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)

Interactive Soil Quality assessment in Europe and China for Agricultural productivity and Environmental Resilience (EU-iSQAPER)

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

Department for Agronomy, University of Ljubljana - Slovenia

1.3 Conditions regarding the use of data documented through WOCAT

When were the data compiled (in the field)?

09/06/2017

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:

The technology is based on use of livestock manure from dairy cows (excreta and cereals straw) for fertilisation of arable fields with 3-5 year rotation. Manure has a very good effect on soil production capacity and on growth of vegetable crops.

2.2 Detailed description of the Technology

Description:

1. The technology is applied in the flatlands of Ljubljana with an average altitude of 350 m.a.s.l. Average annual precipitation is 1400 mm. The area is characterized with often stormy precipitation events and occasional droughts. Silty loam soils in the area are moderately deep to deep with medium soil organic matter. Area has good availability of surface water and groundwater of good drinking quality. The biodiversity of the area is medium without any salinity and flooding problems. Sedentary agriculture with mixed or commercial agriculture is practiced with less than 10% of income coming from off-farm activities. The examined farm household has an average wealth and is fully mechanized/motorized. All farm households have a good access to services and infrastructure. The examinded farm is medium in scale with land patly owned by the land user and partly leased from other private owners.

2. Main characteristic is the use of livestock manure on arable fields and especially for vegetable production. Manure is composed from solid dairy cows excreta and cereals straw (wheat, barley) which is used as bedding for cows. Manure is composted for few months (4-6, depends on storage capacity). It is spread before ploughing and then ploughed into the soil. Spreading of manure is done in autumn or in spring. Knowledge on time of spreading and on handling with machines is needed.

3. Main function is increasing organic matter in the soil and also all major nutrients (nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium, magnesium, calcium etc.). This leads to better (1) productivity due to nutrients slow release, (2) better water holding capacity and (3) decreased soil compaction threat.

4. Major inputs needed to establish are: livestock (animals), stable adapted to the manure collection, use of straw bedding, storage facility (if possible covered with roof), manure spreader, and loading equipment. Major inputs to maintain are: keeping of the livestock herd and maintenance of the machines.

5. The benefits are: (1) increase in soil organic matter, (2) increase soil water holding capacity, (3) to maintain soil productivity, (4) increase in yields quantity and quality.

6. Land users like: (1) lower cost for mineral fertilisers, (2) impact on soil fertility, (3) it's a traditional method.
Land users dislike: (1) time-consuming - labour hours invested, (2) storage capacity takes space, (3) costs of transport.

2.3 Photos of the Technology

2.4 Videos 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)

3.1 Main purpose(s) of the Technology

• improve production
• reduce, prevent, restore land degradation
• create beneficial economic impact

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

3.3 Further information about land use

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

• rainfed

Comments:

only vegetables are also irrigated

Number of growing seasons per year:

• 1

Specify:

one main crop

3.4 SLM group to which the Technology belongs

• integrated crop-livestock management
• integrated soil fertility management

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

3.7 Main types of land degradation addressed by the Technology

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

4.1 Technical drawing of the Technology

4.2 Technical specifications/ explanations of technical drawing

The infographic presents main parts of the technology from livestock originated manure, stored and composted and finally applied over fields. After that manure is incorporated in to the soil with purpose of improving the productivity of soils and for better crop and vegetable yields.

4.3 General information regarding the calculation of inputs and costs

Specify how costs and inputs were calculated:

• per Technology area

other/ national currency (specify):

EUR (€)

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

0.89

4.4 Establishment activities

	Activity	Type of measure	Timing
1.	construction of the storage facility for capacity of 6 month	Structural	all year around
2.	Purchase of machinery for manure loading	Management	all year around
3.	Purchase of machinery for manure transport	Management	all year around

Comments:

However, this is a traditional method, so farmer has mainly maintenance costs.

4.5 Costs and inputs needed for establishment

If possible, break down the costs of establishment according to the following table, specifying inputs and costs per input. If you are unable to break down the costs, give an estimation of the total costs of establishing the Technology:

2.0

	Specify input	Unit	Quantity	Costs per Unit	Total costs per input	% of costs borne by land users
Equipment	Storage facililty for 6 month capacity	pcs	1.0	10000.0	10000.0	100.0
Equipment	Machine for loading manure	pcs	1.0	10000.0	10000.0	100.0
Equipment	Machine for transport of manure	pcs	1.0	15000.0	15000.0	100.0
Total costs for establishment of the Technology					35000.0

4.6 Maintenance/ recurrent activities

	Activity	Type of measure	Timing/ frequency
1.	Labour with daily manure handling	Agronomic	all year around
2.	Labour with transport to the fields	Agronomic	all year around
3.	Maintanance of machines	Agronomic	all year around

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	Manure handling every day	EUR/hour	182.5	6.25	1140.63	100.0
Labour	Transport to the fields	EUR/hour	30.0	6.25	187.5	100.0
Equipment	Maintanance of machines	EUR/hour	8.0	6.25	50.0	100.0
Total costs for maintenance of the Technology					1378.13

4.8 Most important factors affecting the costs

Describe the most determinate factors affecting the costs:

Labour is the most important. It is followed by livestock herd. However, herd costs are covered with milk production.

5.1 Climate

5.2 Topography

Indicate if the Technology is specifically applied in:

• not relevant

5.3 Soils

5.4 Water availability and quality

Is water salinity a problem?

No

Is flooding of the area occurring?

No

5.5 Biodiversity

5.6 Characteristics of land users applying the Technology

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:

• state
• individual, titled

Land use rights:

• leased
• individual

Water 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

Ecological impacts

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?
seasonal temperature	summer	increase	well
seasonal temperature	autumn	increase	well
seasonal rainfall	summer	decrease	not known

Climate-related extremes (disasters)

Meteorological disasters

	How does the Technology cope with it?
local rainstorm	not known
local thunderstorm	not known
local hailstorm	not known

Climatological disasters

	How does the Technology cope with it?
heatwave	well
cold wave	not known
extreme winter conditions	not known
drought	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

• more than 50%

Of all those who have adopted the Technology, how many have did so spontaneously, i.e. without receiving any material incentives/ payments?

• 90-100%

Comments:

Traditional method.

6.6 Adaptation

Has the Technology been modified recently to adapt to changing conditions?

No

6.7 Strengths/ advantages/ opportunities of the Technology

Strengths/ advantages/ opportunities in the land user’s view
Strengths: Mitigates drought. Use of mineral fertilisers is decreased. If fields are fertilised with organic livestock manure, the impact of spring drought on plant growth is minimal.
Opportunities: Livestock manure is a basic fertiliser for vegetable production. Customers are asking farmer what he is using for fertilisation. They trust more to the product if it is fertilised with organic manure produced at the farm.

Strengths/ advantages/ opportunities in the compiler’s or other key resource person’s view
Strengths: increased levels of organic content.
Slow release of nutrients.
Better water holding capacity, especially in early spring.

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?
Weakness: Costs of labour	They are investing in to mechanisation of the process.

Weaknesses/ disadvantages/ risks in the compiler’s or other key resource person’s view	How can they be overcome?
Weaknesses: More labour work.	Investing in machines with larger capacity
Risk: uncontroled release of nutrients into groundwater	They have to put lower quantity of more manure at one spreading. If they have vegetable production they can add two or three times in a year.

7.1 Methods/ sources of information