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)?

22/02/2013

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:

Belts of shrub or grass, planted on the level bund which constructed along contour line in gentle slope farmland in the black soil region of Northeast China.

2.2 Detailed description of the Technology

Description:

Shrubbery buffer strip with bund(SBSWB) is a traditional technology, it is introduced by the field staff about 60 years ago who worked in the farm in Heilongjiang province.This technology with low-cost, high effectives and easy to construct, which has been widely applied in all black soil region of Northeast China (Heilongjiang,Jilin,Liaoning,North of Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region).

Purpose of the Technology: The final purpose of these buffer strips is increasing crop production by decreasing soil loss. More specific objectives include: 1)protect the land from surface erosion by cutting slope length, increase infiltration and soil moisture; 2)to prevent soil loss of gentle slope farmland by allowing excess runoff to filter through but trapping sediment; 3) through the effect of tillage and water erosion between the strips, level bund lead to the formation of forward slope terraces over time, then developing into terrace final;4) creation of opportunities for additional income by harvesting fodder(grass) production and fruits(shrub).

Establishment / maintenance activities and inputs: A construction is generally carried out in autumn of the year; plantation is made in spring of the next year. The construction in a man-machine integration mode is generally carried out step by step and from top to bottom along the contour line(s). The ladder-shaped cross section of a ridge is 0.3-0.5m in width (suitable width on the top), 0.5-0.6m in height, 1:1 or 1:0.5 in inner-side gradient and 1:0.5 in outer-side gradient.
In a construction, peel the surface soil with machine, with the peeling depth generally being 0.3m, which should be subject to soil layer depth; then haul the ridge construction plough (a kind of machine or device) with a tractor to build the ridges, consolidate the ridges through artificial slapping; Finally restore the surface soil to accomplish ridge construction. The tops of the constructed ridges should be maintained to be in a horizontal surface. The distance between two ridges in this region is generally stipulated to be 50 meters. The soil for ridge construction should be free from such sundries as gravels, tree roots and turfs.

Natural / human environment: Shrubbery buffer strip is found mainly in Northeast China, at altitudes between 700 and 1600 m. Climate there is cold in winters and cool in summers, with a monsoon moisture regime. In the area, the annual mean temperatures is from 2 to 8 °C, and the annual mean precipitation is from 500 to 1000 mm. Most of the farmland slopes are less than 7°but slope lengths mainly range from 200 to 1000m in this area.
Northeast China, the grain production base of China, or the bread basket of China, includes three provinces (Hei-long-jiang, Ji-lin, and Liao-ning) and the eastern part of the Inner Mongolian autonomous region. In 2009, 17.1% the China’s total grain production came from this region, which included 33.5%, 55.7% and 9.6% of corn, soybean, and rice, respectively. Approximately 118 million people live in this region. Grain produced per capita is over 1000 kg annually.

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:

• more than 50 years ago (traditional)

2.7 Introduction of the Technology

Specify how the Technology was introduced:

• as part of a traditional system (> 50 years)

Comments (type of project, etc.):

SBSWB appear in the vicinity of Heilongjiang province in the last century 60's

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

Comments:

Major land use problems (compiler’s opinion): Beacuse of long slope, high rainfall intensity, freezing and thawing processes, and intensive cultivation has lead to substantial water runoff, soil erosion, and gully formation. Soil erosion has been the serious problem threatening agriculture sustainability in the region for decades.The flora of the area are very diverse.

Major land use problems (land users’ perception): Soil fertility and crop yeild are decreasing year by year.

3.3 Further information about land use

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

• rainfed

Comments:

Water supply also mixed rainfed - irrigated

Number of growing seasons per year:

• 1

Specify:

Longest growing period in days: 150Longest growing period from month to month: April to August

3.4 SLM group to which the Technology belongs

• cross-slope measure

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:

• > 10,000 km2

Comments:

This technique has been common applied in gentle slope farmland of the black soil region of Northeast China. It is very useful for reduce soil loss and intercept runoff.

