1.2 Contact details of resource persons and institutions involved in the assessment and documentation of the Technology

Name of project which facilitated the documentation/ evaluation of the Technology (if relevant)

Central Asian Countries Initiative for Land Management (CACILM I)

Name of the institution(s) which facilitated the documentation/ evaluation of the Technology (if relevant)

Kyrgyz Agrarian University (Kyrgyz Agrarian University) - Kyrgyzstan

1.3 Conditions regarding the use of data documented through WOCAT

When were the data compiled (in the field)?

29/08/2011

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:

A minimum tillage depth of 10-12 cm by a tractor with a ploughshare creates a friable soil layer, facilitates preservation of productive moisture until the agricultural crops’ sowing, as well as eliminates the extreme soil compaction owing to the operation of heavy machinery and tractors.

2.2 Detailed description of the Technology

Description:

In case of the minimum tillage application on a field it is necessary to critically consider the classical tillage methods for cereal cultivation. During the Soviet era the State allocated funds for the implementation of agricultural practices, considering that agriculture was subsidised by the state. Under such conditions, farmers did not have much interest in applying progressive techniques, for example minimum tillage. In the post-Soviet era, the farming conditions changed; land tenure was changed to private ownership; and agronomic practices are now covered entirely by the farmers. Implementation of the traditional moldboard ploughing at a the depth of 20-25 cm over many years led to the formation of a subsurface compact layer in the clayey soil, which prevents vertical filtration of water and air exchange, negatively impacting the life of aerobic soil microorganisms and decreasing the cereals’ yield. It resulted in the necessity of destroying such layers periodically with the help of a subsoil cultivator, attached to a plough carriage and entailing high fuel costs.
Using minimum tillage the field is cultivated at a depth of 10-12 cm by a tractor with a disker and simultaneously harrowed immediately after the harvest. Minimum tillage creates an even and loose field cover without inner capillaries through which the moisture can quickly evaporate. The productive moisture reserve at this sowing depth is 30% higher in comparison to soil preparation by usual ploughing, and therefore increasing seed germination in the field. An additional advantage of minimum tillage is lower CO2 emissions from soil in comparison with mouldboard ploughing. Through applying minimum tillage, the activity of subterranean micro fauna (earthworm, predatory beetles) improves.. Furthermore, there is no need to even the soil, which reduces the tillage number and allows for greater conservation of fuel and lubricant, as well as reducing labour costs. The ridge sowing technology is applied in CIS countries (Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Azerbaijan, Tajikistan.) in the production of wheat and other cereals. Kyrgyzstan first applied this technology with the support of the SIDA project “Support to seed development industry in Kyrgyzstan”. Further dissemination of this method was supported by the Seed Growers’ Association of Kyrgyzstan. This technology was utilized in Kyrgyzstan through the use of the Turkish seeder СBP-2,8, which forms ridges, sows and simultaneously cuts furrows to irrigate between the ridges. The ridge sowing technology creates optimal conditions for agricultural crops and provides effective furrow irrigation. This prevents excessive use of irrigation water (saving 25-30%) and irrigation erosion, which happens in the case of using flooding methods on the crop fields using common corn planters. In addition, it prevents the flooding of useful soil micro fauna, as well as saves time. Prior to irrigation or after irrigation, a tractor or agricultural machine can easily go along the irrigation furrows to spray plants with herbicides and pesticides. Ridge sowing of cereals can be implemented almost on all types of grey-brownish, grey, red, yellow soil types with middle and light mechanical composition. In addition to cereals, ridge sowing can be used for growing vegetables and legumes (including potato), as well as industrial and oil crops (sugar beet, rape, soya bean, sesame)
Depending on natural climatic conditions and biological peculiarities of the cultivated varieties, width between the ridges is about 60-70cm. 2-3 rows of seeds can be sown on the ridges with a row spacing of 15cm. Over the course of 3 years, 10 ha of land were sown by using this technology, and the wheat grain yield was not reduced in comparison to the conventional cultivation method using a corn planter. While sowing cereals with such a seeder, it is recommended to cultivate well-bushing varieties. The ridge seeder decreases the seeding rate to a minimum. The seeding rate of cereals is 100-150kg/ha instead of 200-250kg/ha when using the usual sowing method with a classical corn planter and provides additional yield of winter grain wheat up to 5 -8,3 centner/ha. Practice is documented in the frame of CACILM.

