1.2 Contact details of resource persons and institutions involved in the assessment and documentation of the Technology

1.3 Conditions regarding the use of data documented through WOCAT

When were the data compiled (in the field)?

10/07/2018

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:

Establishment of blueberries cultivation in plant pots on soils with bad physical or chemical properties. The technology improves productivity and generates income for the farmers. The implementation requires drip irrigation system.

2.2 Detailed description of the Technology

Description:

The cultivation of blueberries in plant pots has been successfully implemented in the area of Živinice municipality - on soils of poor composition, physical properties and low fertility. Many efforts have been made to introduce a conventional production of blueberries but did not bring the expected results due to the bad soil quality.
The soil (Stagnogley) is poorly permeable to water, so even moderate rainfalls cause water remain on the surface, making it difficult or completely impossible to cultivate the land. In addition, soils of high acidity are required for the successful cultivation of blueberries. Planting blueberries in a conventional way is often carried out on soils where the acidity is increased by various additives (often with wood sawdust or similar wooden materials). Practical experience has showed that in the course of time the acidic properties of the soil in the zone of the development of the blueberry root change, i.e. soil/substrate acidity decreases due to resorption processes on the primary soil. Todays' market offers multi-component substrates for the cultivation of blueberries, which, in addition to their adequate acidity, have other properties necessary for a good development of the blueberry's root system. These substrates were also used in some localities of the municipality of Živinice in conventional or modified conventional planting of blueberries (on embankments using soil and commercial substrates). This technique did not yield satisfactory results, probably because of the loss of substrate properties (decrease of soil acidity) due to resorption to the nearby original soil. The substrate keeps its desirable properties much longer if it is put into the planting where blueberries are being planted.
The basic advantage of this technology is its ability to be applied on practically all soils of poor agricultural-productive properties, including heavily degraded and low water permeable soils. Even if the cost for introducing the technology is relatively high, its maintenance is reduced to standard agro-technology (fertigation, plant protection, weed control, harvesting, etc.) due to the type of crop. In the Živinica municipality, technology is currently being applied only in the cultivation of blueberries. The results have shown that the cultivation of blueberries in plant pots provides a yield of about 15 t/ha, which is about 5 t/ha (50%) higher than in the conventional cultivation of the blueberries. The farm on which the technology is described cultivated blueberries of the Duke variety on 8 ha whose fruits are sold at prices between 3.50 and 4.50 USD/kg. The estimated life span of the blueberries grown in plant pots under full yield is 15 years.
Regarding the technical characteristics of the SLM technology, the plant pots with blueberry plantings are placed in rows of low trenches with a distance of 100-120 cm between the plant pots (from center to center); and 250-300 cm between rows. The plant pots (60 to 90 liters) are placed in later formed embankments (trussing with the original soil), thus ensuring the stability of the plant pots (e.g. from wind) and more favorable temperature and humidity conditions of the substrate in the plant pots. The technology implies possession and use of the drip irrigation system, using the water collected in accumulations and distributed from tanks situated on the farm.
The technology offers relatively innovative use of infertile or degraded soils for the intensive and profitable production of blueberries or other crops, primarily berry fruits. Positive experiences from the implementation of the technology on about 8 ha, on the observed farm resulted in the replacement of the earlier conventionally planted and grown blueberries in the wider area of Živinice. By expanding blueberries cultivation in wider areas, the municipality is considered among the leading blueberry producers in the Balkans.

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:

2014

2.7 Introduction of the Technology

Specify how the Technology was introduced:

• through land users' innovation

Comments (type of project, etc.):

The technology was introduced by the endorsement of the Municipality.

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:

The land, where the described technology is applied, is characterized by bad soil physical properties (heavy soils, poorly permeable to water, even moderate rainfalls do not allow movement of workers and mechanization).

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

The land was previously used for the production of grass mixtures for cattle feeding.

3.3 Further information about land use

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

• full irrigation

Number of growing seasons per year:

• 1

3.4 SLM group to which the Technology belongs

• Crop 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)

Comments:

In the Živinice municipality the technology of blueberry cultivation in plant pots is evenly spread on about 8 ha, with plans to replace most of the conventional blueberry plantations with this type of cultivation. There are also some plans to move blueberry production in plant pots to infertile lands formed on landfills of coal mining which are quite spread in the region.

3.6 SLM measures comprising the Technology

3.7 Main types of land degradation addressed by the Technology

Comments:

The technology could be applied on practically all kinds of degraded lands if there is a possibility to provide (preferably) drip irrigation.

3.8 Prevention, reduction, or restoration of land degradation

Specify the goal of the Technology with regard to land degradation:

• adapt to land degradation

4.1 Technical drawing of the Technology

4.2 Technical specifications/ explanations of technical drawing

The proposed distance between containers is 1,0 - 1,2 m and between rows 2,5 - 3,0 m. The containers should be covered with original soil to about 3/4 of their height (stability, better temperature and moisture conditions in the substrate).
Drip irrigation system is an integral part of the technology. On the spot where the technology was described, water for drip irrigation is provided from small artificial basin (around 300 cubic meters; see sketch and photos) connected by pump with tank (3,000 L) raised above ground level, everything constructed inside the farm. The rainfall water is collected and directed to the reservoir by a network of drainage channels constructed on the farm earlier.

