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

ISRIC World Soil Information (ISRIC World Soil Information) - Netherlands

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

Soil Conservation Office of Yongchun (SCOY) - China

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

Fujian Soil and Water Conservation Office (Fujian Soil and Water Conservation Office) - China

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:

Rehabilitation of degraded hillsides through the establishment of fruit trees on slope-separated orchard terraces, with bahia grass planted as protective groundcover.

2.2 Detailed description of the Technology

Description:

In this case study orchards were established between 1991 and 1992 on degraded and unproductive hillsides (wasteland), with slopes of 12-45%. This was achieved by constructing level beds on the contour, mainly as continuous slope-separated orchard terraces, but in some cases as individual planting platforms. Terrace construction was generally undertaken by hand using hoes and shovels.

Purpose of the Technology: A typical terrace has a 4-5 m wide bed and a 1.0-1.5 m high riser. Commonly, a raised earth lip (0.3 m high) is constructed on the terrace edge to retain rainwater. The terrace riser walls are not protected. Even before terrace construction there was little topsoil and in some places the upper subsoil had been lost to erosion. The establishment of fruit trees (lychee, Litchi chinensis and longan, Dimocarpus longan) therefore required deep planting holes (1 m3), filled with organic matter/manure, into which seedlings were planted. In subsequent years additional large quantities of organic matter/manure were applied in circular trenches to the side of the trees, succeeding trenches being gradually further away as the trees grew. Bahia grass (Paspalum notatum) was planted for SWC purposes as a cover crop, to stabilise terrace risers and to improve soil fertility. It has not been used for fodder in this case. The germination rate of bahia grass seeds is comparatively low; therefore instead of direct seeding, nurseries were established to produce seedlings. The bahia grass seedlings were transplanted onto the terrace risers and beds (leaving a space around each fruit tree) and on the hillside slopes between the terraces. The grass grew and spread quickly, restoring a protective vegetative cover following terrace construction.

Natural / human environment: The primary overall purpose of the technology was to rehabilitate degraded hillsides through the planting of economically valuable fruit trees. Terracing reduces soil erosion while retaining most of the rainwater. The application of organic matter creates improved rooting conditions, while restoring and maintaining soil fertility. The bahia grass further provides protective groundcover preventing splash erosion, increasing surface roughness, and thereby slowing down runoff velocity, while contributing to the restoration of the soil’s biological, chemical and physical properties. Irrigation ditches dug along the terraces help to reduce erosion further. This project was planned by SWC specialists: around 6,000 families were allocated orchard plots and provided with seedlings at a subsidised price.

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:

• less than 10 years ago (recently)

2.7 Introduction of the Technology

Specify how the Technology was introduced:

• through projects/ external interventions

Comments (type of project, etc.):

The technology comes from the soil conservation theory books and accumulated experiences over years.

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

Land use mixed within the same land unit:

Yes

Specify mixed land use (crops/ grazing/ trees):

• Agroforestry

Comments:

Crop: bahia grass
Tree and shrub cropping: lychee, Litchi chinensis and longan, Dimocarpus longan

Major land use problems (compiler’s opinion): Degraded and unproductive hillside slopes (wasteland), with low and declining soil fertility, subject to severe soil erosion
(sheet, rill, gully and mass movement) during periods of heavy and prolonged rainfall.

Major land use problems (land users’ perception): Low fruit yield and little income after consideration of input.

Problems / comments regarding forest use: The farmers\' consciousness of soil conservation are gradually improved and their ability of forest protection are also increased.

Forest products and services: timber, fruits and nuts, nature conservation / protection

Constraints of wasteland (before SWC)

Forest/ woodlands: Also nature conservation / protection

3.4 Water supply

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

• mixed rainfed-irrigated

3.5 SLM group to which the Technology belongs

• improved ground/ vegetation cover

• hillside stabilizing and restoration

3.6 SLM measures comprising the Technology

Comments:

Main measures: agronomic measures, vegetative measures, structural measures

Secondary measures: management measures

3.7 Main types of land degradation addressed by the Technology

Comments:

Main type of degradation addressed: Wt: loss of topsoil / surface erosion, Wg: gully erosion / gullying, Wm: mass movements / landslides, Cn: fertility decline and reduced organic matter content

Main causes of degradation: deforestation / removal of natural vegetation (incl. forest fires), land tenure (land subdivision)

Secondary causes of degradation: over-exploitation of vegetation for domestic use, other human induced causes (specify) (agricultural causes), poverty / wealth (lack of captial), education, access to knowledge and support services (lack of knowledge)

3.8 Prevention, reduction, or restoration of land degradation

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

• reduce land degradation

Comments:

Main goals: mitigation / reduction of land degradation

4.1 Technical drawing of the Technology

4.2 General information regarding the calculation of inputs and costs

Specify currency used for cost calculations:

• USD

4.3 Establishment activities

	Activity	Timing (season)
1.	2.On each terrace one line of fruit trees was established. Deep planting	winter of 1991
2.	2.Fruit tree seedlings were planted. Spacing between trees was	spring of 1992
3.	3.Bahia grass was transplanted onto the terraced hillside	spring of 1992
4.	Terraces were constructed by hand.Soil was excavated from the upper portion of the terrace and used to build up the lower portion behind the terrace riser wall to create a level platform (bed). Part of the excavated soil was used to build a terrace lip.	winter of 1991
5.	land preparation for the grass planting	winter of 1991
6.	hill closure	Nov. 1999

