Weeding	Agronomic	during rains / each cropping season
4.	Harvesting	Agronomic	dry season / each cropping season
5.	Replanting	Vegetative	rainy season /as needed
6.	Replanting	Structural	rainy season/annual
7.	Sediment removal	Structural	offset of rain/annual

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	Labour	ha	1.0	14.0	14.0	100.0
Labour	Person days	ha	1.0	29.0	29.0
Equipment	Animal traction	ha	1.0	101.0	101.0
Plant material	Seeds	ha	1.0	24.0	24.0
Fertilizers and biocides	Fertilizer	ha	1.0	55.0	55.0
Total costs for maintenance of the Technology					223.0

Comments:

Machinery/ tools: Shovel and hoe

The cost estimation is made for 1 km length bund in a hectare of land planted with maize.

4.8 Most important factors affecting the costs

Describe the most determinate factors affecting the costs:

Labour cost increases or decreases per hectare of land depending on land form, type and depth of the soil. Cost of construction with increase in slope.

5.1 Climate

5.2 Topography

Comments and further specifications on topography:

Altitudinal zone: 1501-2000 m a.s.l. ( over 70% falls in this category, ranked 1), 2000-2500 m a.s.l. (ranked 2) and 1001-1500 m a.s.l. as well as 2501-3000 m a.s.l. (both ranked 3)
Landforms: Ridges (ranked 2) and mountain slopes as well as valley floors (both ranked 3)
Slopes on average: Hilly (soils have better fertility, ranked 1), rolling (ranked 2) and moderate (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: Moderately deep (most of the soils (60%) have moderately deep soils, ranked 1), deep (25 % SWC area, ranked 2) and shallow (soils on steep slopes (15%), ranked 3)
Soil fertility: Low (continuous cropping-long period cultivation, ranked 1), very low (shallow soils, ranked 2) and medium (ranked 3)
Topsoil organic matter: Low (no crop yield with out fertilizers applied, ranked 1), medium (ranked 2) and high (flat slopes and around harvested, ranked 3)
Soil water storage capacity: High (ranked 1), very high (ranked 2) and medium (ranked 3)

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%
20% of the land users are average wealthy and own 40% of the land (own few livestock).
45% of the land users are poor and own 25% of the land (have small land holding).
35% of the land users are poor and own 35% of the land (no/too little land, no property).
Off-farm income specification: Most of the people in the area are engaged in agricultural activities and only few people are engaged on off-farm activities.
Level of mechanization: Animal traction (most of the land users, ranked 1) and manual work (few land useres, ranked 2)
Market oriantation cropland: Subsistence (The produce is only enough for family 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:

• state

6.1 On-site impacts the Technology has shown

Socio-economic impacts

Production

Income and costs

Socio-cultural impacts

Ecological impacts

Water cycle/ runoff

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

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

• 10-50%

Comments:

75% of land user families have adopted the Technology with external material support

Comments on acceptance with external material support: estimates

25% of land user families have adopted the Technology without any external material support

Comments on spontaneous adoption: estimates

There is a moderate trend towards spontaneous adoption of the Technology

Comments on adoption trend: SWC intervention is an activity that aims at controlling erosion, improving soil moisture and productivity per unit area of land.

6.7 Strengths/ advantages/ opportunities of the Technology

Strengths/ advantages/ opportunities in the land user’s view
Controls erosion How can they be sustained / enhanced? use of multipurpose plant species for bund stablization.

Strengths/ advantages/ opportunities in the compiler’s or other key resource person’s view
Effective in controlling erosion How can they be sustained / enhanced? quality and technical standard should be kept.
Fast to develop to bench terrace How can they be sustained / enhanced? require continuous maintainance

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?
harbour rodents	provision of pesticides
labour intensive	provision of hand tools and incentives
no short time impact	introduce multipurpose planting material