3.6 SLM measures comprising the Technology

Comments:

Main measures: vegetative measures, structural measures

Type of vegetative measures: aligned: -contour

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: Wo: offsite degradation effects, Et: loss of topsoil

Main causes of degradation: soil management (The extensive cultivation and management modes reduce the thickness of black soil layer by 0.5 cm per year.), population pressure (Great population pressure makes the land carrying capacity decline year by year.), education, access to knowledge and support services (The channels for the local peasants with low levels of education to learn knowledge are few, and they will not take initiative to learn knowledge.)

Secondary causes of degradation: over-exploitation of vegetation for domestic use (This area is the most important grain production area in China, there is serious excessive exploitation in this area.), change of seasonal rainfall (The rainy seasons mainly focus on July and August.), Heavy / extreme rainfall (intensity/amounts) (The downpours in summer bring about soil loss.), land tenure (As the lands are owned by country or by peasant communities, the peasants are not strongly aware of the importance of land protection.), poverty / wealth (The serious gap between rich and poor)

3.8 Prevention, reduction, or restoration of land degradation

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

• prevent land degradation
• reduce land degradation

Comments:

Main goals: mitigation / reduction of land degradation

Secondary goals: prevention of land degradation

4.1 Technical drawing of the Technology

4.2 Technical specifications/ explanations of technical drawing

The upper-base width, lower base width, height, slope ratio and spacing of a ridge are 0.5m, 1m, 0.5m, 1:0.5 and 40-60m respectively. A row spacing of the shrubs planted on the ridges should be 0.5m. Generally one row on each ridge is enough. About 80 shrubs are needed for every hectare; if herbaceous plants are planted, no special plantations are required.

Location: Chao Yang City. Liao Ning Province

Date: Nov 12,2012

Technical knowledge required for field staff / advisors: moderate (Field staff/agricultural advisor should have intermediate know-how level, because land user should be instructed by them)

Technical knowledge required for land users: low (The knowledge level of lander user is not required to be high, who just need(s) to follow the instructions from field staff/agricultural advisor)

Main technical functions: control of dispersed runoff: retain / trap, control of dispersed runoff: impede / retard, reduction of slope length, improvement of water quality, buffering / filtering water, sediment retention / trapping, sediment harvesting

Secondary technical functions: control of concentrated runoff: retain / trap, control of concentrated runoff: impede / retard, improvement of ground cover, improvement of topsoil structure (compaction), increase in organic matter, increase in nutrient availability (supply, recycling,…), increase of infiltration, increase / maintain water stored in soil, water harvesting / increase water supply, water spreading, increase of biomass (quantity), promotion of vegetation species and varieties (quality, eg palatable fodder), spatial arrangement and diversification of land use

Aligned: -contour
Vegetative material: F : fruit trees / shrubs
Number of plants per (ha): 200-600
Vertical interval between rows / strips / blocks (m): 5.644-8.466
Spacing between rows / strips / blocks (m): 40-60
Vertical interval within rows / strips / blocks (m): 0.5
Width within rows / strips / blocks (m): 0.5

Fruit trees / shrubs species: caragana, lespedeza, amorpha, daylily, Melilotus

Slope (which determines the spacing indicated above): 5-8%

Gradient along the rows / strips: 0%

Wall/ barrier
Vertical interval between structures (m): 2.09-5.55
Spacing between structures (m): 40-60
Height of bunds/banks/others (m): 0.3-0.5
Width of bunds/banks/others (m): 0.5-1
Length of bunds/banks/others (m): >100

Construction material (earth): The soil should be free from such sundries as gravels, tree roots and turfs.

Slope (which determines the spacing indicated above): 5-8%

Lateral gradient along the structure: 0%

4.3 General information regarding the calculation of inputs and costs

other/ national currency (specify):

RMB

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

6.25

4.4 Establishment activities

	Activity	Type of measure	Timing
1.	Plant shrubbery	Vegetative	autumn
2.	Layout of contour and the line of SBSWB with the leveling	Structural	autumn
3.	Build the ridge	Structural	autumn

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	Layout of contour	Person/day	3.0	16.0	48.0
Labour	Build ridge	Person/day	36.0	9.6	345.6
Equipment	Machine use	hours/day	1.0	80.0	80.0
Equipment	tools	day	1.0	8.0	8.0
Plant material	Seedling Plant shrubbery	ha	600.0	0.016	9.6
Total costs for establishment of the Technology					491.2