4.4 Costs and inputs needed for establishment

	Specify input	Unit	Quantity	Costs per Unit	Total costs per input	% of costs borne by land users
Labour	Voluntary and paid	ha	1.0	840.0	840.0	100.0
Plant material	Bahia transplants	ha	1.0	435.0	435.0
Plant material	Fruit tree seedlings	ha	1.0	350.0	350.0	60.0
Fertilizers and biocides	fertilizer	ha	1.0	145.0	145.0	100.0
Fertilizers and biocides	compost/manure	ha	1.0	70.0	70.0	100.0
Total costs for establishment of the Technology					1840.0
Total costs for establishment of the Technology in USD					1840.0

If land user bore less than 100% of costs, indicate who covered the remaining costs:

NA

Comments:

Duration of establishment phase: 24 month(s)

4.5 Maintenance/ recurrent activities

	Activity	Timing/ frequency
1.	2.Digging trenches by the side of the fruit trees and filling with organic
2.	prune, fertilize, pest control for the fruit trees of Longan and Litchi	spring, autumn and winter /3 times/year
3.	grass plantation, fertilizaion	spring and summer /3 times/year
4.	Filling any gaps in the bahia grass.
5.	In the first 1–2 years maintenance also involves replacing any fruit tree
6.	Weeding around the trees.
7.	Repairing terraces damaged by storms.	after raining season/4 times/year
8.	regular inspection and management	Jan. 1991 / 6 times/year

4.6 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	Voluntary and paid	ha	1.0	144.0	144.0	100.0
Plant material	Bahia transplants	ha	1.0	58.0	58.0	100.0
Plant material	Fruit tree seedlings	ha	1.0	36.0	36.0	100.0
Fertilizers and biocides	fertilizer	ha	1.0	84.0	84.0	100.0
Fertilizers and biocides	biocides	ha	1.0	10.0	10.0	100.0
Fertilizers and biocides	compost/manure	ha	1.0	44.0	44.0	100.0
Total costs for maintenance of the Technology					376.0
Total costs for maintenance of the Technology in USD					376.0

If land user bore less than 100% of costs, indicate who covered the remaining costs:

NA

Comments:

Machinery/ tools: hoe, shovel

For establishment: 200 person days for terrace construction, 100 for digging pits and planting trees, 50 for transplanting
bahia grass. For maintenance: 15 person days for terrace maintenance, 40 for digging organic matter trenches, 5 for
bahia grass gap filling. The SWC department produces bahia transplants in nurseries; these are then distributed to the
farmers.

4.7 Most important factors affecting the costs

Describe the most determinate factors affecting the costs:

steep slope and lots of civil work.

5.1 Climate

5.2 Topography

Indicate if the Technology is specifically applied in:

• not relevant

5.3 Soils

5.6 Characteristics of land users applying the Technology

Indicate other relevant characteristics of the land users:

Population density: 200-500 persons/km2

Annual population growth: < 0.5%

5% of the land users are very rich and own 10% of the land.
40% of the land users are rich and own 35% of the land.
50% of the land users are average wealthy and own 45% of the land.
5% of the land users are poor and own 10% of the land.

Off-farm income specification: off-farm income is mainly from factory labour

5.7 Average area of land used by land users applying the Technology

5.8 Land ownership, land use rights, and water use rights

Land ownership:

• state

Land use rights:

• leased

6.1 On-site impacts the Technology has shown

Socio-economic impacts

Production

Income and costs

Other socio-economic impacts

Socio-cultural impacts

Ecological impacts

Water cycle/ runoff

Soil

Other ecological impacts

6.2 Off-site impacts the Technology has shown

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

• > 50%

If available, quantify (no. of households and/ or area covered):

6593 Households (56 percent of the area)

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

• 11-50%

Comments:

88% of land user families have adopted the Technology with external material support

5755 land user families have adopted the Technology with external material support

Comments on acceptance with external material support: estimates

12% of land user families have adopted the Technology without any external material support

784 land user families have adopted the Technology without any external material support

Comments on spontaneous adoption: estimates

There is a little trend towards spontaneous adoption of the Technology

Comments on adoption trend: There is a slow spontaneous adoption of the technology, based on the fact that bahia grass is remarkably helpful in controlling soil erosion.

6.7 Strengths/ advantages/ opportunities of the Technology

Strengths/ advantages/ opportunities in the compiler’s or other key resource person’s view
An increase in vegetative cover reduces erosion, improves the ecological environment, increases soil fertility and organic matter content, improves How can they be sustained / enhanced? Control weeds and fertilize well.
The combination of structural and vegetative measures has a quick impact on reducing soil erosion and preventing mass movement on hillside slopes How can they be sustained / enhanced? ncrease the vegetative cover and improve soil properties through the addition of plenty of organic matter/manure.
Improved land management practices bringing back degraded wasteland sites into economic production How can they be sustained / enhanced? Demonstration and extension while also improving the enabling legislative environment.
Editors’ comments: In China, large areas of degraded hillsides have been brought back into production by constructing terraces on which fruit trees are planted. In this example the technology has been further improved through planting of bahia grass, as a groundcover, to restore the structure and increase the soil organic matter. On a much smaller scale a case of degraded land conversion is presented from Tajikistan.

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?
Orchard development can extend too far up the slope, onto steep mountain sides	Reserve the upper slopes for forest, and restrict orchards to the lower slopes.
Potential competition for water and nutrients between the bahia grass	Clean weed (bahia grass included) in the area immediately around the fruit tree.
Increase in farm income becomes very positive only after fruit trees start	Consider replacing bahia grass with a more palatable perennial fodder plant to improve farm income in the short term.
Low germination rate of bahia seeds	Expand experimental studies (seed treatments, cuttings, taking splits, etc).

7.1 Methods/ sources of information

7.2 References to available publications

Title, author, year, ISBN:

Acceptance Materials of Shan Huxi Small Watershed.. 2001.

Available from where? Costs?

Soil Conservation Office of Yongchun County