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: SLM in Practice - Guidelines and Best Practices for Sub-Saharan Africa (SLM in Practice)

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

CDE Centre for Development and Environment (CDE Centre for Development and Environment) - Switzerland

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

Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) - Italy

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

Syngenta (Syngenta) - France

1.3 Conditions regarding the use of data documented through WOCAT

The compiler and key resource person(s) accept the conditions regarding the use of data documented through WOCAT:

Yes

2.1 Short description of the Technology

Definition of the Technology:

Minimise soil disturbance to conserve soil moisture

2.2 Detailed description of the Technology

Description:

Conservation tillage (or ‘No-Till’) on large-scale commercial cereal farms is based on tractor-drawn equipment which allows furrow opening and planting in one pass. This technology minimizes soil disturbance, avoids formation of hard-pans and considerably reduces machine hours used for crop production: time is saved as well as fossil fuels – and field operations are thus cheaper than under conventional farming. Crops can be planted early to make the best use of rainfall. During harvesting, the crop residues are chopped and left as mulch on the field (3 tons of crop residues per hectare give around 70-100% cover), to improve soil organic matter and protect the soil against erosion and evaporation. Thanks to enhanced water conservation and infiltration, wheat and barley can be produced without irrigation and the risk of crop failure is reduced. Weeds are controlled with “Roundup” (glyphosate) herbicide application (2 liters/ha) two months after harvesting and shortly before planting. The company minimizes usage of pesticides. Conservation agriculture also includes contour planting (25 cm rows). Crops rotation is 3-4 years of wheat or barley followed by a season of legumes (for example peas) or canola (oilseed rape). If, after several years, the yields decrease due to compaction in the subsoil, crops with a strong tap root are planted (e.g. rape or sunflower) to break the hard pan - rather than using a ripper. As a supplementary technology tree rows (e.g. pines, cypress, or eucalyptus) are planted as shelterbelts and for wood production along boundaries, in valleys or on steep slopes.

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

If precise year is not known, indicate approximate date:

• 10-50 years ago

2.7 Introduction of the Technology

Specify how the Technology was introduced:

• through land users' innovation

Comments (type of project, etc.):

USA, Australia and personal initiative. Started in 1980 when Glyphosphate (Round up) was introduced in the market.

3.1 Main purpose(s) of the Technology

• reduce, prevent, restore land degradation

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

Comments:

Major land use problems (compiler’s opinion): Soil erosion due to water. Formation of hard-pans below the plough layer reducing iwater infiltration. Reduced animal fodder.

Major land use problems (land users’ perception): Soil erosion and decreased yields.

Improved pasture: cattle, sheep

Plantation forestry: Harvested when mature, about 20 years after planting.

Forest products and services: timber, fuelwood

Type of cropping system and major crops comments: 3-4 years of wheat or barley followed by 3-4 years of grass (Rhodes grass). Duration is partly dependent on the prevalence of grass weeds especially brome (Broums spp).

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

Grazing land: Ge: Extensive grazing land

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:

Longest growing period in days: 120 Longest growing period from month to month: Mar - May Second longest growing period in days: 100 Second longest growing period from month to month: Oct - Dec

Livestock density (if relevant):

> 100 LU /km2

3.4 SLM group to which the Technology belongs

• improved ground/ vegetation cover
• minimal soil disturbance

3.5 Spread of the Technology

Comments:

Total area covered by the SLM Technology is 14 m2.

One large scale wheat and barley farmer at Kisima farm.

3.6 SLM measures comprising the Technology

Comments:

Main measures: agronomic measures

Secondary measures: vegetative measures

Type of agronomic measures: better crop cover, early planting, contour planting / strip cropping, mulching, manure / compost / residues, rotations / fallows, zero tillage / no-till, minimum tillage, contour tillage, breaking compacted subsoil

Type of vegetative measures: aligned: -against wind, aligned: -along boundary

3.7 Main types of land degradation addressed by the Technology

Comments:

Main type of degradation addressed: Wt: loss of topsoil / surface erosion

Secondary types of degradation addressed: Cn: fertility decline and reduced organic matter content, Pc: compaction

Main causes of degradation: change of seasonal rainfall (low rainfall)

Secondary causes of degradation: other human induced causes (specify) (agricultural causes - cultivation)

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

Technical knowledge required for field staff / advisors: high

Technical knowledge required for land users: high

Main technical functions: control of concentrated runoff: impede / retard, improvement of surface structure (crusting, sealing), increase in organic matter, water harvesting / increase water supply

