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)

Royal University of Agriculture (RUA) - Cambodia

1.3 Conditions regarding the use of data documented through WOCAT

When were the data compiled (in the field)?

22/05/2017

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

Comments:

This technique can be classified as a sustainable land management. Formerly this land type was almost completely sandy and thus, not suitable to grow crops even water morning glory, but after using natural fertilizers and liquid compost, crops were planted and provided good yields.

2.1 Short description of the Technology

Definition of the Technology:

The practice of improving the conditions of a sandy soil by natural fertilizers and liquid compost application increases the crop production, as it leads to a substantial improvement of the soil quality. It improves the water retention capacity, improves the soil structure (less compaction), eases the nutrient absorption and finally, increases the soil fertility in general.

2.2 Detailed description of the Technology

Description:

A sandy soil is a soil type with large particles that has difficulty in retaining both moisture and fertility, which makes it challenging for crop cultivation. Therefore, a practice is needed that helps farmer to improve the quality of such soils. Improving soil quality means to promote a process of constant improvement of soil fertility by maintaining soil moisture, reducing soil compaction, and support to better nutrient absorption, thereby finally promoting better plant growth. Sandy soils are relatively compact and can hamper the growth and penetration of plant roots, what hinders the absorption of nutrients. To reduce this effect, the incorporation of organic matter can be useful (Rhoades, 2016). The farmers have their own techniques to improve sandy soils; one example is the diversified crop cultivation by using natural fertilizer and liquid compost. This technology is applied by one of farmers in the Prey Puoch village, belonging to the Rolea B'ier District.

His objective was to improve sandy soils in order to achieve higher production. Apart of the application of liquid compost and natural fertilizers ‒ and consequently the improvement of the soil nutrient status ‒ the farmer also increased the range of crops to raise the production level. Therefore, the family was able to raise its surpluses to be sold at the markets significantly. This led to a meaningful improvement of the livelihood.

The farmer use only natural fertilizers, such as crops residue, and cow manure or manure from pigs, when cow manure is not available. Although pig manure does not contain the same high level of nutrients as cow manure, it helps to reduce soil compaction, allows crop’s roots to absorb nutrients, and improves soil moisture. In addition, liquid compost can be applied to increase soil fertility, as this kind of compost is rich in microorganisms that play an important role in the decomposition of organic materials. By this, nutrients can be provided in the best possible way. The farmer has planted long beans and other trellising plants in rotation and as inter-crops for example strongly smelling spring onion and anise basil. Such crops grown beneath the long beans can help to reduce pest damage and diminish the use chemical pesticides. Plating anise basil and spring onions along each long bean row and the rotation practices also help maintaining the nutrition level in the soil.

To make liquid compost the farmer uses two main ingredients, such as animal (poultry) manure and plant leaves (Siam weed, Cassia tree, Lead tree, Sesbania, etc.). All of the materials are chopped and mixed, and then put into a big jar with 20 times the volume of water being added. The jar is then closed to reduce the unpleasant smell. The mixture is stirred twice daily to provide enough oxygen for the microorganisms. After three weeks the liquid mixture will be no longer smelly, and will be ready for use as liquid compost. This compost is applied three times during the crop cycle: at the start of planting, just before the flowering stage, and at the production stage. The ratio of application is 1 liter of the liquid compost for each square meter of land (Yang and Pean, 2015).

Before the farmer adopted this technology they could not even grow water morning glory and they needed a lot of labor and much water for the irrigation. This practice not only helps to improve soil quality, it reduces also the costs by using less chemical fertilizers and pesticides, by reducing the labour input, and it helps to expand the area of arable land.

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

Indicate year of implementation:

2016

2.7 Introduction of the Technology

Specify how the Technology was introduced:

• through land users' innovation

Comments (type of project, etc.):

The farmer was formerly an agricultural extension worker with full of experience.

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

If land use has changed due to the implementation of the Technology, indicate land use before implementation of the Technology:

Rice field with low yield due to the sandy soil

3.3 Further information about land use

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

• mixed rainfed-irrigated

Comments:

Getting water for irrigation from a pond and drill well

Number of growing seasons per year:

• 3

Specify:

Long bean can be harvested after 60 to 65 days after planting and for 15 to 18 times per cycle. Anise Basil can be harvested after 25 days. Spring onion can harvested after 30 days after planting and the harvest continues for around 1.5 months (around 10 to 20 times per cycle).

3.4 SLM group to which the Technology belongs

• rotational systems (crop rotation, fallows, shifting cultivation)
• integrated soil fertility management
• integrated pest and disease management (incl. organic agriculture)

3.5 Spread of the Technology

Specify the spread of the Technology:

• evenly spread over an area

Comments:

This technique is applied on an area size of 12 x 30 meters.

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:

• restore/ rehabilitate severely degraded land

Comments:

To improved soil quality, composting with cow manure, poultry and pig manure, and combination of soil from termite mound for plantation to improved soil quality.

4.1 Technical drawing of the Technology

4.2 Technical specifications/ explanations of technical drawing

This technique is applied on the land with 24 x 52 meters land that contains a pond at the back of the field (22 x 34 meters width and length respectively and 5 meters depth). The remaining land is covered by long bean, 12 x 30 meters with rows of long bean is 1.7 meters wide, row gap is 1.5 meters, height is 30 centimeters, and 40 cm space between plant to plant is. On the size is cover by long bean 3 rows as 6 lines, each rows are 40 centimeters gap with anise basil plantation and spring onion between long bean. To make liquid compost the farmer uses two main ingredients, such as animal (poultry) manure and plant leaves (Siam weed, Cassia tree, Lead tree, Sesbania, etc.). All of the materials are chopped and mixed, and then put into a big jar with 20 times the volume of water being added. The jar is then closed to reduce the unpleasant smell. The mixture is stirred twice daily to provide enough oxygen for the microorganisms. After three weeks the liquid mixture will be no longer smelly, and will be ready for use as liquid compost. This compost is applied three times during the crop cycle: at the start of planting, just before the flowering stage, and at the production stage. The ratio of application is 1 liter of the liquid compost for each square meter of land.

