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)

Preventing and Remediating degradation of soils in Europe through Land Care (EU-RECARE )

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

University of Padova (UNIPD) - Italy

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

1.5 Reference to Questionnaire(s) on SLM Approaches (documented using WOCAT)

2.1 Short description of the Technology

Definition of the Technology:

Buffer vegetation of agricultural land bordering to prevent nonpoint surface water pollution and soil erosion

2.2 Detailed description of the Technology

Description:

Vegetated buffer strips are agricultural areas with permanent vegetation designed to prevent surface water pollution and minimize soil erosion. In the Veneto region they are generally used along streams, canals and roads and can be composed of grass, hedges, trees or their combination. Buffer strips were a major component of agricultural landscape that has been replaced by intensive monoculture practices by increasing tillable areas. In recent years, the re-introduction of buffer zones in the Venetian plain (and generally in the whole territory of the region) has been supported as an agri-environmental measure for a sustainable land management.

Purpose of the Technology: Vegetated buffer strips, recently promoted by the regional government, are an efficient and economical way to improve surface water quality by agricultural nonpoint source pollution. Farmers take advantage of using buffer strips to help control soil erosion and sediment loss, stabilize riverbanks and reduce flood damage to crops. The continuous soil cover and diversification of habitats improve agroecosystem biodiversity and diversification of farmers income.

Establishment / maintenance activities and inputs: Vegetated buffer strips are generally composed of a shrub or tree belt of 1 m combined with an herbaceous band of 5 m, usually placed on the sides of cultivated fields in order to maximise their depuration efficacy as well as ensure crop production. Their function to reduce water pollution is optimal if arranged along a water course in order to intercept suspended solids and sediment-bound nutrients.

Natural / human environment: Adopting vegetated buffer strips achieves several environmental benefits with a low initial economic investment. The agroecosystem biodiversity is improved by the creation of continuous buffers that provide food, nesting cover, shaded environment and connecting corridors from one habitat to another to wildlife species, while the continuous soil cover with herbaceous and woody plants enhances soil protection and below-ground biodiversity. Water resources benefit from reduced nutrient supply and sediments that cause excessive growth of algae and diminish oxygen level of the water. Vegetated buffer strips, thanks to the maintenance and differentiation of species in the territory, enhance the quality of life through the improvement of agricultural landscape.

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:

• during experiments/ research

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:

No

Comments:

Major land use problems (compiler’s opinion): Soils in the low Venetian plain of the Veneto region generally suffer from a loss of soil organic matter (SOM) that is strongly affected by their natural texture and climatic conditions. Moreover, in the last 50 years intensive tillage practices contributed to a further SOM decrease, estimated at 0.02-0.58 t/ha/y of carbon. The introduction of monoculture worsened the agro-ecosystem habitats and reduced soil biodiversity.

Major land use problems (land users’ perception): Decrease of productivity and the need of higher inputs of fertiliser.

3.4 Water supply

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

• mixed rainfed-irrigated

Comments:

Water supply: rainfed, full irrigation

3.5 SLM group to which the Technology belongs

• cross-slope measure

3.6 SLM measures comprising the Technology

Comments:

Main measures: vegetative measures

Type of vegetative measures: aligned: -linear

3.7 Main types of land degradation addressed by the Technology

Comments:

Main type of degradation addressed: Wr: riverbank erosion, Bh: loss of habitats, Hp: decline of surface water quality

Secondary types of degradation addressed: Wt: loss of topsoil / surface erosion

Main causes of degradation: soil management (lack of organic input with fertilizations), population pressure (High demand for agricultural products and competition for land in densely populated area)

Secondary causes of degradation: crop management (annual, perennial, tree/shrub) (crop monoculture instead of crop rotation), deforestation / removal of natural vegetation (incl. forest fires) (mechanisation)

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

Comments:

Main goals: prevention of land degradation

Secondary goals: mitigation / reduction of land degradation

4.1 Technical drawing of the Technology

4.2 General information regarding the calculation of inputs and costs

other/ national currency (specify):

Euro €

If relevant, indicate exchange rate from USD to local currency (e.g. 1 USD = 79.9 Brazilian Real): 1 USD =:

0.8

4.3 Establishment activities

	Activity	Timing (season)
1.	Planning, mulching, soli preparation, fertilisation
2.	Purchase of seedlings and planting
3.	Grass strip establishment
4.	Machinery for mowing, pruning

