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)

Central Asian Countries Initiative for Land Management (CACILM I)

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

Kyrgyz Agrarian University (Kyrgyz Agrarian University) - Kyrgyzstan

1.3 Conditions regarding the use of data documented through WOCAT

When were the data compiled (in the field)?

16/08/2011

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 ridge sowing technology utilizes a special seeder, which is operated with special machinery and at the same time cuts the irrigation furrows and sows crops’ seeds on ridges. This method is primarily improved irrigation water use efficiency, reduced water erosion and more importantly lowers the expenses on irrigation water by 30%.

2.2 Detailed description of the Technology

Description:

The ridge sowing technology is applied in CIS countries (Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Azerbaijan, Tajikistan.) in the production of wheat and other cereals. Kyrgyzstan first applied this technology with the support of the SIDA project “Support to seed development industry in Kyrgyzstan”. Further dissemination of this method was supported by the Seed Growers’ Association of Kyrgyzstan. This technology was utilized in Kyrgyzstan through the use of the Turkish seeder СBP-2,8, which forms ridges, sows and simultaneously cuts furrows to irrigate between the ridges. The ridge sowing technology creates optimal conditions for agricultural crops and provides effective furrow irrigation. This prevents excessive use of irrigation water (saving 25-30%) and irrigation erosion, which happens in the case of using flooding methods on the crop fields using common corn planters. In addition, it prevents the flooding of useful soil micro fauna, as well as saves time. Prior to irrigation or after irrigation, a tractor or agricultural machine can easily go along the irrigation furrows to spray plants with herbicides and pesticides. Ridge sowing of cereals can be implemented almost on all types of grey-brownish, grey, red, yellow soil types with middle and light mechanical composition. In addition to cereals, ridge sowing can be used for growing vegetables and legumes (including potato), as well as industrial and oil crops (sugar beet, rape, soya bean, sesame)
Depending on natural climatic conditions and biological peculiarities of the cultivated varieties, width between the ridges is about 60-70cm. 2-3 rows of seeds can be sown on the ridges with a row spacing of 15cm. Over the course of 3 years, 10 ha of land were sown by using this technology, and the wheat grain yield was not reduced in comparison to the conventional cultivation method using a corn planter. While sowing cereals with such a seeder, it is recommended to cultivate well-bushing varieties. The ridge seeder decreases the seeding rate to a minimum. The seeding rate of cereals is 100-150kg/ha instead of 200-250kg/ha when using the usual sowing method with a classical corn planter and provides additional yield of winter grain wheat up to 5 -8,3 centner/ha. Practice is documented in the frame of CACILM.

Purpose of the Technology: The purpose of this technology is to decrease irrigation erosion and to improve soil moisture content through the use of effective irrigation techniques utilizing irrigation furrows.

Establishment / maintenance activities and inputs: The main cost linked to the introduction of ridge sowing is the purchase of the ridge seeder. The establishment costs of ridge sowing are similar to the ones for conventional sowing methods using corn planters, but in the long term the maintenance costs will be far lower. The utilization of this technology includes the following operations once per vegetation period: plowing (harrowing and leveling), ridge sowing, irrigation and harvesting

Natural / human environment: This technology was implemented on the fields of the Kant local administration of the Kant Rayon in Chui Oblast by 10 land users

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 technology was introduced in 2009-2010 with the support of SIDA “Support to seed industry development in Kyrgyzstan”.

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

Comments:

Major land use problems (compiler’s opinion): Frequently repeated droughts, water degradation and salinization of soil due to the irrational use of irrigation water, excess use of seeds
Major land use problems (land users’ perception): A shortage of machinery for soil handling and sowing; high price for the cereal crops’ seeds; outbreaks of pests and diseases; waterlogging due to the clogging of drainage systems

3.3 Further information about land use

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

• mixed rainfed-irrigated

Comments:

Water supply: полностью орошаемое, полностью орошаемое

Number of growing seasons per year:

• 1

Specify:

Longest growing period in days: 160Longest growing period from month to month: April-September

Livestock density (if relevant):

1-10 LU /km2

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)

Comments:

Total area covered by the SLM Technology is 0.1 m2.

3.6 SLM measures comprising the Technology

Comments:

Type of agronomic measures: furrows (drainage, irrigation)

3.7 Main types of land degradation addressed by the Technology

Comments:

Main causes of degradation: crop management (annual, perennial, tree/shrub) (Non-observance of crop-rotation; reduction of areas under perennials. Increase in the share of hydrophilic cereals’ varieties. Unwarranted high seeding rates.), disturbance of water cycle (infiltration / runoff) (Extremely high seeding rates while using flooding, which leads to salinization and waterlogging), change of seasonal rainfall (Seasonal drought during the growing season of crops.)

Secondary causes of degradation: droughts (Aerial and soil drought in May and June), education, access to knowledge and support services (Insufficient knowledge on the part of farmers about soil and water conservation)

3.8 Prevention, reduction, or restoration of land degradation

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

• reduce land degradation

Comments:

Main goals: mitigation / reduction of land degradation

4.1 Technical drawing of the Technology

4.2 Technical specifications/ explanations of technical drawing

The illustration shows sowing methods in cross-section. The distance between rows is 15 cm in both methods of sowing. The raised bed planting method is using irrigation water more effectively.