Secondary technical functions: control of raindrop splash, improvement of ground cover, improvement of topsoil structure (compaction), improvement of subsoil structure (hardpan), increase in nutrient availability (supply, recycling,…), increase of infiltration, increase / maintain water stored in soil, reduction in wind speed

Better crop cover
Material/ species: wheat, barley

Early planting
Material/ species: wheat, barley

Contour planting / strip cropping
Material/ species: wheat, barley
Quantity/ density: 0.08-0.09
Remarks: contour planting, 10inch row spacing for wheat

Mulching
Material/ species: wheat, barley
Quantity/ density: 1 t/ha
Remarks: crop residues give ~70% cover

Manure / compost / residues
Remarks: Residues from mulching

Rotations / fallows
Material/ species: peas

Zero tillage / no-till
Remarks: Herbicide (Roundup at 2l/ha) applied for weed control

Contour tillage
Remarks: For planting potatoes

Aligned: -against wind
Vegetative material: T : trees / shrubs
Number of plants per (ha): 3000
Vertical interval between rows / strips / blocks (m): 3
Spacing between rows / strips / blocks (m): 3
Vertical interval within rows / strips / blocks (m): 3
Width within rows / strips / blocks (m): 3

Aligned: -along boundary
Vegetative material: T : trees / shrubs
Number of plants per (ha): 3000
Vertical interval between rows / strips / blocks (m): 3
Spacing between rows / strips / blocks (m): 3
Vertical interval within rows / strips / blocks (m): 3
Width within rows / strips / blocks (m): 3

Vegetative measure: Places that can not be cultivated
Vegetative material: T : trees / shrubs
Number of plants per (ha): 3000
Vertical interval between rows / strips / blocks (m): 3
Spacing between rows / strips / blocks (m): 3
Vertical interval within rows / strips / blocks (m): 3
Width within rows / strips / blocks (m): 3

Vegetative measure: Vegetative material: T : trees / shrubs

Vegetative measure: Vegetative material: T : trees / shrubs

Vegetative measure: Vegetative material: T : trees / shrubs

Trees/ shrubs species: Eucalyptus, Grevillea robusta, wattle tree, pinus. All planted

Specification of dams/ pans/ ponds: Capacity 4 x 20000m3

Vegetation is used for stabilisation of structures.

4.3 General information regarding the calculation of inputs and costs

Specify currency used for cost calculations:

• US Dollars

other/ national currency (specify):

Kenya shilling

4.4 Establishment activities

	Activity	Type of measure	Timing
1.	planting	Vegetative	twice a year
2.	Digging	Structural
3.	Tractors	Management
4.	Combined Harvester	Management
5.	Sprayers	Management
6.	Direct Seeders	Management
7.	Cultivators	Management

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	Planting	Persons/day	600.0	2.33333	1400.0	100.0
Labour	Digging 4 ponds	Persons/day	1000.0	2.34	2340.0
Equipment	Tractors	pieces	5.0	22200.0	111000.0	10.0
Equipment	Combined Harvester	pieces	3.0	52666.666666	158000.0	100.0
Equipment	Sprayers	pieces	2.0	87500.0	175000.0	100.0
Equipment	Direct Seeders	pieces	2.0	55500.0	111000.0	100.0
Equipment	Cultivators	pieces	4.0	6000.0	24000.0	100.0
Plant material	Seedlings	pieces/year	70000.0	0.0781428	5470.0	100.0
Total costs for establishment of the Technology					588210.0

Comments:

Duration of establishment phase: 36 month(s)

4.6 Maintenance/ recurrent activities

	Activity	Type of measure	Timing/ frequency
1.	Harvesting and chopping of crop residues	Agronomic	end of growing season / annual
2.	Roundup (glyphosate) application	Agronomic	2 months after harvesting / annual
3.	Planting	Agronomic	juste avant les pluies
4.	Weeding	Vegetative	twice a year
5.	desilting	Agronomic	one per year
6.	Traitement en cours de croissance
7.	Désherbage		2 fois par année
8.	Récolte		20 années
9.	Emondage
10.	Désédimentation		une fois par année

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	Harvesting and chopping of crop residues	Persons/day	1000.0	2.34	2340.0	100.0
Labour	In-crop spraying	Persons/day	1500.0	2.333333	3500.0
Labour	Weeding	Persons/day	100.0	2.4	240.0	100.0
Labour	Pruning	Persons/day	600.0	2.33333	1400.0	100.0
Fertilizers and biocides	Roundup (glyphosate) application	l/ha	4.0	6.25	25.0	100.0
Other	Labour: Desilting	Persons/day	10.0	2.34	23.4
Total costs for maintenance of the Technology					7528.4

Comments:

total costs for the whole farm. December 2007

4.8 Most important factors affecting the costs

Describe the most determinate factors affecting the costs:

Machinery, spraying and labour (management time not included in figures above). 4000 Machine hrs are establishment costs and 5510 machine hrs Maintainance costs. The costs for machinery differ from task to task and the values are only partly known. Thus it was not possible to figure out a mean.

