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)

International Centre for Research in Agroforestry (ICRAF) - Kenya

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

Jomo Kenyatta University (Jomo Kenyatta University) - Kenya

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

KARI Headquarters (KARI Headquarters) - Kenya

1.3 Conditions regarding the use of data documented through WOCAT

When were the data compiled (in the field)?

18/09/2012

The compiler and key resource person(s) accept the conditions regarding the use of data documented through WOCAT:

Yes

1.4 Declaration on sustainability of the described Technology

Is the Technology described here problematic with regard to land degradation, so that it cannot be declared a sustainable land management technology?

No

2.1 Short description of the Technology

Definition of the Technology:

These are raised beds measuring one meter in width and 15 cm high used for planting onions after transplanting.

2.2 Detailed description of the Technology

Description:

Raised beds are popular among gardeners with limited space or poor naturally occurring soils. Remember that onions are shallow-rooted, but the majority of the roots are intensely located within 8" of the plant. If you were to plant the lines of the bed closer than 8" it would double the competition for nutrients within that area.

Purpose of the Technology: The main purpose of constructing the raised beds for onions is to ease operation as. e.g watering and weeding. To conserve moisture through reduced water losses. To increase yield through increased planting space. Keeps roots away from contaminated soil. Raised beds for onions are good for disabled or elderly gardeners. The beds are neat, they leads to improved soil structure. It also keeps roots from getting waterlogged in a wet climate.

Establishment / maintenance activities and inputs: The land is fist cultivated the soil clod are broken to attain fine tilth. Mulching is done where the beds width is 1m and path of 1ft is done. soil from the foot paths is scooped and placed on the 1m portion to develop raised beds.

Natural / human environment: In Embu county, most of the farmers construct a bed of 1m wide 4” high and a length equal to the land portion on this raised bed, onions are then planted in rows along the assumed contour.

2.3 Photos of the Technology

2.5 Country/ region/ locations where the Technology has been applied and which are covered by this assessment

2.7 Introduction of the Technology

Specify how the Technology was introduced:

• through land users' innovation
• through projects/ external interventions

3.1 Main purpose(s) of the Technology

• improve production
• create beneficial economic impact

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

Comments:

Major land use problems (compiler’s opinion): soil erosion, poor water infiltration and aeration
Major land use problems (land users’ perception): water logging leading to rotting of onion roots

3.3 Further information about land use

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

• mixed rainfed-irrigated

Number of growing seasons per year:

• 2

Specify:

Longest growing period in days: 60, Second longest growing period in days: 60

3.4 SLM group to which the Technology belongs

• home gardens

• Raised beds for improved production

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:

• 0.1-1 km2

Comments:

Found at this farmers farm, but from extension officer and this farmer ,other farmers are trying to adopt the technology and others are trying to compare it with the traditional farming system.

3.6 SLM measures comprising the Technology

Comments:

Type of vegetative measures: aligned: -linear

3.7 Main types of land degradation addressed by the Technology

Comments:

Main causes of degradation: soil management, poverty / wealth
Secondary causes of degradation: deforestation / removal of natural vegetation (incl. forest fires), Heavy / extreme rainfall (intensity/amounts), labour availability

3.8 Prevention, reduction, or restoration of land degradation

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

• prevent land degradation
• restore/ rehabilitate severely degraded land

4.1 Technical drawing of the Technology

4.2 Technical specifications/ explanations of technical drawing

The technical drawing on the left hand side shows onions planted on raised beds. The beds measure 1 meter in width and the beds are raised 15 CM from the normal surface. there is a foot path in between the beds which doubles as a drainage channel to drain off excess water. It allows planting, weeding and harvesting easy without stepping on the beds.

Location: Embu North District. Eastern province

Technical knowledge required for field staff / advisors: moderate
Technical knowledge required for land users: moderate

Main technical functions: control of concentrated runoff: retain / trap, control of concentrated runoff: drain / divert, reduction of slope angle, increase of infiltration, reduction in wind speed
Secondary technical functions: water harvesting / increase water supply, increase of biomass (quantity)

Agronomic measure: raised beds
Aligned: -linear
Vegetative material: C : perennial crops

4.4 Establishment activities

	Activity	Type of measure	Timing
1.	Purchase of the seeds	Agronomic	Before planting season
2.	Ploughing	Vegetative	Before planting season
3.	Making of raised beds	Vegetative
4.	Planting of seedlings	Vegetative

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	Ploughing	person days	1.0	4.7	4.7	100.0
Labour	Making of raised beds	person days	1.0	4.7	4.7	100.0
Labour	Planting of seedlings	person days	1.0	4.7	4.7	100.0
Equipment	Animal traction	person days	1.0	5.88	5.88	100.0
Equipment	Tools		1.0	10.6	10.6	100.0
Plant material	Onion seeds	kg	2.0	2.5	5.0	100.0
Fertilizers and biocides	Fertilizer		1.0	35.3	35.3	100.0
Total costs for establishment of the Technology					70.88

4.6 Maintenance/ recurrent activities

	Activity	Type of measure	Timing/ frequency
1.	Weeding	Agronomic	After planting

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	Weeding	Person days	1.0	4.7	4.7	100.0
Equipment	Tools for weeding		1.0	5.3	5.3	100.0
Fertilizers and biocides	Compost/manure		1.0	3.5	3.5	100.0
Total costs for maintenance of the Technology					13.5

4.8 Most important factors affecting the costs

Describe the most determinate factors affecting the costs:

Labour is the most determinate factor affecting the costs.

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: High
Soil drainage/infiltration: Good
Soil water storage capacity: Medium

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:

Land users applying the Technology are mainly common / average land users
Population density: 10-50 persons/km2
Annual population growth: 0.5% - 1%

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, titled

Land use rights:

• individual

Water use rights:

• individual

5.9 Access to services and infrastructure

6.1 On-site impacts the Technology has shown

Socio-economic impacts

Production

Income and costs

Socio-cultural impacts

Ecological impacts

Water cycle/ runoff

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)

Climate-related extremes (disasters)

Hydrological disasters

	How does the Technology cope with it?
general (river) flood	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:

There is a moderate trend towards spontaneous adoption of the Technology

6.7 Strengths/ advantages/ opportunities of the Technology

Strengths/ advantages/ opportunities in the compiler’s or other key resource person’s view
Reduce flooding on the fields
Increases crop productivity hence more yields
Reduces crop prone diseases to onions

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?
Its a beat tedious because of raising the soils to form beds	Care should be taken to construct standard beds that can with proper drainage channels to safely evacuate run-off water
During heavy storms, they may collapse
May prevent movement of machinery in the farm

7.1 Methods/ sources of information