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

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

Best Practices for Land Degradation Control in Dryland Areas of China (Best Practices China)

1.3 Conditions regarding the use of data documented through WOCAT

When were the data compiled (in the field)?

06/09/2007

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:

By established facilities and use organic matter of animal manure, human waste, plant straw for anaerobic fermentation to produce inflammable biogas for uses of lighting, cooking with the residue liquid and dreg for high quality organic fertilizer.

2.2 Detailed description of the Technology

Description:

The demonstration site is located at Jingyuan County of central Gansu Province, an arid county with annual rainfall of 240 mm for rainfed agriculture. The vegetation cover of the county is 5.6% and the water and soil erosion affected area is 5359 square kilometers or 92.2% of the total land area. The fragile ecologie and serious land degradation made the locality a very poor place, short of fuel. Poverty and ecological degradation has formed a vicious circle. Energy scarcity problem that needs to be solved urgently is also a cutting point for curbing land degradation.

Since 2000, with the support of relevant departments, the biogas production technology has been introduced and extended in Jingyuan County. Due to its multiple functions in the kitchen, toilets, animal houses etc., it has obvious social, ecological and economic benefits. The technology is easy and the maintenance is simple, so the extension is quick.

The construction procedures include: location identification, digester type selection (e.g. rotational-flowed digester), determination of elevation, earthwork, and construction of digester base, digester wall, feed and discharge chutes, proof seal layer and digester cover etc..
Biogas digester operation preparation: inoculum input, raw material pretreatment and ratio, prohibition of input materials (poisonous farm chemicals, oil dregs, bones or bone powder etc).
The operational management: pH value must be kept at 6.8-7.5 and digester fermentation temperature maintained over 10 degrees Celsius; Replace desulfurizer every three months, stir frequently to ferment raw material, inspect often to ensure no leakage in the cover, pipeline etc.; frequent work in feeding and discharging, control the density of liquid material.

(1) Ecologically, the use of biogas can reduce vegetation damage and prevent land degradation. A biogas digester with a capacity of 10 m3 can economize 2 tons of firewood every year, which is equivalent to the annual increment of 3.5 mu firewood forest; The dregs and residue liquid are organic fertilizers, the liquid can also be used for the treatment of plant diseases and pests;
(2) Social benefits: The biogas digester may offer over 70% clean energy for the household while reducing the consumption of the conventional energies of firewood and coal; The life quality, sanitary condition are improved and the workload of women is decreased; The use of biogas digester promotes social progress by raising the awareness of science and technology of the farmers to promote the construction of new socialist countryside.
(3) Economically the biogas will increase the income of farmers. It can cut down the expenditure by 1500 Yuan for one year. Biogas use can promote livestock development and as an environmental-friendly agriculture development model.

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

3.1 Main purpose(s) of the Technology

• create beneficial economic impact
• create beneficial social impact

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

Comments:

Major land use problems (compiler’s opinion): low vegetation cover, wind erosion, water erosion, barren soil, arid climate, fragile ecological condition.

3.3 Further information about land use

Number of growing seasons per year:

• 1

Specify:

Longest growing period in days: 180, Longest growing period from month to month: April to September

3.4 SLM group to which the Technology belongs

• energy efficiency technologies

3.5 Spread of the Technology

Comments:

Total area covered by the SLM Technology is 5809.4 m2.

3.6 SLM measures comprising the Technology

3.7 Main types of land degradation addressed by the Technology

4.2 Technical specifications/ explanations of technical drawing

Main technical functions: Protect vegetation, reduce water erosion, prevent wind erosions

4.4 Establishment activities

	Activity	Type of measure	Timing
1.	Materials, cement, sand, cooker
2.	Labour 7.5 person days
3.	Other: Transport fee

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	labour	person days	7.5	5.333	40.0	100.0
Construction material	Cemet, sand, cooker		1.0	267.0	267.0
Other	transport fee		1.0	40.0	40.0	100.0
Total costs for establishment of the Technology					347.0

5.1 Climate

5.2 Topography

5.3 Soils

5.6 Characteristics of land users applying the Technology

5.8 Land ownership, land use rights, and water use rights

• collectives

Land use rights:

• individual

6.1 On-site impacts the Technology has shown

Socio-economic impacts

Income and costs

Socio-cultural impacts

Ecological impacts

Water cycle/ runoff

Soil

Biodiversity: vegetation, animals

Climate and disaster risk reduction

Other ecological impacts

6.2 Off-site impacts the Technology has shown

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)?

6.7 Strengths/ advantages/ opportunities of the Technology

Strengths/ advantages/ opportunities in the compiler’s or other key resource person’s view
Protect vegetation
Prevent soil and water erosion
Economical use of energy
Serve the development of organic agriculture

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?
high initial investment	get more project support
low gas production	strengthen training for correct operation
biogas can be dangerous	strengthen training

7.1 Methods/ sources of information