5.1 Climate

5.2 Topography

Comments and further specifications on topography:

Altitudinal zone: Also 1000-1500 m a.s.l., 1500-2000 m a.s.l., 2000-2500 m a.s.l., 2500-3000 m a.s.l.

Landforms. Also mountain slopes

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 fertility is medium - low

Soil drainage / infiltration is good

Soil water storage capacity is high

5.4 Water availability and quality

Comments and further specifications on water quality and quantity:

Availability of surface water: Also medium

5.5 Biodiversity

5.6 Characteristics of land users applying the Technology

Indicate other relevant characteristics of the land users:

Land users applying the Technology are mainly Leaders / privileged

Population density: < 10 persons/km2

Annual population growth: 2% - 3%

100% of the land users are very rich and own 100% of the land (Sole land owner).

Off-farm income specification: Full-time commercial farmers

Market orientation of production system: Grows wheat and barley on large scale for markets. Meat and wool also produced for markets.

Level of mechanization: All operations are mechanized.

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:

• company

Land use rights:

• leased

Water use rights:

• leased

5.9 Access to services and infrastructure

6.1 On-site impacts the Technology has shown

Socio-economic impacts

Production

Water availability and quality

Income and costs

Other socio-economic impacts

Ecological impacts

Water cycle/ runoff

Soil

Biodiversity: vegetation, animals

Climate and disaster risk reduction

Other ecological impacts

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	not known

Climate-related extremes (disasters)

Meteorological disasters

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

Climatological disasters

	How does the Technology cope with it?
drought	well

Hydrological disasters

	How does the Technology cope with it?
general (river) flood	not known

Other climate-related consequences

Other climate-related consequences

	How does the Technology cope with it?
reduced growing period	not known

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

Comments:

There is a strong trend towards spontaneous adoption of the Technology

Comments on adoption trend: Large scale farmers run no-till demonstration days for other interested farmers and a number are trialing the technology. Neighbouring farmers are picking up the technology.

6.7 Strengths/ advantages/ opportunities of the Technology

Strengths/ advantages/ opportunities in the land user’s view
Time saving (less machine houres are needed to cultivate the farm)
Moisture conservation minimises crop failures
Much cheaper than conventional farming
Carbon fixation How can they be sustained / enhanced? More trees and less cultivation

Strengths/ advantages/ opportunities in the compiler’s or other key resource person’s view
Wheat and barley is produced without irrigation.
Improved organic matter
Improved water infiltration
Weed suppression How can they be sustained / enhanced? Ensuring permanent ground cover
Gain de temps (moins d heures pour les machines nécessaire)

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?
Poor market for equipment	Establish a market association.
Difficulties in purchasing equipment	Create a shopping center
More herbicides are required in rainy years, especially before sowing (several sprays)	Reduced to a minimum but more than for conventional plowing. If it does not rain after harvest, it is not necessary to treat with a herbicide and seeding can be done directly.
It takes three years to fully complete the system	Continued adaptation

Weaknesses/ disadvantages/ risks in the compiler’s or other key resource person’s view	How can they be overcome?
High costs if new equipment is needed (particularly established brands) but less than half of the costs for conventional tillage. equipment	Encourage local production and regulation of prices or subsidising input purchase.
During wet years more herbicides are needed, especially before planting (several sprayings)	Spray use is minimal more than conventional tillage. If after the harvest there are no more rains during the dry season, there is no application of herbicides needed and direct planting can be done.
Takes more than three years to fully establish	Needs continuous adaptation.

7.2 References to available publications

Title, author, year, ISBN:

Farm Management Handbook, Jaetzold and Schmidt. 1983.

Available from where? Costs?

Ministry of Agriculture

Title, author, year, ISBN:

Erosion Hazard assessment in the Ewaso Ng'iro basin of Kenya: application of GIS, USLE and EUROSEM/ Mati. 1999.

Available from where? Costs?

NRM3