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)

National Agriculture and Forestry Research Institute (NAFRI) - Lao People's Democratic Republic

1.3 Conditions regarding the use of data documented through WOCAT

When were the data compiled (in the field)?

11/07/2017

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 technique involves the planting of broom grass in order to prevent landslide in mountainous and stream areas which are adjacent to agricultural land. This is because broom grass has an extensive root system which can help to bind the soil. Additionally, farmers can generate an income from broom grass.

2.2 Detailed description of the Technology

Description:

Climate change has impacted agricultural practices and the livelihoods in rural mountain areas. Due to the occurrence of more volatile climate conditions including more frequent and intense rainfall in July and August, it has affected soil erosion on steep slopes. Therefore, broom grass was introduced to help stabilize soil composition and to prevent erosion and landslide.
In 2011 farmers at Chorlaving village, Ta-oy district started the technology by taking the broom grass rhizomes from the natural forest and replanting these on their own land which had been impacted by soil erosion. Their main objective was to prevent landslides that could impact their crops. At the same time it is also easier to manage and harvest broom grass on their land, which will be sold to merchants coming to the village. Most importantly, broom grass - a native species - has an extensive root system into a depth of 1 – 2 meters that helps to bind the soil. Furthermore it is highly adaptive to local climatic and environmental conditions and is seldom affected by diseases or becomes a food source for animals (as its leaves are hairy and rough). For the collection of broom grass rhizomes simple equipment is needed. This includes blades, knifes and baskets. The rhizomes should be selected along steep slopes in mountainous areas. Then the stems are removed from the parent plants, whole young plant is removed including the root and culms of about 30 cm. The broom grass plantation of this case study area has a length of 300 meters and a width of 80 – 120 meters on a sloping terrain with a gradient between 11-15%. The seedlings can be grown from healthy rhizomes collected in local forest areas, with approximately 6,000 seedlings per hectare. They are usually planted in April and May when the soil is still warm and stimulates the growth. To start off with, the farmers need to collect broom grass rhizomes from forest areas for one or two days. Afterwards they should be maintained for few days in a well shaded area, watered and covered by plastic bags. Land preparation firstly involves bush clearance. After, the farmers create rows by digging 20 x 20 cm holes at a distance of approx. 2 meters from one hole to the next. Planting may commence at the bottom of the field with the farmer placing 4 – 5 rhizomes in each freshly dug hole as he moves upward the row following the contour of the land. Yangbong trees, but also other plants can be intercropped in every two rows of broom grass. The grass helps to retain soil moisture which promotes e.g. the Yangbong trees’ growth. Once a year the broom grass area needs weeding and thinning. After harvest of the grass the cuttings and fragments can be used for mulching the soil surface around the broom grass stems and the trees. This not only retains soil moisture, but by the decaying process it enriches the soil by nutrients (natural compost).Typically, broom grass can be harvested 2 – 3 years after it has been planted. During the rainy season (June to October), the roots and the new shoots of broom grass grow quickly. The strengths of a broom grass plantation are that firstly it prevents soil erosion and secondly its different elements (e.g. flowers) which provide a higher household income. Model farmer’s broom grass plantation is 1.5 ha and may generate an income of around 2,000,000 Kip/ton/year. Currently, broom grass can be used for handicrafts, household products such as brooms and can also be sold to neighboring countries. There are currently many households engaged in planting broom grass for commercial purposes on their own land. This reduces conflicts among the village people araising when it had to be collecte in natural areas.
Weaknesses: The root system of broom grass grows quickly which may result in the competition for nutrients and space with the other crops. Therefore appropriate management may be required by cutting and removing excessive rhizomes and culms. Furthermore, the roots can expand so extensively (difficult to remove when they grow up) that it would exceed the farmer’s capacity to control them in order to get enough space for inter-crops. And planting broom grass on sloping terrain may cause difficulties to maintain and harvest the crop.

