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:

Introducing the leguminous crops in crop rotation to improve soil fertility, as field plot set temporarely outside the crop rotation. Crop rotation with legumes is an alternative to rotation containing only cereals.

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.
Crop rotation with legumes (such as alfalfa) is is generally limited to a maximum period of time of 5 to 6 years, providing a plant succesion of spring (generally maize, soybean, sunflower) and winter crops (such as wheat, rapeseed, barley). The technology consists of a crop rotation in which one parcel/field plot is cultivated with perennials legumes and set temporarily outside the crop rotation for 4-5 years. During this period, the field plot cultivated with perennials legumes recovers its fertility by improving the soil aeration status, water infiltration and storage rate and soil aggregate stability. Leguminous crops play an important role in crop rotation because it favors the fixation of atmospheric nitrogen and bind it into the soil with a significant increase in soil fertility. Crop rotation with legumes reduces the biocides use because it breaks the pest cycles and weeds. Leguminous crops also improve the soil structure and its stability, increases water permeability, soil biodiversity and soil quality. At the same time, crop rotation with legumes represents a supplemental income source for land users. After alfalfa baling, this is sold to the nearby livestock breeders.
Crop rotation with legumes has many advantages, such as increase of soil agro-ecosystem biodiversity, reduction of chemical inputs, reduction of soil structure degradation processes, increase of nutrient availability and consequently increase of soil fertility, and increase of farm income. Also in the land user's view, crop rotation with legumes may improve land productivity, even though it increase the costs of inputs and management for crop establishment, and for this reason the land user's awareness is low.

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 plot smaller than 0.1 km2.

Map

×

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 land users' innovation

3.1 Main purpose(s) of the Technology

• improve production
• reduce, prevent, restore land degradation

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

Cropland

• Annual cropping

Annual cropping - Specify crops:

• cereals - barley
• cereals - maize
• fodder crops - alfalfa

Number of growing seasons per year:

• 1

Comments:

crop rotation of 5-6 years, with one field plot set temporarely outside the crop rotation cultivated with perennial legumes (alfalfa)

3.4 Water supply

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

• rainfed

3.5 SLM group to which the Technology belongs

• rotational systems (crop rotation, fallows, shifting cultivation)
• integrated soil fertility management

3.6 SLM measures comprising the Technology

agronomic measures

• A2: Organic matter/ soil fertility

Comments:

Introducing of a perennial crop (alfalfa) in a crop rotation with cereals

3.7 Main types of land degradation addressed by the Technology

chemical soil deterioration

• Cn: fertility decline and reduced organic matter content (not caused by erosion)

physical soil deterioration

• Pu: loss of bio-productive function due to other activities

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 consists of a crop rotation in which one parcel/field plot is cultivated with perennial crop (alfalfa) and set temporarily outside the crop rotation for 4-5 years. During this period, the field plot cultivated with perennial crop recovers its fertility by improving the soil aeration status, water infiltration and storage rate and soil aggregate stability.
After completing one rotational cycling plan, the field plot cultivated with perennial crop will be set in another plot from the crop rotation, until all the plots of the rotation plan will be cultivated with perennial crop.

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

4.3 Establishment activities

4.4 Costs and inputs needed for establishment

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:

Certified seed material and costs with alfalfa cutting and baling are the most determining factors affecting the costs.

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 farmer in the year of 2008.

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:

• individual, not titled
• individual, 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

6.3 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

• single cases/ experimental

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