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):

KHR

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

4000.0

4.4 Establishment activities

	Activity	Type of measure	Timing
1.	Ploughing	Agronomic	May
2.	Lime spreading	Agronomic	May
3.	Row preparation	Structural	May
4.	Putting cow manure and fertiled soil	Agronomic	May
5.	Installation of drip irrigation system	Structural	May
6.	Do the trellising	Structural	May
7.	Do the nursery	Agronomic	May

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:

3600000.0

	Specify input	Unit	Quantity	Costs per Unit	Total costs per input	% of costs borne by land users
Labour	Ploughing	times	3.0	20000.0	60000.0	100.0
Labour	Rows preparation and lime spreading	day	2.0	25000.0	50000.0	100.0
Labour	Preparing drip irrigation	day	1.0	25000.0	25000.0	100.0
Equipment	Spade	piece	1.0	15000.0	15000.0	100.0
Equipment	Hoe	piece	1.0	20000.0	20000.0	100.0
Equipment	Shovel	piece	1.0	20000.0	20000.0	100.0
Plant material	Long bean seeds	package	1.0	10000.0	10000.0	100.0
Plant material	Spring onion seeds	kg	3.0	4000.0	12000.0	100.0
Plant material	Tray seeding	piece	6.0	4000.0	24000.0	100.0
Fertilizers and biocides	Cow manure	ox-driven vehicle	6.0	20000.0	120000.0	100.0
Fertilizers and biocides	DAP fertilizer	kg	5.0	3000.0	15000.0	100.0
Fertilizers and biocides	KCL fertilizer	kg	5.0	3000.0	15000.0	100.0
Fertilizers and biocides	Urea fertilizer	kg	5.0	3500.0	17500.0	100.0
Construction material	Drip system	set	1.0	110000.0	110000.0	100.0
Construction material	Pipe	piece	2.0	20000.0	40000.0	100.0
Construction material	Branches for trellising	piece	225.0	300.0	67500.0	100.0
Construction material	Small water tank	piece	2.0	6000.0	12000.0	100.0
Total costs for establishment of the Technology					633000.0

4.6 Maintenance/ recurrent activities

	Activity	Type of measure	Timing/ frequency
1.	Weeding	Agronomic	every 2 weeks
2.	Putting cow manure and composting	Agronomic	only a times when plant is 10 to 15 days
3.	Down branches cutting	Agronomic	when plant is 20 to 25 days
4.	DAP, KCL fertilizers putting	Agronomic	3 times when planting, flowering, and producing
5.	Pesticide preparation	Agronomic	when insects is appeared
6.	Pesticide spreading (Bug, houseplant, wasp)	Agronomic	spread when insects are appeared

Comments:

Producing pesticide: using detergent 3g, oil 3 spoons, chilli 3 to 4 pieces with a liter of water.

4.7 Costs and inputs needed for maintenance/ recurrent activities (per year)

If possible, break down the costs of maintenance 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 maintaining the Technology:

400000.0

4.8 Most important factors affecting the costs

Describe the most determinate factors affecting the costs:

Irrigation preparation (drip irrigation)

5.1 Climate

5.2 Topography

Indicate if the Technology is specifically applied in:

• not relevant

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.

pH = 6.5 and sandy soil until 2 meters down but now top soil is better for plantation.

5.4 Water availability and quality

Is water salinity a problem?

No

Is flooding of the area occurring?

No

5.5 Biodiversity

Comments and further specifications on biodiversity:

Not relevant

5.6 Characteristics of land users applying the Technology

Indicate other relevant characteristics of the land users:

He is 54 years old.

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:

• 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

Biodiversity: vegetation, animals

6.2 Off-site impacts the Technology has shown

Comments regarding impact assessment:

No off-site impacts of technology have been noticed.

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
annual rainfall			not known

Climate-related extremes (disasters)

Climatological disasters

	How does the Technology cope with it?
heatwave	well

Biological disasters

	How does the Technology cope with it?
epidemic diseases	well

Comments:

Having exchange cropping follow the adaptation capacity of crops with heat.

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

• single cases/ experimental

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:

In the village no other families apply a similar practice like this.

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
Increased household incomes
No negative health impacts because no application of chemical fertilizers or pesticides
Help to reduce the import of crops

Strengths/ advantages/ opportunities in the compiler’s or other key resource person’s view
Reduce some insect pests because of the strong aromatic nature of some crops such as anise basil and spring onion
Improving soil fertility through the rotation of crops and the use of animal manure and compost
Increase household income and provide easy-to-sell products

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?
There are some insects	Apply botanical pesticides produced by the farmer from some plants

7.1 Methods/ sources of information

7.2 References to available publications

Title, author, year, ISBN:

Yang S. and Pean S. (2015) Kit of Simple Agriculture Technologies. CEDAC.

Available from where? Costs?

Can find out at CEDAC, cost 10000 riel

7.3 Links to relevant information which is available online

Title/ description:

Rhoades H. (2016) Sandy Soil Amendments: How to do sandy soil improvement. Gardening.

URL:

Retrieved on July 18 from: https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/garden-how-to/soil-fertilizers/amending-sandy-soil.htm