Purpose of the Technology: Eliminate soil compaction; reduce evaporation of moisture and СО2 from soil; create optimal conditions for soil micro fauna; increase yield and reduce fuel consumption costs while tilling soil

Establishment / maintenance activities and inputs: The essential element of this technology is that a farmer or farmers’ organization owns a disk tiller, which costs about 1000 USD

Natural / human environment: Minimum tillage is applied on grey-brownish soils; with a humus content of 3- 6%. “MIS” JSC is comprised of approximately 50 farmers. Over 100 ex-farmers of the “MIS” JSC received their land shares and organized the peasants’ farms (PF). All these farmers communicate with each other and exchange experiences. Therefore, both “MIS” JSC members and other farmers apply minimum tillage

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 land users' innovation

Comments (type of project, etc.):

Minimum tillage has been applied since 2000.

3.2 Current land use type(s) where the Technology is applied

Comments:

Major land use problems (compiler’s opinion): The use of obsolete machinery and technologies reduces soil fertility and the amount of moisture in the soil; suppresses life activity of soil micro fauna and needs high power inputs. For example, moldboard ploughing facilitates soil compaction, and using it for winter ploughing in early spring the upper fertile soil layers are washed out by melting snow and intense rains.

Major land use problems (land users’ perception): Reduction of soil fertility causing farmers to buy mineral fertilizer; reduced application of organic fertilizer due to decrease of livestock numbers; and use of dry manure as fuel.

3.3 Further information about land use

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

• full irrigation

Number of growing seasons per year:

• 1

Specify:

Longest growing period in days: 160Longest growing period from month to month: April - September

Livestock density (if relevant):

1-10 LU /km2

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:

• 1-10 km2

Comments:

Total area covered by the SLM Technology is 2 m2.

3.6 SLM measures comprising the Technology

Comments:

Type of agronomic measures: minimum tillage

3.7 Main types of land degradation addressed by the Technology

Comments:

Main causes of degradation: crop management (annual, perennial, tree/shrub) (Violation of the crop rotation scheme (absence of crop rotation).), inputs and infrastructure: (roads, markets, distribution of water points, other, …) (Obsolete agricultural machinery.)

Secondary causes of degradation: other human induced causes (specify) (Habit using old land management methods), droughts (Droughts every 3 years.), governance / institutional (Weakly developed farmers’ associations.)

3.8 Prevention, reduction, or restoration of land degradation

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

• reduce land degradation

Comments:

Main goals: mitigation / reduction of land degradation

4.1 Technical drawing of the Technology

4.2 Technical specifications/ explanations of technical drawing

The picture shows a) soil tillage by moldboard plowing, b) scheme of minimum soil tillage

Location: “MIS” farm fields. Chui oblast

Date: 30.09.2011

Technical knowledge required for field staff / advisors: high

Technical knowledge required for land users: moderate

Main technical functions: stabilisation of soil (eg by tree roots against land slides), increase in organic matter, increase / maintain water stored in soil

Minimum tillage
Material/ species: Disker
Quantity/ density: 10 sm
Remarks: Disking and leveling with harrow

4.3 General information regarding the calculation of inputs and costs

other/ national currency (specify):

KGS som

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

40.0

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
Equipment	Purchase of disks	pc	1.0	1000.0	1000.0	100.0
Equipment	machine use		1.0	5.0	5.0	100.0
Total costs for establishment of the Technology					1005.0

4.6 Maintenance/ recurrent activities

	Activity	Type of measure	Timing/ frequency
1.	Disking (minimum tillage)	Agronomic	Once a year after harvesting
2.	Harrowing	Agronomic	После сбора урожая
3.	Harrowing	Agronomic
4.	Посев	Agronomic	Октябрь
5.	Уборка	Agronomic	В период созревания зерна

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	45.0	45.0	100.0
Equipment	machine use	ha	344.0	26.5	9116.0	100.0
Fertilizers and biocides	seeds	pc	0.25	37.5	9.38	100.0
Fertilizers and biocides	seedlings	pc	0.5	50.0	25.0	100.0
Total costs for maintenance of the Technology					9195.38