4.3 General information regarding the calculation of inputs and costs

Specify how costs and inputs were calculated:

• per Technology area

Specify currency used for cost calculations:

• US Dollars

4.4 Establishment activities

	Activity	Type of measure	Timing
1.	Purchasing of plantings	Vegetative	Any time
2.	Purchase of substrate	Other measures	Any time
3.	Ground leveling (if necessary)	Structural	Any time
4.	Filling the containers with substrate and planting blueberries in containers	Agronomic	Any time
5.	Formation of rows of containers	Management	Any time
6.	Trussing of rows of containers by original soil	Management	Any time
7.	Installation of drip irrigation system	Management	Any time

Comments:

Preferably blueberry plantings are 3 or 2 years old, in plant pots (containers) not smaller than 2 liters.

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	Filling the containers with substrate and planting of blueberries	Person day	28.0	29.25	819.0	100.0
Labour	Forming and trussing the rows of containers (embankments)	Person day	30.0	29.25	877.5	100.0
Equipment	(Mecahnization for ground leveling - optional)	Hour	4.0	70.2	280.8	100.0
Plant material	Blueberry plantings in containers (2 or 3 L plant pots)	Piece	2800.0	5.26	14728.0	100.0
Other	Plastic containers (65 l)	Piece	2800.0	5.47	15316.0	100.0
Other	Drip irrigation system (including water tank and pump)	ha	1.0	13460.0	13460.0	100.0
Other	Multi-functional substrate for blueberries	L	182000.0	0.07	12740.0	100.0
Total costs for establishment of the Technology					58221.3

Comments:

Ground leveling with use of mechanization is not necessary on plain or relatively plain terrains.
The cost of 2 or 3 years old blueberry planting in small (2 l) container include delivery (on farm) costs.
The costs of plastic plant pots (65 l) and substrate for blueberries include delivery (on farm) costs.
The price of drip irrigation system include delivery (on farm) and installation costs. It includes water reservoir (3,000 l), pump for water transfer from the basin to the reservoir and construction of well for pump in the basin. The costs of the irrigation system does not include construction of the basin for collection of water (it was constructed earlier, by previous land user), but one can calculate the costs of such structure (basin: L - 15 m, W - 5 m, D - 4 m) under local conditions. Current estimate of costs for such construction in Živinice municipality is around 4,000 USD. The total length of drip system pipeline per ha for the presented technology is 6,000 m.
Under the concrete conditions, the land user handles land leased from the municipality. The land rental charges are not included in the costs of establishing or maintaining the technology since they are, in this case, favorable (103 USD/ha/year) and can vary considerably under other conditions.

4.6 Maintenance/ recurrent activities

	Activity	Type of measure	Timing/ frequency
1.	Checking and maintenance of embankments (rows of containers)	Management	Once a year
2.	Maintenance of drip irrigation system	Management	During the growing season
3.	Maintenance of blueberry orchard	Agronomic	During the growing season

Comments:

During the exploitation of the technology ordinary agro-technical measures (plant protection, applied in growing of blueberries) are applied and they are not listed here as the technology maintenance activities.

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	Checking and maintenance of embankments (rows of containers)	Person day	10.0	29.25	292.5	100.0
Equipment	Maintenance of drip irrigation system	ha	1.0	344.08	344.08
Other	Maintenance of blueberry orchard (lump sum)	ha	1.0	20644.57	20644.57
Total costs for maintenance of the Technology					21281.15

Comments:

The costs of maintenance of the blueberry orchard include all agro-technical measures and works (fertigation, plant protection, weed control, harvest) applied in growing of blueberry (Duke variety) in plant pots. The farm provide water free of charge, from its own drip irrigation system.

4.8 Most important factors affecting the costs

Describe the most determinate factors affecting the costs:

The prices of blueberry plantings, containers, and multi functional substrate for blueberries on the market.

5.1 Climate

5.2 Topography

Indicate if the Technology is specifically applied in:

• not relevant

5.3 Soils

5.4 Water availability and quality

Is water salinity a problem?

No

Is flooding of the area occurring?

Yes

Regularity:

episodically

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:

• communal/ village

Land use rights:

• leased

Water use rights:

• open access (unorganized)

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

Socio-cultural impacts

Ecological impacts

Soil

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
seasonal temperature	summer	increase	very well
seasonal rainfall	summer	decrease	very well

Comments:

The technology also copes very well with annual rainfalls which, due to gradual climate change, are characterized with extreme fluctuations (long dry periods, mostly during the growing season, and with intense short time rainfalls, mostly during early spring and late autumn).

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%

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
Much more profitable agricultural production compared to previous use of the land characterized by heavy, less fertile soils unfovorable for most of agricultural crops growing.
Decreased workload compared to conventional cultivation of blueberries.

Strengths/ advantages/ opportunities in the compiler’s or other key resource person’s view
Possibility to organize profitable agricultural production on less fertile, non fertile or degraded lands.
Possibilities to apply the technology at the landfill sites of many coal mines in the region.

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?
Relatively high costs of the technology introduction due to high prices of the inputs for blueberry cultivation in plant pots.	Cultivation in plant pots could be applied with other crops whose plantings are cheaper and which does not need specific, multi component, expensive substrate.
Necessity of drip irrigation system.

Weaknesses/ disadvantages/ risks in the compiler’s or other key resource person’s view	How can they be overcome?
Relatively short period of the exploitation of the technology (an expert estimate: 15 years).	Producing of the goods (fruits in this case) with high market prices.
Due to the high introduction costs the technology could be reasonably applied in growing of highly priced crops.

7.1 Methods/ sources of information