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)

Scaling-up SLM practices by smallholder farmers (IFAD)

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

Uganda Landcare Network (ULN) - Uganda

1.3 Conditions regarding the use of data documented through WOCAT

When were the data compiled (in the field)?

2/4/2017

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:

Integrating black spear grass (Heteropogon Contortus), elephant grass (Pennisetum Purpureum) and trenches into a Citrus orchard of Oranges (Citrus Sinensis) for soil and water erosion control.

2.2 Detailed description of the Technology

Description:

Farmers in Northern Uganda with an average size of 0.5 acres of land or more grow Oranges (Valencia and Anlin) varieties planted with a spacing of 10 x10 m and integrate them with the use of locally obtained black spear grass and elephant grass on farm as mulching materials and trenches to slow down rainwater runoff while preserving soil moisture for increased production and household income. Citrus orchard of oranges (Citrus sinensis ) with grass mulch and trenches is established on gently sloping land with grasses every year. The trenches are established within the citrus orchard for soil erosion control and environmental and water conservation.To establish this technology the land user will (1) identify an already planted Orchard of Oranges susceptible to soil and water erosion problems, (2) clear the grasses in the garden using a panga, (3) dig the trenches using a hoe, a spade and labour up to a depth of not more than 0.5 centimetres, (4) carry and lay the mulch to the garden using at least 3-4 workers per day with the grass mulch kept at a minimum distance of 20 centimetres away from the plant to allow for air circulation, (5) remove the sediments and re-apply them back to the field once the trenches are filled with the sediments. Mulched grass decomposes over time, improves fertility while trenches allow water harvesting and prevent soil and water erosion. However, the land user needs to be aware that trenches are labour intensive which could be the most expensive input, in addition to the cost of basic construction materials for digging trenches like a hoe, a panga and a spade which are in most cases bought once and used for a longer period of time. The benefits derived from this SLM technology are high in the long run as the technology is suitable for improving soil fertility and controlling soil erosion with the established grass mulch and trenches. Trenches and grass mulch retain water during heavy rains which is utilized by citrus during the dry season. The leaf litter from a citrus garden with minimum tillage when decomposed provides manure to enhance crop production generating increased income from the sale of fruits. However, this technology requires labour for planting, cutting the grass , watering and constructing the trenches which accounts for most of the costs. What is not liked about this technology is that the trenches are not easy to make and are labour-intensive.

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

Indicate year of implementation:

2011

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

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

3.3 Further information about land use

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

• rainfed

Number of growing seasons per year:

• 2

Specify:

Twice a year: April-May and August-November

Livestock density (if relevant):

N/A

3.4 SLM group to which the Technology belongs

• agroforestry
• 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 km2 (10 ha)

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

Comments:

The technology prevents soil degradation through litter and decomposition of the mulched grass. The integrated trenches also help retain water for citrus production.

4.1 Technical drawing of the Technology

4.2 Technical specifications/ explanations of technical drawing

The vertical drawing only contains citrus fruits of oranges that are planted integrated with grass mulch and trenches for soil and water conservation. Mulching should be done up to a depth 0.5 cm with the mulch kept at a minimum of 20 cm away from the plant to allow for air circulation. Digging of the trench is done at a depth of 0.5 metres with the spacing of 10mx10m between the Orange trees.

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):

UGX

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

3400.0

4.4 Establishment activities

	Activity	Type of measure	Timing
1.	Identify the citrus orchard with spear grass	Agronomic	Once before before establishment
2.	Cut the spear grass	Vegetative	Once before establishment
3.	Dig the trenches	Structural	Once during establishment
4.	Carry the grass	Other measures	During establishment
5.	Lay the grass	Structural	During establishment

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	Persons days hired per month	persons	10.0	7000.0	70000.0	100.0
Equipment	Spades	Pieces	5.0	10000.0	50000.0	100.0
Equipment	Hoe	Pieces	10.0	10000.0	100000.0	100.0
Equipment	A -frame	Pieces	2.0	15000.0	30000.0	100.0
Equipment	Panga	Pieces	4.0	7000.0	28000.0	100.0
Total costs for establishment of the Technology					278000.0

4.6 Maintenance/ recurrent activities

	Activity	Type of measure	Timing/ frequency
1.	Removing soil in the trenches	Other measures	Every time the trench is re-filled with soil

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	Persons days on ddaily basis	Persons	4.0	7000.0	28000.0	100.0
Total costs for maintenance of the Technology					28000.0

4.8 Most important factors affecting the costs

Describe the most determinate factors affecting the costs:

Labour for digging trenches , cutting and carrying grass is the most expensive input affecting the costs.

5.1 Climate

5.2 Topography

Indicate if the Technology is specifically applied in:

• concave situations

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

Indicate other relevant characteristics of the land users:

Grass mulching is mostly done by both men and women because it is easier work, compared to trenches which are mostly done by men because of their labour intensiveness.

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:

• communal/ village
• individual, not titled

Land use rights:

• communal (organized)
• individual

Water use rights:

• communal (organized)
• 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

Water cycle/ runoff

Soil

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?
annual temperature		increase	moderately
annual rainfall		increase	well
seasonal rainfall	wet/ rainy season	decrease	moderately

Climate-related extremes (disasters)

Climatological disasters

	How does the Technology cope with it?
drought	moderately

Biological disasters

	How does the Technology cope with it?
epidemic diseases	moderately

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)?

Comments:

In the short run, the costs of digging trenches and carrying grass are more than the benefits. Benefits include that mulched grass improves the soil fertility and trenches allow water harvesting and prevention of soil and water erosion. In the short term, the digging of trenches are the most expensive input.

6.5 Adoption of the Technology

• 1-10%

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

• 0-10%

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
The technology is replicable and can be promoted elsewhere by other land users (small and large scale land users).
More benefits in terms of low labour requirements, soil fertility improvement and increased income from the sale of fruits in the long run. A reduction in labour requirements Implies low costs incurred to pay labour.
Trenches and Grass mulch retain water during heavy rains which is utilized by citrus during the dry season. When the leaves of the citrus trees falls down, they decompose form manure that enhances citrus production.

Strengths/ advantages/ opportunities in the compiler’s or other key resource person’s view
The technology is cost effective with high costs of investment at establishment but high benefits in the long run (increased income, soil erosion control and provision of fruits for home consumption and sale).

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?
Labour intensive	Use of family or hired labour or even work in groups.

Weaknesses/ disadvantages/ risks in the compiler’s or other key resource person’s view	How can they be overcome?
The technology is very costly and not readily for small scale land users	Link land users to SACCO's where they can obtain credit at low interest rates.
Very difficult for women to adopt when it comes to making trenches	Women can hire men to help or form joint working groups with men focusing on trench making as a business.

7.1 Methods/ sources of information