Location: Issyk-Ata region. Chui

Date: 04.10.2011

Technical knowledge required for field staff / advisors: high

Technical knowledge required for land users: moderate

Main technical functions: improvement of topsoil structure (compaction)

Secondary technical functions: increase / maintain water stored in soil

Furrows (drainage, irrigation)
Material/ species: Soil
Quantity/ density: 70 cm
Remarks: Formation of ridges and furrows by turns every 70 cm on a background of a well leveled field

4.3 General information regarding the calculation of inputs and costs

other/ national currency (specify):

KGS (Kyrgyz som)

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

40.0

4.4 Establishment activities

	Activity	Type of measure	Timing
1.	Purchase of the second hand seeder by the land users	Vegetative

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
Equipment	Second hand seeder	piece	1.0	3000.0	3000.0	100.0
Total costs for establishment of the Technology					3000.0

Comments:

Duration of establishment phase: 1 month(s)
Life span of the product: 10 years

4.6 Maintenance/ recurrent activities

	Activity	Type of measure	Timing/ frequency
1.	Plowing (careful harrowing and leveling)	Agronomic	Prior to sowing
2.	Ridge sowing	Agronomic	During sowing
3.	Ridge sowing	Agronomic	During sowing
4.	Ridge sowing	Agronomic	During sowing

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	Plowing (careful harrowing and leveling)	person/days	8.0	3.4375	27.5	100.0
Labour	Irrigation	person/days	8.0	0.9375	7.5	100.0
Equipment	Machine use for irrigation	ha	1.0	10.0	10.0	100.0
Equipment	Machine use for harvesting	ha	1.0	10.0	10.0	100.0
Plant material	Seeds (150kg/ha)	ha	1.0	37.5	37.5	100.0
Fertilizers and biocides	Fertilizer (100kg/ha)	ha	1.0	50.0	50.0	100.0
Total costs for maintenance of the Technology					142.5

Comments:

Machinery/ tools: СBP- 2,8

Maintenance costs for ridge sowing are calculated per 1 ha taking into account prices for 2009 and 2010.

4.8 Most important factors affecting the costs

Describe the most determinate factors affecting the costs:

The technology’s cost depends on the physical state of the soil (degree of moisture, field slope, mechanical composition of soil), seed costs and fuel to be used for the machinery

5.1 Climate

5.2 Topography

5.3 Soils

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: 1% - 2%

10% of the land users are rich and own 40% of the land.
70% of the land users are average wealthy and own 50% of the land.
20% of the land users are poor and own 10% of the land.

Off-farm income specification: During their free time, these farmers can use SLM on the fields of other farmers on a fee paying basis. Some farmers have shops for the sale of agrochemicals

Market orientation of production system: mixed (subsistence/ commercial, commercial/ market, commercial/ market

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

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

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	not well
local windstorm	not known

Climatological disasters

	How does the Technology cope with it?
drought	not well

Hydrological disasters

	How does the Technology cope with it?
general (river) flood	not known

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)?

6.5 Adoption of the Technology

Comments:

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

10 land user families have adopted the Technology without any external material support

There is a moderate trend towards spontaneous adoption of the Technology

Comments on adoption trend: The adoption trend is present due to obvious economic and ecological benefits, as well as an increase of awareness among the farmers, who participated in the workshop. Together with the rayon agricultural department, Ministry of Agriculture, Rural Advisory Service and SIDA, the project was carried out the in field with the participation of interested farmers from Kant, Sokuluk and Belovodsk rayons.

6.7 Strengths/ advantages/ opportunities of the Technology

Strengths/ advantages/ opportunities in the land user’s view
Saving of seeds and irrigation water How can they be sustained / enhanced? Within the service life of the seeder
A good possibility for quickly getting a large quantity of seeds of the deficit varieties by an order of magnitude How can they be sustained / enhanced? Production of a large quantity of seeds is possible, which is especially important for varieties where seed deficits exist

Strengths/ advantages/ opportunities in the compiler’s or other key resource person’s view
Effective control of waterlogging and salinization of soil by the optimal irrigation through furrows
With the help of optimal furrows water is better absorbed by the soil and is better conserved
Facilitates adaptation of crop production to climate change through the increased water use efficiency and applicability of highly productive varieties How can they be sustained / enhanced? Test different crop varieties for identifying the most resilient crops to be used with the ridge sowing technology
Reduces production costs How can they be sustained / enhanced? Within the service life of the seeder
Application of the integrated plant protection methods How can they be sustained / enhanced? An increase in awareness among farmers related to the integrated plant protection methods by means of advisory services

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 use of the ridge seeders requires high capacity tractors with over 100 horse power	Buy tractor jointly or lease them
Difficulties for combines to move along the fields with the furrows.	Level furrows at the ends of the field to allow combines to turn around allows their use in the furrows

Weaknesses/ disadvantages/ risks in the compiler’s or other key resource person’s view	How can they be overcome?
Comparatively high cost of the ridge seeders for farmers	The organization of a reasonable credit system for farmers
Risk of irrigation erosion along the furrows.	An optimal furrow length is to be selected according to the slope and filtering properties of the soil

7.2 References to available publications

Title, author, year, ISBN:

Пожарский В.Г. Норма высева озимой пшеницы при гребневой технологии возделывания в условиях Чуйской долины Кыргызстана//Агромеридиан, Алматы.2006.

Available from where? Costs?

В библиотеке Кыргызского НИИ Земледелия, 200 сом.

Title, author, year, ISBN:

Пожарский.В.Г Акималиев . М. Д Технология возделывания озимой и яровой пшеницы на гребнях в условиях Чуйской и Иссык-Кульской долины КР.//Материалы 1-ой Центрально Азиатской конференции по пшенице,10-13 июня 2003 г. г. Алматы.

Available from where? Costs?

В библиотеке Кыргызского НИИ Земледелия, 300 сом.