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)

Scaling-up SLM practices by smallholder farmers (IFAD)

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

Uganda Landcare Network (ULN) - Uganda

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

Comments:

Application of animal manure improves the soil organic matter content, hence improving soil fertility.

2.1 Short description of the Technology

Definition of the Technology:

Application of animal manure on citrus trees (citrus sinensis) for improving soil productivity. Every beginning of season (March and August) 40 kg of animal manure are applied, 60 cm away from the tree trunk, using the ring method to improve soil fertility for increased yields and farm income.

2.2 Detailed description of the Technology

Description:

Use of animal manure is a recommended agronomic practice for soil fertility enhancement in agro-ecosystems. Animal manure application contributes to the build-up of soil organic matter and supplies most of the required nutrients, both of which ultimately improve soil health and productivity. Additionally, manure improves the soil’s water holding capacity, improves soil structure, resulting into improved water infiltration and reduced runoff.

Animal manure is applied on citrus trees at the Green Valley Enterprise farm located in Adjumani District found in Northern Uganda. The farm lies on a gentle slope in an area with predominantly sandy soils. This area experiences a bimodal rainfall pattern with an annual average of 1000 mm. The farm is strategically located close to River Adidi, which is used to provide water for irrigation during the dry months. The purpose of animal manure application on the citrus trees is to increase soil fertility and health, thus improving fruit quality and quantity. Since the soils on the farm are sandy, the land user needs to have a good soil fertility and water management plan in place.

At the beginning of every cropping season, 70 bags of animal manure from cows, each weighing about 100 kg are bought and applied on over 111 citrus trees planted on an acre of land. The citrus trees are a mixture of Washington navel and Hamlin, planted at a spacing of 6×6 m. Before application, the animal manure is collected, heaped and left to decompose under shade at the owner’s kraal for 4 months. At the farm, the manure is applied using the ring method, that is, 60 cm radius from the tree trunk and covered with grass mulch. Forty (40) kg of the manure is applied per tree per season. Application of the animal manure on one acre is estimated to cost UGX 540,000, while maintenance costs are estimated to be UGX 50,000 per season.

At this farm, animal manure application has increased citrus fruit yields up to seven folds. When covered with grass mulch it improves soil moisture retention, hence the farmer is able to have two major harvests annually. In addition, the trees on which manure is applied are more tolerant to dry spells. The main disadvantages of use of animal manure are intensive labour requirement for handling, and variability in manure quality depending on the source.

2.3 Photos of the Technology

2.4 Videos 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:

• through land users' innovation

Comments (type of project, etc.):

Land user started applying manure 10 years ago after realizing low yields without the use of any fertilizers on his crops.

3.1 Main purpose(s) of the Technology

• improve production
• reduce, prevent, restore land degradation
• create beneficial economic impact

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

3.3 Has land use changed due to the implementation of the Technology?

Comments:

The land use has not changed since application of animal manure, the oranges were grown 10 years ago.

3.4 Water supply

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

• mixed rainfed-irrigated

Comments:

During the dry season, water is pumped from a stream that flows through the farm to irrigate the citrus trees .

3.5 SLM group to which the Technology belongs

• integrated soil fertility management

3.6 SLM measures comprising the Technology

3.7 Main types of land degradation addressed by the Technology

Comments:

Application of animal manure enhances soil micro biomass

3.8 Prevention, reduction, or restoration of land degradation

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

• prevent land degradation
• restore/ rehabilitate severely degraded land

4.1 Technical drawing of the Technology

4.2 General information regarding the calculation of inputs and costs

Specify how costs and inputs were calculated:

• per Technology area

other/ national currency (specify):

Ug Shillings (UGX)

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

3650.0

4.3 Establishment activities

	Activity	Timing (season)
1.	heaping of manure	Twice annually
2.	transporting	Twice annually
3.	loading and offloading	Twice annually
4.	manure application	Twice annually

Comments:

The animal manure is applied twice annually, application is done at the beginning of the season, that is in March and September.

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	Heaping manure	heaps	20.0	2000.0	40000.0	100.0
Labour	Transporting	heaps	20.0	5000.0	100000.0	100.0
Labour	Application	acre	1.0	50000.0	50000.0	100.0
Fertilizers and biocides	animal manure	bags	70.0	5000.0	350000.0	100.0
Total costs for establishment of the Technology					540000.0
Total costs for establishment of the Technology in USD					147.95

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

the land user bore all the costs

4.5 Maintenance/ recurrent activities

	Activity	Timing/ frequency
1.	collecting and heaping manure	Twice
2.	transporting	Twice
3.	application of manure	Twice

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	collecting	heap	10.0	5000.0	50000.0	100.0
Labour			1.0
Total costs for maintenance of the Technology					50000.0
Total costs for maintenance of the Technology in USD					13.7

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

Costs are borne by land user

Comments:

When it comes to application of animal manure, most of the costs are borne by the land user.

4.7 Most important factors affecting the costs

Describe the most determinate factors affecting the costs:

Quantities of the manure

5.1 Climate

5.2 Topography

Indicate if the Technology is specifically applied in:

• not relevant

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.

The soils according to the farmer are very poor.

5.4 Water availability and quality

Is water salinity a problem?

No

Is flooding of the area occurring?

Yes

Regularity:

episodically

Comments and further specifications on water quality and quantity:

sometimes it rains and the stream fills up causing flooding but this doesn't happen every season

5.5 Biodiversity

Comments and further specifications on biodiversity:

He is growing a number of crops on his farm (tomatoes, sugar cane, citrus and bananas), on the farm there is also a woodlot.

5.6 Characteristics of land users applying the Technology

Indicate other relevant characteristics of the land users:

He is an ex soldier who retired into farming and he has a number of on-farm income generating activities.

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

• customary

Land use rights:

• communal (organized)

Water use rights:

• communal (organized)

Comments:

This land tenure system land is owned communally

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

Climate and disaster risk reduction

6.2 Off-site impacts the Technology has shown

Specify assessment of off-site impacts (measurements):

No off site impacts have been observed, however, continuous application of animal manure due to runoff can lead to eutrophication of streams

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
annual rainfall		decrease	well

Climate-related extremes (disasters)

Other climate-related extremes (disasters)

other (specify)	How does the Technology cope with it?
Dry spells	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)?

Comments:

The land user attests that benefits surpass both establishment and maintenance costs

6.5 Adoption of the Technology

• single cases/ experimental

6.6 Adaptation

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

No

6.7 Strengths/ advantages/ opportunities of the Technology

Strengths/ advantages/ opportunities in the land user’s view
Animal manure increases the quantity and quality of the citrus
It increases the water holding capacity
It improves soil fertility

Strengths/ advantages/ opportunities in the compiler’s or other key resource person’s view
It is improves agro-ecosystem functioning
increases farm income
improves food security of family

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?
If not proper covered with soil or mulch, nutrients can easily be eroded	cover it properly or apply beneath the soil
manure is not readily accessible	outsource from different farmers

Weaknesses/ disadvantages/ risks in the compiler’s or other key resource person’s view	How can they be overcome?
it is slow in action hence easily affected by weather	it is applied on perennial crops
May contain excess salts

7.1 Methods/ sources of information