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)

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

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

Concerted thinking on common problems of water scarcity [Russian Federation]

Testing and disseminating of a water-saving technology like drip irrigation

• Compiler: Anatoly Zeyliger
• 06/30/2009 midnight

2.1 Short description of the Technology

Definition of the Technology:

Drip irrigation systems gradually apply water into the zone around the stem of the irrigated plant.

2.2 Detailed description of the Technology

Description:

Drip irrigation experiments have been carried out on the left bank of the Volga River. Economic problems, regional reforms and shortage of investments in municipal water supply infrastructure led to problems of water quality and quantity of available water for industrial, agricultural and domestic uses. The situation is getting worse with the effects of regional climate change. Especially during summer, the study region has problems with shortage of water not just for irrigation of agricultural fields, or gardens, but also for domestic use. In such situations, more efficient water use is required through introducing water-saving technologies. One of these well-known irrigation technologies is drip irrigation. Small quantities of water are directly delivered to the plants by a pipe system. This technology is the most effective from the point of view of green water use efficiency. Correct application of drip irrigation technology drastically decreases water losses by runoff and evaporation as well as deep percolation to soil depths inaccessible to root uptake. Water can be provided to plants from surface water reservoirs, water tanks or groundwater wells through a network of plastic pipes (under low water pressure) and delivered through a water drip system. The flow rate can be adjusted to the needs of the particular stage of plant growth, to soil hydraulic properties and to the prevailing weather conditions. The low-pressure supply system can be operated using a header tank or directly by using a water pump to raise water from nearby surface water storage or a groundwater well.

The aim of this technology is to show the effectiveness of freshwater usage in irrigating vegetables (tomatoes, peppers) at the scale of subsidiary plots or small irrigation systems (several ha in size) in a region with scarce water resources both as a water-saving measure and an eco-friendly alternative to furrow irrigation. Owing to the relative narrowness of the drip feeders, they are prone to blockages from organic matter, mineral particles or dissolved compounds. To prolong the lifetime of the drip irrigation equipment, it needs to be maintained using preventive and remedial measures such as visual inspection of pipes and water supply sources, filter installations as well as flushing the tubes and drip emitters to remove deposits.

In general, a number of medium-scale farmers are using furrow irrigation of vegetables as their main agricultural activity. Drip-irrigation technology was tested with four families and compared to furrow irrigation in order to compare water consumption (water use efficiency as rate of yield and volume of water used for irrigation) as well as its impact on soil degradation and ground-water. The water use efficiency of drip irrigation is 3 - 10 times higher than that of furrow irrigation, depending on local conditions and qualification of furrow irrigators. Furthermore, this technology avoids water loss through soil surface evaporation, percolation to deep soil layers and ground water, and runoff into near water bodies (causing pollution by chemicals used for agricultural activities at irrigated fields like fertilizers and plant protectors). The negative impact of furrow irrigation on soil productivity is usually very high due to soil erosion.

Experimentations and demonstration of drip irrigation were done at two levels. The first level involved large-scale farms with the aim of demonstrating the considerable gains to be made through the efficient use of water, through the development of representative experimental plots on fields used for furrow irrigation by two farmers. The second level was developed for small-scale farmers and householders to demonstrate the efficiency of water saving in gardening.

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:

Russian Federation

Region/ State/ Province:

Saratov Region

Further specification of location:

Marksovsky District

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:

Technology now is in testing mode.

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 projects/ external interventions

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

Cropland

• Annual cropping

Number of growing seasons per year:

• 1

Specify:

Longest growing period in days: 120, Longest growing period from month to month: May - Sept

Comments:

Major land use problems (compiler’s opinion): Scarcity of fresh water resources, change of local seasonal climate patterns related to change in rainfall, scarcity of freshwater resources, soil salinization, disappearance of some species of flora and fauna
Major land use problems (land users’ perception): Scarcity of fresh water resources, change of local seasonal climate patterns related to change in rainfall, scarcity of freshwater resources, soil salinization, disappearance of some species of flora and fauna
Type of cropping system and major crops comments: Some changes in the cropping system can be seen as there are several years of water shortage can be observed.
Livestock is grazing on crop residues

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

• irrigation management (incl. water supply, drainage)
• water diversion and drainage

3.6 SLM measures comprising the Technology

structural measures

• S11: Others

3.7 Main types of land degradation addressed by the Technology

soil erosion by water

• Wt: loss of topsoil/ surface erosion

chemical soil deterioration

• Cs: salinization/ alkalinization

water degradation

• Hp: decline of surface water quality

Comments:

Main causes of degradation: disturbance of water cycle (infiltration / runoff) (Disappearing of water sources produced by spring runoff (ponds). However, this disturbance is natural, appear due to changes in nature. Snow melted water (in the absence of frosted topsoil) infiltrate), inputs and infrastructure: (roads, markets, distribution of water points, other, …) (The water distribution system has no possibilities equally distribute water in village. People living at end of village have no water for domestic use, in beginning all water resouces were taken)
Secondary causes of degradation: change of seasonal rainfall (Quantity of rainfalls decreased)

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):

Schematic diagram of an experimental plot with drip irrigation at the large-scale farm level, showing the location of access tubes for soil moisture monitoring
Location: Romashki village. Pallasovsky District
Date: 01/06/2008

Technical knowledge required for field staff / advisors: moderate
Technical knowledge required for land users: moderate
Main technical functions: saving water resources
Secondary technical functions: increase in organic matter, promotion of vegetation species and varieties (quality, eg palatable fodder)

Structural measure: irrigation system
Construction material (other): plastic tubes, water tank
Slope (which determines the spacing indicated above): 1.00%

Author:

Semenov V.

4.2 General information regarding the calculation of inputs and costs

other/ national currency (specify):

ruble

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

35.0

4.3 Establishment activities

4.4 Costs and inputs needed for establishment

Comments:

Duration of establishment phase: 3 month(s)

4.5 Maintenance/ recurrent activities

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

Comments:

Costs are given for 1 ha of land.

4.7 Most important factors affecting the costs

Describe the most determinate factors affecting the costs:

The pipe system is the most determining factor affecting the costs.

5.1 Climate

5.2 Topography

5.3 Soils

5.4 Water availability and quality

5.5 Biodiversity

5.6 Characteristics of land users applying the Technology

Indicate other relevant characteristics of the land users:

Population density: < 10 persons/km2
Annual population growth: < 0.5%
70% of the land users are poor and own 80% of the land.
30% of the land users are poor and own 20% of the land.

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:

• communal/ village

Land use rights:

• communal (organized)
• individual

Water use rights:

• communal (organized)
• 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

Other socio-economic impacts

Socio-cultural impacts

Ecological impacts

Water cycle/ runoff

Soil

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)

Climate-related extremes (disasters)

Climatological 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)?

Comments:

Even in first year the labour time is much less compare to the labour needed for irrigation by furrows.

6.5 Adoption of the Technology

• > 50%

Comments:

100% of land user families have adopted the Technology with external material support
4 land user families have adopted the Technology with external material support
The system is at an experimental phase.
There is a moderate trend towards spontaneous adoption of the Technology
People are interested in the technology and are watching their benefits on the experimental plots

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:

Zeiliguer, A., G. Sokolova, V. Semeonv, O. Ermolaeva. Results of field experimentations at 2008 to grow tomatoes under drip irrigation at Pallasovsky District of Volgograd Region.

Available from where? Costs?

Proceeding of conference at MSUEE. 2008, p. 45-56.