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	Planning, mulching, soli preparation, fertilisation	ha	1.0	306.0	306.0
Labour	Planting	ha	1.0	2.5	2.5
Labour	Grass strip establishment	ha	1.0	152.0	152.0
Equipment	Machinery for mowing, pruning	ha	1.0	4000.0	4000.0
Plant material	Seedlings	ha	1.0	119.0	119.0
Fertilizers and biocides	Fertilizer	ha	1.0	14.0	14.0
Total costs for establishment of the Technology					4593.5
Total costs for establishment of the Technology in USD					5741.88

4.5 Maintenance/ recurrent activities

	Activity	Timing/ frequency
1.	Pruning, replanting, additional irrigation
2.	Grass strip maintenance

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	Pruning, replanting, additional irrigation	ha	1.0	127.0	127.0
Labour	Grass strip maintenance	ha	1.0	127.0	127.0
Total costs for maintenance of the Technology					254.0
Total costs for maintenance of the Technology in USD					317.5

4.7 Most important factors affecting the costs

Describe the most determinate factors affecting the costs:

Establishment costs (purchase of seedlings and planting) are the most important. After the establishment of buffer strip, costs are less relevant due to little work required for maintenance.

5.1 Climate

5.2 Topography

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 low-medium
Soil drainage/infiltration is medium
Soil water storage capacity is medium

5.4 Water availability and quality

Comments and further specifications on water quality and quantity:

Ground water table: <5m a.s.l. (The area surrounding the Venice lagoon (1240 km2) is even below the sea level (down to -2 m) and currently cultivated due to land reclamation. As a result water table is kept artificially low)
Water quality (untreted): Good drinking water (groundwater) and for agricultural use only (surface water can be used for agricultural purposes but not as drinking water)

5.5 Biodiversity

Comments and further specifications on biodiversity:

High population density, infrastructures and intensive agriculture practices affect the state of 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 common / average land users

Difference in the involvement of women and men: Farmers in the Veneto region are traditionally males due to historical and cultural reasons.

Population density: 200-500 persons/km2

Annual population growth: 0.5% - 1%

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 use rights:

• individual

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

Water cycle/ runoff

Soil

Biodiversity: vegetation, animals

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	increase or decrease	How does the Technology cope with it?
annual temperature		increase	well

Climate-related extremes (disasters)

Meteorological disasters

	How does the Technology cope with it?
local rainstorm	well

Climatological disasters

	How does the Technology cope with it?
drought	not well

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

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

• 51-90%

Comments:

50% of land user families have adopted the Technology with external material support

Comments on acceptance with external material support: On average it was estimated that, among farmers adopting the technology, ca. half of them benefited of incentives.

50% of land user families have adopted the Technology without any external material support

Comments on spontaneous adoption: On average it was estimated that, among farmers adopting the technology, ca. half of them benefited of incentives.

6.7 Strengths/ advantages/ opportunities of the Technology

Strengths/ advantages/ opportunities in the compiler’s or other key resource person’s view
protects soil from water erosion How can they be sustained / enhanced? long-term maintenance of buffer zones and soil cover
protects surface water quality How can they be sustained / enhanced? combination with other sustainable technologies (e.g. reduction of pesticides). Spread over larger areas
enhances agro-ecosystem biodiversity How can they be sustained / enhanced? improvement of connecting corridors between habitats
diversifies farmer's production How can they be sustained / enhanced? improve farmers' education
little costs compared to environmenmtal benefits How can they be sustained / enhanced? support farmers on decision making

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?
sometimes difficult to adjust crop production requirements with buffer strip occupation of space	support farmers on decision making

Weaknesses/ disadvantages/ risks in the compiler’s or other key resource person’s view	How can they be overcome?
time-dependent buffer performance	Monitoring saturation-effect conditions in the medium, long-term
low efficacy if the technology is maintained in the short-term	improve effectiveness of subsidies to keep the technology in the long-term; increase farmers awareness on soil and water benefits

7.1 Methods/ sources of information

7.2 References to available publications

Title, author, year, ISBN:

Programma di sviluppo rurale per il veneto 2007-2013, Regione Veneto, 2007. Dipartimento Agricoltura e Sviluppo Rurale.