Comments:

Duration of establishment phase: 1 month(s)

4.6 Maintenance/ recurrent activities

	Activity	Type of measure	Timing/ frequency
1.	The farmers will actively protect the Bund in their land. Don't need money.	Vegetative	autumn
2.	The farmers will actively protect the Bund in their land. Don't need money.	Structural	autumn

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

Comments:

Machinery/ tools: Spade, Spade

3 people are required to layout contour, daily labor cost for per person is 100 Yuan, so the total labor cost is 300Yuan ($48), tools fee is 50Yuan ($8).
One tractor can built 2.6 ha of ridges per day at a cost of 500 Yuan ($80). The ridges constructed should be artificially tamped, 120 people are needed to tamp the ridges in an area of 2.6ha, about 46 people for each hectare. As the daily labor cost for per person is 60 Yuan, the total expense on each hectare is 2760 Yuan($441.6), and the labor intensity is intermediate.
If shrubs are planted on the ridges, 400 shrubs are required for each 1 hectare management area. In addition, as the price of caragana microphylla in 2012 is 0.1 Yuan per one, the total cost of the caragana microphyllas per hectare should be 40Yuan($6.4).
Therefore, the total construction cost per hectare is 3650Yuan($584).

4.8 Most important factors affecting the costs

Describe the most determinate factors affecting the costs:

The most determinate fators affecting the cost is labour

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: low - 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: 50-100 persons/km2

Annual population growth: < 0.5%

5% of the land users are very rich.
45% of the land users are rich.
35% of the land users are average wealthy.
15% of the land users are poor.
5% of the land users are poor.

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:

• communal/ village

Land use rights:

• individual

Water use rights:

• communal (organized)

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

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	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

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:

Although Certain quantity of land will be occupied and grain output will be affected in SBSWS during the early period of a construction, in the long run, SBSWS can prevent the loss of the most fertile surface soil, in addition, with the ever increased quantity of the sediment intercepted by SBSWS and as the heights of the vegetational belts increase year by year, the slope croplands will become bench terraces, and the grain output will be increased.

6.5 Adoption of the Technology

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

NA

Comments:

80% of land user families have adopted the Technology with external material support

Comments on acceptance with external material support: Large-area popularization of SBSWB has been achieved in the locality.

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

Comments on spontaneous adoption: The implementation of this measure was accomplished under the encouragement and support of the government. There are relatively few peasant households who initially take this measure. The main reason for the peasant reluctance to adopt this measure is that the ridges will occupy land and reduce arable area. They are unconscious of and do not care about soil loss, and unable to realize in the long run the harm brought about by soil loss.

There is a little trend towards spontaneous adoption of the Technology

Comments on adoption trend: The trend depands on government support

6.7 Strengths/ advantages/ opportunities of the Technology

Strengths/ advantages/ opportunities in the land user’s view
Convenient for construction How can they be sustained / enhanced? Popularization carried on

Strengths/ advantages/ opportunities in the compiler’s or other key resource person’s view
Gradual formation of the slope-type terraces, which can be developed into bench terraces many years later How can they be sustained / enhanced? Increase of ridge height year by year
Intercepting the sediments carried by runoffs, preventing water and soil loss of the arable lands on the gentle slopes How can they be sustained / enhanced? In combination with other water and soil conservation measures during operation, such as no-tillage and drainage ditches;
increase of infiltration How can they be sustained / enhanced? Chopping down branches at regular intervals to guarantee that the plants on the ridges will not enter into rivary with the crops over water and sunlight;

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 ridges occupy land and reduce arable area	government support

Weaknesses/ disadvantages/ risks in the compiler’s or other key resource person’s view	How can they be overcome?
Reduction of arable lands brings about low enthusiasm of the peasants	Conflict between the arable lands and the immediate interests of the peasants. Popularization of water and soil preservation knowledge should be strangthened to make the presants realize that although the immediate interests will be hurt, the long-term interests will increase.

7.2 References to available publications

Title, author, year, ISBN:

Title:Techniques standard for comprehensive control of soil erosion in the black soil region Author:Shen bo; Meng lingqinYears:2009

Available from where? Costs?

internal materials