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)

Dept. of Agriculture, Northern Province (Dept. of Agriculture, Northern Province) - South Africa

1.3 Conditions regarding the use of data documented through WOCAT

When were the data compiled (in the field)?

15/04/2004

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 technology that applies contouring, mulching and intercropping in SWC.

2.2 Detailed description of the Technology

Description:

Agronomic technology is used to control soil erosion during the crop production period, i.e. method that is employed to improve soil fertility, conserve water and protect from soil erosion while the land is under crop production.

Purpose of the Technology: The purpose is to keep the fertility of the soil stable by protecting the soil from soil erosion and water loss.

Establishment / maintenance activities and inputs: The establishment is either done by planting strong root crops in between cultivated areas, or leaving the soil uncultivated, with a mulch cover on the soil surface. This will be maintained by keeping the intercrop strong and healthy while using zero or minimum tillage without removal of left over material on the soil surface.

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 projects/ external interventions

Comments (type of project, etc.):

Western World

3.1 Main purpose(s) of the Technology

• reduce, prevent, restore land degradation

• Prevent water loss

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

Comments:

Major land use problems (compiler’s opinion): Silting and low infiltration rate.

Major land use problems (land users’ perception): Injudicious cultivation.

Other grazingland: intensive grazing land

Grazingland comments: Cattle graze in the cropland during winter periods.

Type of cropping system and major crops comments: Maize mixed with groundnuts.
Maize mixed with dry beans

Type of grazing system comments: Cattle graze in the cropland during winter periods.

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 for cattle

Number of growing seasons per year:

• 1

Specify:

Longest growing period in days: 120; Longest growing period from month to month: Nov - Feb

3.4 SLM group to which the Technology belongs

• improved ground/ vegetation cover
• minimal soil disturbance

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:

Total area covered by the SLM Technology is 10 km2.

Soil conservation measures were constructed (contour banks), then but was looked after until 1980's.

3.6 SLM measures comprising the Technology

Comments:

Type of agronomic measures: contour planting / strip cropping, manure / compost / residues, mineral (inorganic) fertilizers, contour ridging

3.7 Main types of land degradation addressed by the Technology

Comments:

Main causes of degradation: other human induced causes (specify) (Agricultural causes)

Secondary causes of degradation: other natural causes (avalanches, volcanic eruptions, mud flows, highly susceptible natural resources, extreme topography, etc.) specify

3.8 Prevention, reduction, or restoration of land degradation

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

• prevent land degradation

4.1 Technical drawing of the Technology

4.2 Technical specifications/ explanations of technical drawing

Technical drawing off slope

Location: Mahlanga. Northern Province

Technical knowledge required for field staff / advisors: moderate

Technical knowledge required for land users: moderate

Main technical functions: control of concentrated runoff: retain / trap, control of concentrated runoff: drain / divert

4.3 General information regarding the calculation of inputs and costs

Specify currency used for cost calculations:

• US Dollars

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	persons/day/ha	100.0	6.0	600.0	10.0
Equipment	Machine use	ha	1.0	200.0	200.0
Construction material	Earth	ha	1.0	25.0	25.0
Total costs for establishment of the Technology					825.0

Comments:

Duration of establishment phase: 24 month(s)

4.6 Maintenance/ recurrent activities

	Activity	Type of measure	Timing/ frequency
1.	Conventional tillage	Agronomic	early in rainy season / once a year

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	Conventional tillage	persons/day/ha	20.0	6.0	120.0
Total costs for maintenance of the Technology					120.0

Comments:

Machinery/ tools: tractor/gallion

Grass strips per ha.

4.8 Most important factors affecting the costs

Describe the most determinate factors affecting the costs:

The voluntary labour was at minimal, therefore labour affected the cost significantly.

5.1 Climate

5.2 Topography

Comments and further specifications on topography:

Altitudinal zone: 1490 m a.s.l.

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: Gravely loamy to sandy

Soil fertility is very low

Soil drainage / infiltration is poor

Soil water storage capacity is very low

5.6 Characteristics of land users applying the Technology

Indicate other relevant characteristics of the land users:

Population density: > 500 persons/km2

1% of the land users are average wealthy.
66% of the land users are poor.
33% of the land users are poor.

5.7 Average area of land owned or leased by land users applying the Technology

6.1 On-site impacts the Technology has shown

Socio-economic impacts

Production

Other socio-economic impacts

Socio-cultural impacts

Ecological impacts

Water cycle/ runoff

Soil

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)?

6.5 Adoption of the Technology

• more than 50%

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

350 households cover 80 percent of the area stated

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:

97% of land user families have adopted the Technology with external material support

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

Comments on acceptance with external material support: estimates

6.7 Strengths/ advantages/ opportunities of the Technology

Strengths/ advantages/ opportunities in the land user’s view
Soil protection How can they be sustained / enhanced? Involve land-users right from the beginning and allow them to run the SWC on their own

Strengths/ advantages/ opportunities in the compiler’s or other key resource person’s view
Control soil erosion effectively How can they be sustained / enhanced? Involve land-users right from the beginning and allow them to run the SWC on their own
Conserve moisture

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?
Implementation	Implement with the land users and allow the land users to own the technology

7.2 References to available publications

Title, author, year, ISBN:

Sustainable land use plan for Nebo-district

Available from where? Costs?

Department of Soil Science, University of the North