Comments:

all calculations were made on the base of 1 ha on 15 October 2011

4.8 Most important factors affecting the costs

Describe the most determinate factors affecting the costs:

Mechanical composition of soil and field slopes, types of tractors and agricultural machinery, qualification of workers

5.1 Climate

5.2 Topography

5.3 Soils

5.4 Water availability and quality

5.5 Biodiversity

5.6 Characteristics of land users applying the Technology

Indicate other relevant characteristics of the land users:

Population density: 10-50 persons/km2

Annual population growth: 1% - 2%

10% of the land users are rich and own 40% of the land.
70% of the land users are average wealthy and own 50% of the land.
20% of the land users are poor and own 10% of the land.

Off-farm income specification: Renting agricultural machineries

Market orientation of production system: mixed (subsistence/ commercial, commercial/ market, commercial/ market

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:

• individual, not titled

Land use rights:

• communal (organized)
• individual

5.9 Access to services and infrastructure

6.1 On-site impacts the Technology has shown

Socio-economic impacts

Production

Socio-cultural impacts

Ecological impacts

Soil

Biodiversity: vegetation, animals

6.2 Off-site impacts the Technology has shown

6.3 Exposure and sensitivity of the Technology to gradual climate change and climate-related extremes/ disasters (as perceived by land users)

Gradual climate change

Gradual climate change

	Season	Type of climatic change/ extreme	How does the Technology cope with it?
annual temperature		increase	not well

Climate-related extremes (disasters)

Meteorological disasters

	How does the Technology cope with it?
local rainstorm	well

Climatological disasters

	How does the Technology cope with it?
drought	not well

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:

Comments on acceptance with external material support: Farmers did not use external help.

20% of land user families have adopted the Technology without any external material support

30 land user families have adopted the Technology without any external material support

Comments on spontaneous adoption: All 30 families voluntarily adopted the technology after visiting the demonstration field.

There is a moderate trend towards spontaneous adoption of the Technology

Comments on adoption trend: Since 2010 the agricultural cooperative “Jaiyl” applies minimum tillage on an area of 400 ha. The “SredAsiaGrope” JSC provides soil tilling and crop harvesting services and applies minimum tillage on an area of 1000 ha in Jaiyl and Panfilov rayons.

6.7 Strengths/ advantages/ opportunities of the Technology

Strengths/ advantages/ opportunities in the land user’s view
Decrease in fuel and labour costs How can they be sustained / enhanced? While there is need for cost-saving production
Increase in labour productivity by minimum tillage as it allows an increase in yields at no additional labour time How can they be sustained / enhanced? awarenes raising of incereasd labour productivity due to minimum tillage
Increase in grain yield

Strengths/ advantages/ opportunities in the compiler’s or other key resource person’s view
Improvement of life activity of aerobic soil microflora and soil terricolous micro fauna How can they be sustained / enhanced? If there is an advisory service
Reduction in the formation of a subsurface compact layer How can they be sustained / enhanced? Avoid moldboard plowing in the future
Increase in grain yield How can they be sustained / enhanced? Application of minimum tillage along with optimization of other agrotechnical methods.(optimal terms, norms and depths of sowing, irrigation regime, system of diseases and pests control, harvesting terms)
Decrease in fuel and labour costs. How can they be sustained / enhanced? Continued application of minimum tillage.
Increase in the farmers’ knowledge How can they be sustained / enhanced? The availability of advisory service.

6.8 Weaknesses/ disadvantages/ risks of the Technology and ways of overcoming them

Weaknesses/ disadvantages/ risks in the land user’s view	How can they be overcome?
Infestation will be increased	This can be controlled by applying crop rotation, mechanical eradicatation and certified seeds

Weaknesses/ disadvantages/ risks in the compiler’s or other key resource person’s view	How can they be overcome?
During the first years of the technology’s application, infestation of the field can be increased.	Optimizing application of herbicides in the fields
Quantity of soil pests, which die during the usual plowing, can be increased	Optimizing use of pesticides in the fields.

7.2 References to available publications

Title, author, year, ISBN:

Отчет о производственной деятельности главного агронома Кантского МИС, 2006 год

Available from where? Costs?

Кооператив СХПК «МИС», не продается