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

1.3 Conditions regarding the use of data documented through WOCAT

When were the data compiled (in the field)?

18/05/2011

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:

The use of sheep's wool placed below the roots of fruit trees, to retain the water fed from a surface pipe.

2.2 Detailed description of the Technology

Description:

A bed of wool is placed within the hole before a fruit sapling is planted. The wool is fed water via a plastic pipe, which is used to saturate the wool with irrigated water. This provides a prolonged source of moisture for the trees which subsequently helps the tree survive intense dry periods and improves fruit yields.
This technology could also be applied using hay or pressed sawdust as an alternative to the wool to store the water.

Purpose of the Technology: The purpose was to implement a sustainable cost effective and easy irrigation process that will help increase fruit production in the Pejikant region of Tajikistan during the long hot dry summer periods. The process utilises readily locally available natural materials that are environmentally friendly.

Establishment / maintenance activities and inputs: A 1m deep hole is prepared to plant the tree inside. Placed at the foot of the hole is layer of natural wool, approximately 10kg, and a plastic pipe is installed running from the wool layer to the above the surface. On top of the wool a bed of organic compost and/or high quality soil is placed to assist the growth and the sapling is planted in this. The sapling is then watered through the pipe. It is estimated that 10kg of wool will retain around 8 litres of water.

Natural / human environment: This region has low levels of annual precipitation and poor soil quality. Therefore, the land users are reliant on devising ways to improve the soil quality and irrigation practices to increase the amount of land that can be cultivated. With an increasing population and a heavy relaince on the land to support the people, there is a strong desire to bring into production land that in its current state is unproductive.

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.):

The land users developed this technology.

3.1 Main purpose(s) of the Technology

• improve production

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

Comments:

Major land use problems (compiler’s opinion): The soil structure is very poor, with low density vegetation cover.

Major land use problems (land users’ perception): There is a lack of irrigation water for the vegetation.

Plantation forestry: Fruit orchards

Forest products and services: fruits and nuts

3.3 Further information about land use

Number of growing seasons per year:

• 2

Specify:

Longest growing period in days: 270Longest growing period from month to month: October-JuneSecond longest growing period in days: 90Second longest growing period from month to month: July-Septeber

3.4 SLM group to which the Technology belongs

• irrigation management (incl. water supply, drainage)

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:

Main measures: structural measures

3.7 Main types of land degradation addressed by the Technology

Comments:

Main type of degradation addressed: Wt: loss of topsoil / surface erosion, Bc: reduction of vegetation cover

Secondary types of degradation addressed: Et: loss of topsoil, Bq: quantity / biomass decline, Ha: aridification

Main causes of degradation: overgrazing (Increasing numbers of livestock), other human induced causes (specify) (Disintegration of the irrigation system), change in temperature, war and conflicts (After the collapse of Sovet Union the irrigation pipes were stolen)

Secondary causes of degradation: change of seasonal rainfall, droughts

3.8 Prevention, reduction, or restoration of land degradation

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

• reduce land degradation
• restore/ rehabilitate severely degraded land

4.1 Technical drawing of the Technology

4.2 Technical specifications/ explanations of technical drawing

The photo shows how the tree will be planted; 1) digging of hole, 2) inlaying the wool, 3) installing the pipe, 4) planting the tree.

Location: Toshminor. Penjakent, Sughd, Tajikistan

Date: 2011-05-18

Technical knowledge required for land users: low (It is easy to replicate.)

Main technical functions: increase of infiltration, water harvesting / increase water supply

Secondary technical functions: improvement of ground cover, improvement of subsoil structure (hardpan)

Structural measure: placement of wool
Depth of ditches/pits/dams (m): 1
Width of ditches/pits/dams (m): 1

Construction material (other): 10kg of wool inserted per tree.

4.3 General information regarding the calculation of inputs and costs

other/ national currency (specify):

Somoni

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

4.7

4.4 Establishment activities

	Activity	Type of measure	Timing
1.	A 1m deep hole is prepared to plant the tree inside.	Structural	spring
2.	Placing approximately 10kg of wool at the foot of the hole	Structural	spring
3.	installing of plastic pipe from the wool layer to the above surface	Structural	spring
4.	On top of the wool a bed of organic compost and/or high quality soil is placed to assist the growth	Structural	spring

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	Digging hole	Persons/day	0.1	20.0	2.0	100.0
Construction material	Plastic pipe	meter	1.0	4.0	4.0	100.0
Total costs for establishment of the Technology					6.0

4.7 Costs and inputs needed for maintenance/ recurrent activities (per year)

Comments:

The costs previously are based on the cost for providing enough pipe for one tree.

4.8 Most important factors affecting the costs

Describe the most determinate factors affecting the costs:

In this situation, the wool is free to the farmers as they obtain it from their own sheep.
The labour is provided free of charge by the farmers themselves.

5.1 Climate

5.2 Topography

Comments and further specifications on topography:

Slopes on average: Also hilly

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 very low

Soil drainage / infiltration is good

Soil water storage capacity is low

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: 2% - 3%

100% of the land users are poor.

Market orientation of production system: Self consumption of fruits

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

Land use rights:

• leased

Water use rights:

• leased

5.9 Access to services and infrastructure

6.1 On-site impacts the Technology has shown

Socio-economic impacts

Production

Water availability and quality

Income and costs

Socio-cultural impacts

Ecological impacts

Water cycle/ runoff

Soil

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	well

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

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 impacts can be seen within the first growing season.

6.5 Adoption of the Technology

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

NA

Comments:

There is a little trend towards spontaneous adoption of the Technology

Comments on adoption trend: Some other people and projects expressed an interest.

6.7 Strengths/ advantages/ opportunities of the Technology

Strengths/ advantages/ opportunities in the land user’s view
It improves the fruit harvest.
It is easy to buy the wool. How can they be sustained / enhanced? Wool could be made available to other orchards.
It is cheap and easy to implement.

Strengths/ advantages/ opportunities in the compiler’s or other key resource person’s view
It reduces the number of times the trees need to be irrigated. How can they be sustained / enhanced? The technology is so easy to implement, the information should be dispersed to other farmers.
It improves the soil moisture content of the orchards.
The technology could be applied in very dry, desert conditions How can they be sustained / enhanced? It could be used in the more dry arid areas of the country.
It increases the length of the planting season, as it holds the water in the ground for longer. How can they be sustained / enhanced? To implement the technology across a wider area.
It can be applied to older, established trees, not just seedlings. How can they be sustained / enhanced? Educate the farmers about these methods.

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?
It still reliant on some water being available at crucial times of the year.	Piped irrigation to the land plot