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)

Book project: where the land is greener - Case Studies and Analysis of Soil and Water Conservation Initiatives Worldwide (where the land is greener)

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

Book project: Water Harvesting – Guidelines to Good Practice (Water Harvesting)

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

International Center for Agricultural Research in the Dry Areas (ICARDA) - Lebanon

1.3 Conditions regarding the use of data documented through WOCAT

When were the data compiled (in the field)?

01/11/2004

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

1.5 Reference to Questionnaire(s) on SLM Approaches

2.1 Short description of the Technology

Definition of the Technology:

Runoff harvesting through annually constructed V-shaped microcatchments, enhanced by downslope ploughing.

2.2 Detailed description of the Technology

Description:

The Khanasser Valley in north-west Syria is a marginal agricultural area, with annual rainfall of about 220 mm/year. Soils are shallow and poor in productivity. The footslopes of degraded hills are traditionally used for extensive grazing or barley cultivation. However to achieve self-sufficiency in olive oil production, several farmers have developed orchards in this area - which is generally considered too dry for olives.
Trees are spaced at 8 m apart, within and between rows. Traditionally, farmers prefer to till their orchards by tractor in order to keep them weed-free (weeds may attract sheep, lead to fires and compete for water with the olive trees). As this tillage operation is usually practised up and down the slope, the resulting furrows stimulate runoff and erosion. However, when this is combined with Vshaped and/or fish-bone shaped microcatchments around individual trees, the furrows created can be used to harvest runoff water for improved production.
The V-shape earthen bunds (reinforced with some stones) are constructed manually, by hoe, around each tree. The furrows then divert runoff systematically to the microcatchments where it concentrates in basins around the trees. Each tree is effectively served by a catchment area of 60 m2. The catchment: cultivated area ratio is thus approximately 60:1 (assuming the area exploited by the tree.
This technology saves irrigation water during the dry season, enhances soil moisture storage, and stimulates olive tree growth. Furthermore, fine particles of eroded soil are captured in the microcatchments. While these may be nutrientrich, they also tend to seal the surface. The bunds need to be rebuilt every year. If the structures are damaged after a heavy storm, they need to be repaired. Labour input for establishment and maintenance is low, the technology is easy and cheap to maintain, and there is enough local skill to sustain and expand the system. A supporting technology is to mulch the area around each tree with locally available stones (limestone and/or basalt) to reduce soil temperature during the summer, decrease surface evaporation and improve infiltration. The catchment areas between the trees are sometimes planted with low water-demanding winter annuals (lentils, vetch, barley, etc) especially when the trees are young. This helps to reduce surface erosion. Implementation of furrow-enhanced runoff water harvesting in olive orchards started in 2002, and adoption by farmers is growing gradually.

2.3 Photos of the Technology

2.5 Country/ region/ locations where the Technology has been applied and which are covered by this assessment

2.7 Introduction of the Technology

Specify how the Technology was introduced:

• through projects/ external interventions

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

Comments:

Major land use problems (compiler’s opinion): There are a series of problems in this area, including: low and erratic rainfall, drought, low land productivity, poor water use efficiency, land degradation, limited ground water for irrigation, few agricultural options, and low income from agriculture.

Semi-nomadism / pastoralism: before SWC

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

Specify:

Longest growing period in days: 150, Longest growing period from month to month: Dec - Apr

3.4 SLM group to which the Technology belongs

• water harvesting
• irrigation management (incl. water supply, drainage)
• water diversion and drainage

3.5 Spread of the Technology

Comments:

Total area covered by the SLM Technology is 0.05 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:

• restore/ rehabilitate severely degraded land

4.1 Technical drawing of the Technology

4.2 Technical specifications/ explanations of technical drawing

V-shaped micro-catchments which harvest water for the olive trees: the furrows up-and-down slope help channel the runoff to the olives.

