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)

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

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

International Centre for Research in Agroforestry (ICRAF) - 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:

Windbreaks are narrow strips of trees, shrubs and/or grasses planted to protect fields, homes, canals, and other areas from the wind and blowing sand.

2.2 Detailed description of the Technology

Description:

Where wind is a major cause of soil erosion and moisture loss, windbreaks can make a significant contribution to sustainable production. They also be used to act as shelter-belts, a type of windbreak, are long, multiple rows of trees and shrubs, usually along sea coasts, to protect agricultural fields from inundation by tidal waves.

Purpose of the Technology: Windbreaks can make a significant contribution to sustainable production
Where wind is a major cause of soil erosion and moisture loss
It improves the microclimate in a given protected area by decreasing water evaporation from the soil and plants

Establishment / maintenance activities and inputs: Trees ( mainly Grivelia robusta) are planted in rows. They are maintained by regular pruning from the tender age to old age. Also, regular replacement of old trees. The trees are closely planted, about 1m apart and a maximum height of about 10m. The trees are always planted along the edges of the fields to protect the effects of mainly wind and the tidal waves. Surveying of the planting lines should be done to ensure they are linear

Natural / human environment: The trees are used as boundaries, firewood, timber and fence posts, they should be environmental friendly.

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:

• 10-50 years ago

2.7 Introduction of the Technology

Specify how the Technology was introduced:

• through land users' innovation

3.1 Main purpose(s) of the Technology

• improve production
• reduce, prevent, restore land degradation
• adapt to climate change/ extremes and its impacts
• create beneficial economic impact

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

Comments:

Major land use problems (compiler’s opinion): There is a lot of wind erosion that leads to low land productivity.
Major land use problems (land users’ perception): Soil erosion of the top soil.
Future (final) land use (after implementation of SLM Technology): Cropland: Ca: Annual cropping

If land use has changed due to the implementation of the Technology, indicate land use before implementation of the Technology:

Cropland: Ca: Annual cropping

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

3.4 SLM group to which the Technology belongs

• windbreak/ shelterbelt

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

3.6 SLM measures comprising the Technology

Comments:

Type of vegetative measures: aligned: -along boundary

3.7 Main types of land degradation addressed by the Technology

Comments:

Main causes of degradation: wind storms / dust storms
Secondary causes of degradation: soil management, crop management (annual, perennial, tree/shrub), droughts, land tenure

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 shows boundary trees planted either along boundaries between farmers or between different portions of two crop stands. The spacing between the crops depend on the type of particular tree. The most common boundary trees used in Embu County is gravellia trees that have multiple uses (firewood, timber, animal feeds - leaves during the dry spells and mulch to some extent)

Location: Embu. Central Province
Date: 13.02.2013

Technical knowledge required for field staff / advisors: moderate (The technology does not require a lot of skills to demonstrate to the farmers. Just basic skills on spacing and vertical interval)
Technical knowledge required for land users: low (The basic skills of the farmer required to effect the technology)

Main technical functions: stabilisation of soil (eg by tree roots against land slides), reduction in wind speed
Aligned: -contour
Vegetative material: T : trees / shrubs
Aligned: -along boundary
Vegetative material: T : trees / shrubs
Number of plants per (ha): 400
Vertical interval between rows / strips / blocks (m): 20
Spacing between rows / strips / blocks (m): 5
Vertical interval within rows / strips / blocks (m): 0.3
Width within rows / strips / blocks (m): 0.5

Trees/ shrubs species: Grivelia robusta
Grass species: Napier grass
Slope (which determines the spacing indicated above): 5%%
If the original slope has changed as a result of the Technology, the slope today is (see figure below): 5%%

4.3 General information regarding the calculation of inputs and costs

other/ national currency (specify):

KSh

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

85.0

4.4 Establishment activities

	Activity	Type of measure	Timing
1.	Establishing contours	Vegetative	Each cropping season
2.	Digging of holes	Vegetative	Before the cropping season
3.	Planting of trees	Vegetative	After the digging of holes

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	ha	1.0	470.0	470.0	100.0
Equipment	Tools	ha	1.0	5.3	5.3	100.0
Plant material	Seedlings	ha	1.0	480.0	480.0	100.0
Fertilizers and biocides	Compost/manure	ha	1.0	3.5	3.5	100.0
Total costs for establishment of the Technology					958.8

Comments:

Duration of establishment phase: 24 month(s)

4.6 Maintenance/ recurrent activities

	Activity	Type of measure	Timing/ frequency
1.	Prunning	Agronomic	Each cropping season
2.	Pruning	Vegetative	Onset of planting season

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	Labour	ha	1.0	470.0	470.0	100.0
Total costs for maintenance of the Technology					470.0

4.8 Most important factors affecting the costs

Describe the most determinate factors affecting the costs:

If the land has a gentle sloping gradient, the trees need to be closely planted o reduce the effects of the winds and storms to the crops.

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 texture: Medium (the soils are relatively friable)
Soil fertility: Medium (limited crops for productivity)
Topsoil organic matter: Medium (gently sloping lands)
Soil drainage/infiltration: Medium (the soils are relatively good drained)
Soil water storage capacity: Medium (soils have medium water holding capacity due to high intensities of sun rays)

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
Difference in the involvement of women and men: Men ensure establishment and women ensure good maintenance of the technology
Population density: > 500 persons/km2
Annual population growth: 1% - 2%
(Most people have avaragely living standards).
Off-farm income specification: There is increased production since the trees once grown big can be cut and provide timber

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, not titled

Land 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

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)

Climate-related extremes (disasters)

Meteorological disasters

	How does the Technology cope with it?
local windstorm	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 strong 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 wind speed
They produce fruit, nuts, maple syrup, firewood, posts, poles and veneer
They provide nectar and pollen for bees
Wind breaks protect a variety of wind-sensitive crops
Acts as sound barriers and mitigate odors from neighboring properties

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?
complicates equipment movement	Proper spacing to allow movement of equipment
Establishment and maintenance costs	The establishment and maintenance cost cant be equaled with the overall benefits

Weaknesses/ disadvantages/ risks in the compiler’s or other key resource person’s view	How can they be overcome?
Loss of space that could otherwise be utilized by food crops	Appropriate spacing even though the effect has less magnitude because it is established along the boundaries
Shading effects, effects on micro-climate and harbors pests.	Avoid very tall windbreaks which shades excessively and are susceptible to breakages. Use of appropriate chemicals for spraying the pests.
Competition for water and nutrients	Supplemental irrigation in times of droughts

7.1 Methods/ sources of information