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)

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

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

1.4 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:

Direct drill (no-till) for arable cropping systems. Crop establishment with minimum soil disturbance.

2.2 Detailed description of the Technology

Description:

The technology is applied in Braila region and is located in north-eastern part of Romanian Plain. It has an agricultural area of 387,646 ha (of which 350,001 ha are arable land), and has specific geomorphologic, hydrological and climatic conditions which need to use ameliorative agricultural systems. Within Braila County are distinguished the following relief units: Calmatui Plain, part of the Braila Plain (51% from County area) and the Floodplains of Danube (Big Island of Braila), Siret, Buzau and Calmatui rivers (49% from County area).
Braila Plain is characterized by a specific micro-relief of Baragan type with large floodplains, poorly fragmented, with altitudes ranging between 20-25 m in the east part and 35-40 m to the west part, with soils mainly of chernozem type, formed on loess and loess deposits and which shows numerous small depression areas. Floodplains, areas adjacent to Danube, Siret, Buzau and Calmatui rivers are located at lower altitudes, ranging between 2-4 m and 13-15 m and are characterized by the presence of alluvial soils formed on river-limnic and alluvial deposits, with alternating of layers with different textures. According to United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification, Braila County is located in arid region with an average annual temperature of 10.9°C, long-term average annual precipitations (P) of 447 mm, potential evapotranspiration (ETP) of 705 mm (750-800 mm in dry years) and an average climatic water deficit of 258 mm (350-400 mm in dry years). The biophysical aridity index (P/ETP = 0.50-0.65) places the Braila region in area with moderate risk to desertification. Both intensive and extensive farming systems are practiced within Braila County. Intensive agriculture, characterized by high inputs and yield levels, is realized on large vegetal farms. On the other hand, extensive agriculture, with low input and yield levels, is practiced by farmers on small vegetal farms, and is so-called the semi-subsistent agriculture.
The direct drill (no-till) conservative tillage technology is an agronomic measure. It is practiced on medium to large size farms (from around 50 ha to more than 1000 ha) within the North-Eastern part of the Romanian Plain. Over the past years some farmers have changed their farming system from conventional to conservative. The main element of the technology is that the farmers use special agricultural machinery for direct seeding, and other tillage operations from conventional system, such as ploughing and disking, are not performed anymore. Also, under no-till farming system, the soil surface remains covered on 30% with plant residues from the pre-emergent crop.
The main purpose of the technology is to mitigate soil structure degradation due to less tillage passes on the land. The technology is applied on arable land with annual crops. The farmers have begun to adopt this technology due to reduction in fuel consumption and working hours. For this reason, the technology has economic advantages. The no-tillage system requires a special direct seeding machine, and this can be expensive. So, most of the farmers don't buy it on their own, but they rent the seeding machine from other farmers.
In the land user's view, the strengths of the technology are as follows: reduced fuel consumption, improved soil water regime and tillage of larger field areas with less personnel and less trafficability and workability. In addition, the weaknesses of the technology reported by the land user might be: difficulties in weeds and pests control due to spread of straw-borne diseases which can be countered by in-depth knowledge of biocides, and high investment costs for equipment purchase which can be met by application for non-reimbursable funds or renting the equipment from other farmers or agricultural contractors.

2.3 Photos of the Technology

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

Country:

Romania

Region/ State/ Province:

Braila

Further specification of location:

Braila

Specify the spread of the Technology:

• evenly spread over an area

If precise area is not known, indicate approximate area covered:

• < 0.1 km2 (10 ha)

Comments:

Documentation of the technology is based on examination of field plots smaller than 0.1 km2.

Map

×

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

Comments (type of project, etc.):

The technology was firstly implemented in the early 2000's and described by the Agricultural Research and Development Station of Braila (ARDS Braila) which is subordinated to the Academy of Agricultural and Forestry Sciences. The station ARDS Braila conducts research and development in the following subjects: irrigation systems, agricultural technologies and improvement and reclamation of salted soils.

3.1 Main purpose(s) of the Technology

• reduce, prevent, restore land degradation
• preserve/ improve biodiversity
• adapt to climate change/ extremes and its impacts

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

Cropland

• Annual cropping

Annual cropping - Specify crops:

• cereals - barley
• cereals - maize
• cereals - wheat (winter)

Number of growing seasons per year:

• 1

Comments:

Main crops (cash and food crops): winter wheat, winter barley, spring barley, maize

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

• minimal soil disturbance

3.6 SLM measures comprising the Technology

agronomic measures

• A3: Soil surface treatment

A3: Differentiate tillage systems:

A 3.1: No tillage

3.7 Main types of land degradation addressed by the Technology

physical soil deterioration

• Pc: compaction

3.8 Prevention, reduction, or restoration of land degradation

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

• reduce land degradation

4.1 Technical drawing of the Technology

Technical specifications (related to technical drawing):

The technology is done by special agricultural machinery for direct seeding, and other tillage operations from conventional system, such as ploughing and disking, are not performed anymore. In addition, the fertilizers are applied at the same pass. Also, under no-till farming system, the soil surface remains covered on 30% with plant residues from the pre-emergent crop. The main purpose of the technology is to mitigate soil structure degradation due to less tillage passes on the land.
The direct seeding machinery is equipped with rotary cleaners designed to prevent the seeds being placed without direct soil contact.
Direct sowing combined with 5-10 cm deep fertilization provides plant nutrients from the very first stages of their development leading to higher productivity. Fertilizers placed at 15-30 cm deep stimulate the roots to grow and provide the necessary nutrients throughout the growing season. This applies even in periods of drought since nutrients are absorbed in deep layers.

Author:

National Research and Development Institute for Soil Science, Agrochemistry and Environment (ICPA) - Romania

4.2 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:

• USD

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

4.12

4.4 Costs and inputs needed for establishment

Comments:

No initial investment needed, as for the machinery land users are working with agricultural contractors from the neighboring area or other land users that own the equipment.

4.5 Maintenance/ recurrent activities

4.6 Costs and inputs needed for maintenance/ recurrent activities (per year)

4.7 Most important factors affecting the costs

Describe the most determinate factors affecting the costs:

Costs are mostly affected by input costs (e.g. seeds, biocides). Costs do not include investment in the special agricultural machinery for direct seeding because the farmers rely on borrowing/leasing the equipment from other land users or agricultural contractors from the neighboring area.

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?

No

5.5 Biodiversity

5.6 Characteristics of land users applying the Technology

Indicate other relevant characteristics of the land users:

The technology was firstly implemented by the Agricultural Research and Development Station of Braila.

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
• individual, not titled

Land use rights:

• leased

5.9 Access to services and infrastructure

6.1 On-site impacts the Technology has shown

Socio-economic impacts

Production

Income and costs

Socio-cultural impacts

Ecological impacts

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

Climate-related extremes (disasters)

Meteorological disasters

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

• 1-10%

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

• 91-100%

Comments:

One land user has implemented the technology voluntary.

6.6 Adaptation

Has the Technology been modified recently to adapt to changing conditions?

No

6.7 Strengths/ advantages/ opportunities of the Technology

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

7.1 Methods/ sources of information

7.2 References to available publications

Title, author, year, ISBN:

"Lucrarea conservativa a solului intre traditie si perspectiva in agricultura durabila" (Conservative tillage of soil between tradition and perspective in sustainable agriculture), Elisabeta Dumitru et. al., 2005, ISBN 973-86587-9-9.