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)

Universidad de Valencia (Universidad de Valencia) - Spain

1.3 Conditions regarding the use of data documented through WOCAT

When were the data compiled (in the field)?

28/05/2015

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:

Straw mulch application on bare soil in order to prevent soil erosion, reduce overland flow, and increase soil organic matter.

2.2 Detailed description of the Technology

Description:

In a persimmon crop area near Valencia (South-East Spain), the research team of the University of Valencia has set up an experiment in 2015 to test the effect of the straw mulch technique in order to avoid water erosion and improve soil properties. Straw mulch was applied at a rate of 75 g per m2 and spread over 40 erosion plots (20 treated/20 non-treated). Afterwards, rainfall simulations at 78 mm h-1 of I30 mimic a high-magnitude storm.
The straw provides an initial cover of 60%, and was found to reduce runoff from 60% (in non-treated plots) to 29% (in treated plots), and erosion from 5.1 Mg ha-1 to 0.2 Mg ha-1.

Purpose of the Technology: The increase in ground cover will decrease soil erosion by reducing raindrop impact over the bare soil. Runoff also decreases by increasing water surface storage, decrease of runoff velocity, and increase infiltration.
Its application must to be done before high-storm events in the Mediterranean; namely end of summer to early autumn, in order to protect raindrop impact and avoid detachment of bare soil.

Establishment / maintenance activities and inputs: The straw mulch was delivered from a nearby farm in straw bales and was manually applied to the research plots.

Natural / human environment: The wine production in the area was implemented by old civilizations. Nowadays, vineyards production is spread over the entire study area, together with new plantations of persimmon, apricots, olives and oranges. The landscape reflects the long history of management where several constructions related with wine production depicted its importance on this region. Since the late 1960s, conventional agriculture with fertilizers and herbicides has led to a seasonally bare soil surface, triggering huge erosion rates.

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:

• during experiments/ research
• through projects/ external interventions

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

Comments:

Major land use problems (compiler’s opinion): Increased runoff and soil erosion, resulting in a decrease of on-site fertility, water reservoir, and weakness of hydrological soil properties.

Major land use problems (land users’ perception): Loss of water-soil resources and productivity.

3.3 Further information about land use

Specify:

Longest growing period in days: 180Longest growing period from month to month: February to July

3.4 SLM group to which the Technology belongs

• improved ground/ vegetation cover

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:

• < 0.1 km2 (10 ha)

3.6 SLM measures comprising the Technology

Comments:

Secondary measures: agronomic measures

Specification of other structural measures: soil cover

Type of agronomic measures: mulching

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: Pk: sealing and crusting, Bc: reduction of vegetation cover

Secondary causes of degradation: soil management, crop management (annual, perennial, tree/shrub), over-exploitation of vegetation for domestic use, disturbance of water cycle (infiltration / runoff), Heavy / extreme rainfall (intensity/amounts)

3.8 Prevention, reduction, or restoration of land degradation

Comments:

Main goals: mitigation / reduction of land degradation

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

Straw mulch must be spread homogeneously in bare soil areas between trees lines in order to keep as much as possible the soil covered.

Location: Canals. Valencia, Spain

Technical knowledge required for field staff / advisors: low (It is easy to implement)

Technical knowledge required for land users: low

Secondary technical functions: control of raindrop splash, control of dispersed runoff: retain / trap, control of dispersed runoff: impede / retard, control of concentrated runoff: retain / trap, control of concentrated runoff: impede / retard, control of concentrated runoff: drain / divert, improvement of ground cover, increase of surface roughness, improvement of topsoil structure (compaction), increase in organic matter, increase in nutrient availability (supply, recycling,…), increase of infiltration, increase / maintain water stored in soil, improvement of water quality, buffering / filtering water, sediment retention / trapping, sediment harvesting, increase of biomass (quantity), promotion of vegetation species and varieties (quality, eg palatable fodder)

Mulching
Material/ species: SPRING BARLEY
Quantity/ density: 75g/m2

Slope (which determines the spacing indicated above): 2%

Change of land use type: no

Change of land use practices / intensity level: yes, change due to diminish herbicides application, and minimize bare soil exposition.

4.4 Establishment activities

	Activity	Type of measure	Timing
1.	Apply straw mulch (75g/m)	Agronomic

4.8 Most important factors affecting the costs

Describe the most determinate factors affecting the costs:

The price of straw varies, depending on the quality. Transport and application will increase the cost.

5.1 Climate

5.2 Topography

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 fertility is medium
Soil drainage/infiltration is medium
Soil water storage capacity is medium

5.4 Water availability and quality

Comments and further specifications on water quality and quantity:

Availability of surface water: excess, poor/ none (surface water is only available when rains. Heavy rains produce overland flow)

5.5 Biodiversity

Comments and further specifications on biodiversity:

Only tres on cultivations and anual herbs and grasses.

6.1 On-site impacts the Technology has shown

Socio-economic impacts

Production

Water availability and quality

Income and costs

Ecological impacts

Water cycle/ runoff

Soil

Biodiversity: vegetation, animals

Climate and disaster risk reduction

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
local windstorm	not well

Climatological disasters

	How does the Technology cope with it?
drought	well

Hydrological disasters

	How does the Technology cope with it?
general (river) flood	not known

Other climate-related consequences

Other climate-related consequences

	How does the Technology cope with it?
reduced growing period	not known

6.4 Cost-benefit analysis

Comments:

Mulch is seen as an expensive treatment without any advantage.

6.5 Adoption of the Technology

Comments:

Comments on adoption trend: The owners are not aware because of the costs, but they will change if the government start funding it.

6.7 Strengths/ advantages/ opportunities of the Technology

Strengths/ advantages/ opportunities in the land user’s view
It will prevent soil losses and promotes soil organic matter incorporation. High levels of soil moisture will prevent for drought periods.

Strengths/ advantages/ opportunities in the compiler’s or other key resource person’s view
It is a technology very easy to apply, with low failure possibilities and a strong soil erosion control and local soil properties improvement. How can they be sustained / enhanced? Some researchers found better performance by applying the mulch in strips. The material is readily available (straw).

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?
The costs are not very high, but enough to discourage the landowners to cover the expenses.	Look for Government funding.

Weaknesses/ disadvantages/ risks in the compiler’s or other key resource person’s view	How can they be overcome?
When applying high-density mulches the application labours will be higher. High decomposition rate.	Distribute the mulch in strips, and try to reduce the application rate.