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

• reduce, prevent, restore land degradation
• conserve ecosystem
• reduce risk of disasters
• create beneficial economic impact
• create beneficial social 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:

• 1

3.4 SLM group to which the Technology belongs

• rotational systems (crop rotation, fallows, shifting cultivation)
• improved ground/ vegetation cover

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

4.1 Technical drawing of the Technology

4.2 Technical specifications/ explanations of technical drawing

The area have 300 m length , 80 m - 120 m width
- Space between plants is 2 x 2 m, 4-5 rhizomes per plant hole.
- Slope angle 11-15% , for foot slope is 3-5%. Protected area (protected area on foot slope along the cultivation area is 3 m)
- Equipment: knife, spade, basket for rhizom collection ond digging wholes
- Broom grass species are taken from natural forsts by cutting the rhizome include some stems.
- Density of plants is 6000 seedling/ha
The native broom grass species that can be cultivated in almost all types of soil. This species has long leaves (60-80cm) can play as a shelter from direct sunlight into the soil, and the erect culms can reach a length of 1.5 - 2 meters. One clump of broom grass would typically have between 10-20 culms. The land that was previously used for shifting cultivation has recently been planted with (Persea kuzii) Yangbong intercropped with broom grass. Now there is an expansion upland rice area next to the broom grass and the Yangbong plantation, this enables the farmer to grow rice intercropped with broom grass in the new area for first year after broom grass plantation, then rotate rice cultivation in previous area where Yangbong and broom grass will be harvest. Actually, in this model the farmer has two plots – one plot has been cultivated since 2011 consisting of predominantly broom grass and there is also Yanbong, whilst the other plot has only broom grass since 2012 and then planted Yangbong in 2015. Furthermore he planted other fruit trees and created a fishpond at the bottom of the broom grass plantation. This is because the culms which grow closely together help to block sediment run-off into the fishpond. Previously this area was used to grow rice, Yangbong and other fruit trees, after rice harvesting and Yangbong cutting, the broom grass was used before upland rice cultivation again and it is surrounded by several big stones and rocks .

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):

kip

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

8400.0

4.4 Establishment activities

	Activity	Type of measure	Timing
1.	Land preparation	Agronomic	30 days before onset of rain
2.	Collection of broom grass	Management
3.	Digging holes and planting	Agronomic

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	Labor for land preparation	Person-day	3.0	50000.0	150000.0	100.0
Labour	Labor for collection of broom grass seedlings	Person-day	3.0	50000.0	150000.0	100.0
Labour	Labor for digging holes and planting	Person-day	3.0	50000.0	150000.0	100.0
Equipment	Spade	Piece	4.0	15000.0	60000.0	100.0
Equipment	Knife	Piece	4.0	25000.0	100000.0	100.0
Equipment	Basket	Piece	4.0	50000.0	200000.0	100.0
Total costs for establishment of the Technology					810000.0

4.6 Maintenance/ recurrent activities

	Activity	Type of measure	Timing/ frequency
1.	weeding	Agronomic	annually
2.	cut out dead stems	Agronomic	annually

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	Labor for weeding and cut out dead stems	Person	4.0	50000.0	200000.0	100.0
Total costs for maintenance of the Technology					200000.0

4.8 Most important factors affecting the costs

Describe the most determinate factors affecting the costs:

Labor is the most important factor affecting the costs

5.1 Climate

5.2 Topography

Indicate if the Technology is specifically applied in:

• convex 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

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, titled

Land use rights:

• individual

Water use rights:

• open access (unorganized)
• 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

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 rainfall	wet/ rainy season	increase	very 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

• 10-50%

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

• 90-100%

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
Broom grass roots penetrate deeply into the the soil and are able to hold the soil together leading to prevent soil erosion.
In this region other plants and crops can be intercropped within the Broom grass cultivation area.
Broom grass improves the income for household.

Strengths/ advantages/ opportunities in the compiler’s or other key resource person’s view
Broom grass can reduces surface runoff during heavy rains.
Detritus of broom grass increases the biomass on topsoil and promotes organic matter and nutrients for the plants.

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?
Broom grass roots can expand extensively and can result in competition with other crops, respectively the roots may invade soil space for inter-cropping.	Attentive and good management by cutting some parts of them
Broom grass on a sloping terrain may make it difficult to maintain and harvest the crop.

7.1 Methods/ sources of information