Technical knowledge required for field staff / advisors: low
Technical knowledge required for land users: low
Main technical functions: control of dispersed runoff: retain / trap, increase / maintain water stored in soil, water harvesting / increase water supply
Secondary technical functions: reduction of slope length, sediment retention / trapping, sediment harvesting, reduction in wind speed

Agronomic measure: up and down tillage
Remarks: (for runoff collection)
Structural measure: V-shaped bunds
Structural measure: mulching with stones (supportive, see also 2.8)
Construction material (stone): limestone, basalt (locally available)

4.4 Establishment activities

	Activity	Type of measure	Timing
1.	Up-and-down tillage by tractor driven plough	Structural	in winter
2.	Construction of runoff harvesting bunds and micro-basins, manually by hoe	Structural	November/December; beginning of rainy season
3.	V-shaped bunds are seasonal structures and thus established every year. Construction of runoff harvesting bunds and micro-basins

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	Construction (10 person days)	ha	1.0	50.0	50.0	100.0
Equipment	Machine use	ha	1.0	10.0	10.0	100.0
Equipment	Tools	ha	1.0	3.0	3.0	100.0
Total costs for establishment of the Technology					63.0

4.6 Maintenance/ recurrent activities

	Activity	Type of measure	Timing/ frequency
1.	Maintenance of bunds in winter/rainy season	Structural	after heavy rainfall 1-3 times a year

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	Repair (5 person days)	ha	1.0	25.0	25.0	100.0
Total costs for maintenance of the Technology					25.0

Comments:

Machinery/ tools: tractor, hoe, tractor-driven plough
The calculation covers the runoff harvesting technology alone - annual activities of ploughing and water harvesting structure establishment and maintenance. Planting of olive trees and their maintenance are not included here.

5.1 Climate

5.2 Topography

Comments and further specifications on topography:

Slopes on average: Also rolling (ranked 2) and gentle (ranked 3)

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.

Soil depth on average: Also shallow (ranked 2) and deep (ranked 3)
Soil fertility: Low (ranked 1) and very low (ranked 2)
Soil drainage/infiltration: Good (ranked 1) and medium (ranked 2)

5.6 Characteristics of land users applying the Technology

Indicate other relevant characteristics of the land users:

Off-farm income specification: from farm labour and non-agricultural activities in nearby cities

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

• individual

Land use rights:

• individual

6.1 On-site impacts the Technology has shown

Socio-economic impacts

Production

Water availability and quality

Income and costs

Other socio-economic impacts

Socio-cultural impacts

Ecological impacts

Water cycle/ runoff

Soil

Biodiversity: vegetation, animals

Climate and disaster risk reduction

6.2 Off-site impacts the Technology has shown

6.4 Cost-benefit analysis

How do the benefits compare with the maintenance/ recurrent costs (from land users' perspective)?

6.5 Adoption of the Technology

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:

100% of land user families have adopted the Technology without any external material support. There is a little trend towards spontaneous adoption of the Technology. Generally moderate adoption: Mainly applied by ‘agriculturalists’, that is households whose livelihoods mainly depend on agriculture. Farmers with more interest in off-farm labour or sheep rearing - less interested. Is expanding slowly but gradually.

6.7 Strengths/ advantages/ opportunities of the Technology

Strengths/ advantages/ opportunities in the compiler’s or other key resource person’s view
Increases soil moisture storage in low rainfall areas and allows expansion of olive plantation into drier areas
Easy, low-cost and requires no extra external inputs.
Reduces soil erosion.
Reduces summer irrigation needs
Improves olive productivity

6.8 Weaknesses/ disadvantages/ risks of the Technology and ways of overcoming them

Weaknesses/ disadvantages/ risks in the compiler’s or other key resource person’s view	How can they be overcome?
Extra labour needed	Construct during off-season.
Increases weed growth in the tree basin	More stone mulching.
Trees will still need some irrigation in summer	Make irrigation practices more efficient.

7.1 Methods/ sources of information

7.2 References to available publications

Title, author, year, ISBN:

Tubeileh A and Turkelboom F, Participatory research on water and soil management with olive growers in the KhanasserValley. KVIRS project, ICARDA, Aleppo, Syria. 2004.

Title, author, year, ISBN:

Tubeileh A, Bruggeman A and Turkelboom F, Growing olive and other tree species in marginaldry environments. ICARDA, Aleppo, Syria. 2004.