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)

ICIMOD International Centre for Integrated Mountain Development (ICIMOD) - Nepal

1.3 Conditions regarding the use of data documented through WOCAT

When were the data compiled (in the field)?

27/09/2006

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:

Improving farmyard manure (FYM) by covering it with black plastic sheeting to provide a favourable environment for microbial activities, and to conserve available nutrients and moisture

2.2 Detailed description of the Technology

Description:

Applying compost or farmyard manure (FYM) is an excellent way of maintaining and building soil fertility. Considerable nutrient losses often occur through the inappropriate handling or storage of compost and FYM. Drying out causes losses through volatilisation and rainfall whilst runoff causes leaching and the washing out of nutrients. To reduce nutrient losses, farmyard manure needs to be protected from
direct sunlight, rainfall, run-on, and runoff.
A number of improved composting methods have been tested and demonstrated with farmers in the Jhikhu Khola watershed. The Sustainable Soil Management Project (SSMP) has recommended black plastic-covered farmyard manure as one of the most promising methods. Farmyard manure is covered with a piece of black plastic to prevent nutrients from leaching out, to decrease evaporation losses, and to provide a more favourable environment for the growth of microbes due to the increased temperature and moisture content. This method is especially suitable for
areas with low temperatures.
In this method, raw organic materials that are used for animal bedding - crop residues, leaves, grass, weeds and other organic materials - are piled up or put into a pit in layers together with animal urine and dung. The pile is then completely covered with black plastic sheeting. This method is based on the passive aeration approach, the plastic sheet is removed from the heap each day to add more bedding
materials. It is then covered again immediately. Maintenance is easy although care is needed to avoid damaging the sheet. The black plastic should be handled carefully while taking it off and returning it to the pile as the composting material may contain sharp-edged plant stems.
The method was found to be easy to apply and took little time and labour. In the Jhikhu Khola area, women are mainly responsible for preparing manure and carrying it to the fields. This technology reduces their burden as a smaller amount of black plastic FYM is needed to meet soil nutrient requirements compared to traditional FYM, which is normally applied in a poorly decomposed form and in large
quantities.
The method was tested in the middle mountains of Nepal in the Jhikhu Khola watershed, located at 800-2200 masl and with 1200-1600 mm annual rainfall, about 70-80% in the monsoon months (June to September). The temperature ranges from 3-40 degree Cel. in the lower parts of the watershed and about 3 degree Cel. less at the higher elevations.

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.):

It was first tried at Lumle agriculture research centre in Nepal.

3.1 Main purpose(s) of the Technology

• Improve farmyard manure

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

Comments:

Major land use problems (compiler’s opinion): Crop production is limited as a result of soil fertility deterioration, high cropping intensity, and a scarcity of irrigation
water. Application of increasing amounts of agrochemicals is further deteriorating soil health.

Major land use problems (land users’ perception): Increased amount of chemical fertilizer input, less production, and irrigation water shortage.

Type of cropping system and major crops comments: rice- wheat- vegetables; rice- vegetables-vegetables; maize - vegetables

3.3 Further information about land use

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

• mixed rainfed-irrigated

Comments:

Water supply: Also rainfed

Number of growing seasons per year:

• 3

Specify:

Longest growing period in days: 150; Longest growing period from month to month: Jun - Oct; Second longest growing period in days: 120; Second longest growing period from month to month: Nov - Feb

3.4 SLM group to which the Technology belongs

• integrated soil fertility management

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:

The black plastic covered FYM was tested at about 50 households of above mentioned villages Development Committees ( VDCs) and Dhulikhel municipality.

3.6 SLM measures comprising the Technology

3.7 Main types of land degradation addressed by the Technology

3.8 Prevention, reduction, or restoration of land degradation

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

• reduce land degradation

4.1 Technical drawing of the Technology

4.2 Technical specifications/ explanations of technical drawing

Black plastic covered farmyard manure

Location: Jhikhu Khola watershed. Kabhre palanchowk district

Technical knowledge required for field staff / advisors: low

Technical knowledge required for land users: low

Main technical functions: nutrient conservation, accelerated decomposition

Change of land use practices / intensity level: traditional FYM used to be uncovered

4.3 General information regarding the calculation of inputs and costs

Specify how costs and inputs were calculated:

• per Technology unit

Specify currency used for cost calculations:

• US Dollars

4.4 Establishment activities

	Activity	Type of measure	Timing
1.	Bedding material (e.g. crop residues, leaves, grass, weeds) along	Management	Daily
2.	Each day farmers add bedding material to the piled heap or into the	Management	Daily

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	Black plastic sheet	pieces	1.0	17.6	17.6
Total costs for establishment of the Technology					17.6

Comments:

Duration of establishment phase: 2 month(s)

4.6 Maintenance/ recurrent activities

	Activity	Type of measure	Timing/ frequency
1.	Moisture and temperature is checked regularly	Management	/ weekly

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	Check mosture and temeprature	Persons/day	4.0	2.1	8.4	100.0
Total costs for maintenance of the Technology					8.4

Comments:

The only establishment cost is the cost of the sheet. In this case study, a 5 kg black plastic sheet costing about
$17.6 was used. This sheet was thick (800 microns thick) and is expected to last for 4-5 years. Less durable and smaller
sheets cost less. Each day a farmer needs about 30 minutes to add bedding materials, equivalent to 4 person days per
month for 2 months. The labour is mainly done by women and girls. All costs were based as in 2006.

4.8 Most important factors affecting the costs

Describe the most determinate factors affecting the costs:

Black plastic sheet, per kg cost of which is about $3.5. It is thick (thickness: 800 micron) and durable for 4-5 years.

5.1 Climate

5.2 Topography

Comments and further specifications on topography:

Slopes on average: Also gentle and moderate

Landforms: Also mountain slopes and valley floors

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: variable

Soil fertility is very low and medium

Soil drainage / infiltration is poor and good

Soil water storage capacity is low - very low

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: 200-500 persons/km2

Annual population growth: 2% - 3%

15% of the land users are rich and own 35% of the land.
35% of the land users are average wealthy and own 40% of the land.
50% of the land users are poor and own 25% of the land.

Off-farm income specification: In most farm households, off-farm income plays at least a minor and increasingly a major role. Occasional opportunities for off-farm income present themselves in the form of daily labour wages. Some households’ members receive regular salaries, whilst an increasing number of Nepalis are
working in India, the Middle East, Malaysia, and elsewhere and sending remittance incomes home.

Level of mechanization: Manual labour for planting, irrigation and harveting; Land preparation mostly with animal traction but at valley bottom also with machines.

Market orientation of production system: Commercial is only grrowing vegetables

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

6.1 On-site impacts the Technology has shown

Socio-economic impacts

Production

Income and costs

Socio-cultural impacts

Ecological impacts

Other ecological impacts

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 known

Climate-related extremes (disasters)

Meteorological disasters

	How does the Technology cope with it?
local rainstorm	well
local windstorm	well

Climatological disasters

	How does the Technology cope with it?
drought	well

Hydrological disasters

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

Other climate-related consequences

Other climate-related consequences

	How does the Technology cope with it?
reduced growing period	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)?

Comments:

The investment costs are paid back within the first year leading to positive results due to higher production due to more nutrient-rich compost.

6.5 Adoption of the Technology

• single cases/ experimental

If available, quantify (no. of households and/ or area covered):

50 households in an area of 1 - 10 sq km (200-500 persons per sq km)

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

• 0-10%

Comments:

100% of land user families have adopted the Technology with external material support

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

Comments on acceptance with external material support: survey results

Comments on spontaneous adoption: survey results

There is no trend towards spontaneous adoption of the Technology

Comments on adoption trend: Spontaneous adoption of the technology was not seen as the sheeting was not locally available and also due to the lack of dissemination and awareness raising activities.

6.7 Strengths/ advantages/ opportunities of the Technology

Strengths/ advantages/ opportunities in the land user’s view
More production observed (especially for vegetables) with black plastic FYM compared to traditional FYM How can they be sustained / enhanced? Carry out comparative production studies on more crops

Strengths/ advantages/ opportunities in the compiler’s or other key resource person’s view
Less workload for women during FYM preparation and transportation. How can they be sustained / enhanced? Promote and implement the technology more
The technology will promote organic production of desired crops as avoids the need for chemical fertilisers. How can they be sustained / enhanced? As above
FYM decomposes within 45-50 days compared to about 180 days with the traditional method; the improved FYM is very fine and with equal decomposition from top to bottom of the heap. How can they be sustained / enhanced? Share experiences with a wider audience and test the technology in different ecological zones.
The quality of FYM is better than traditionally made FYM; nutrient content (N, P, K, organic matter, C-N ratio) is higher. How can they be sustained / enhanced? As above
Black plastic is easy to handle, light, and durable. This method is very much appropriate for high mountains and middle mountains. How can they be sustained / enhanced? As above

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?
Poorer rural people are put off by the cost and unavailability of the sheets; they have to bear the extra cost of bringing sheet from a far.	Make the sheets available in the local market and arrange for the cost to be subsidised by agriculture departments and non-government organisations.

Weaknesses/ disadvantages/ risks in the compiler’s or other key resource person’s view	How can they be overcome?
Unavailability of large enough sheets to cover huge heaps.	Make two or more smaller heaps; or cover big heaps with two or more sheets.
Plastic sheet gets damaged if not handled carefully and is easily damaged by rats.	Handle sheets carefully and protect from rats using locally available rat repellent plants like Artemisia indica (titepati).

7.2 References to available publications

Title, author, year, ISBN:

ICIMOD (2007) Good Practices in Watershed Management, Lessons Learned in the Mid Hills of Nepal. Kathmandu: ICIMOD.

Available from where? Costs?

ICIMOD