1.2 Contact details of resource persons and institutions involved in the assessment and documentation of the Technology

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

2.1 Short description of the Technology

Definition of the Technology:

Teff row planting is an agronomic practice used to place Teff seeds (very small size) in rows of about 20cm apart and at predetermined depth with sufficient cover of firm soil.

2.2 Detailed description of the Technology

Description:

Teff is a staple crop in Ethiopia and used to make 'Injera'. Teff is commonly planted in broadcast technique with a seed rate of 25-30 kg per hectare. This practice results in high competition for nutrient and water, lodging and low productivity (on average 1 ton/ha). Teff row planting is a newly adopted planting method applied for small size seeds of Teff grain. The row planting technique reduces the seed rate from 25kg/ha to 5-8 kg per hectare, ease the weed management, reduce lodging problem, and lessen plant density and then competition for sunlight, nutrient and water. It is practiced on Teff growing soils except on heavy clay soils or Vertisols where it is difficult to prepare defined rows due to the extreme swelling nature of the soil under near saturation moisture condition. However, under optimum soil moisture (45-50%) it is possible to place seeds in row using manual seed drill in black soils with clay texture. The technique is not perfectly working on stony fields. Seed application is possible using locally available plastic bottles with needle size opening to drop seeds, and newly manufactured seed drill pulled by one person.

Purpose of the Technology: The main purpose to practice Teff row planting is to reduce plant density or population per unit area and thereby increase productivity. It also aim to reduce the lodging problem. Additional advantage of row planting for small grain crop, there is some extent of labor reduction for weeding to some extent.

Establishment / maintenance activities and inputs: Teff row planting technique applies on fine seed bed after 3-5 tillage frequency using local ard plough called maresha pulled by pair of oxen. Once the seed bed is finely prepared, first using local adopted application tools like plastic bottles or hand metering the farmer prepares seed rate of 5-8 kg per hectare mixed with proportional sand (approximately seed to sand ratio of 1:3) - it is difficult to manage uniform application and even distribution by applying the seed alone. He applies along the row and step on to cover the seed and compact it. Similarly, fertilizer is applied in the same way. Second option, after the preparation of fine seed bed, seed application is facilitated using drum type manual seed drill (of weight 21 kg) manufactured by Bahir Dar Agricultural Mechanization and Food Science Research Center (BAMFSRC) having 3 rows of 20cm apart, average depth and width of planting furrow equals to 3.6 cm and 6.4 cm and operating at field capacity of 0.06ha/hr. The drill can apply 3-6 kg/ha seed rate and pulled by one person. At tillering stage urea is top dressed. The technique requires 50-60 person days per hectare to apply seed and fertilizer using hand metering/bottles compared to 2-4 person days per hectare using drum type seed drill. Labor requirement for weeding is also reduced by using row planting than broadcast method.

Natural / human environment: Teff grows on wider environment of altitude range 1800-2600 m above sea level. It performs well with annual rainfall of 750-850 mm and temperature of 10-27 degree Celsius. In fact, there are varieties with short growing period adapted under low rainfall conditions. The row planting technique applies commonly on red clay soils having high water holding capacity. The technique potentially applies on slopes ranging from 0-10% with low stone cover.

Teff row planting using manual seed application or hand metering technique can easily be practiced by households having large family labor. Farm households who used the manual seed drill of drum type should have the capacity to afford the seed drill and able to buy fertilizer. Teff is produced for food and market. It has a good price for sale.

Although teff has high market price in country as well as an emerging export market potential, it is produced annually by subsistence farmers. The land holding is small to meet their family food demands. Their wealth condition ranges poor to average characterized with low agricultural advisory, market and water supply services and inadequate infrastructures. Energy supply is relied on biomass energy. Rural education and health services are improved. Rural unemployment and landless populations are at high rates. In general, the well being of the rural people is under poor condition.

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:

• less than 10 years ago (recently)

2.7 Introduction of the Technology

Specify how the Technology was introduced:

• during experiments/ research

Comments (type of project, etc.):

Teff row planting technique was started in research stations 10 to20 years ago. The technique is extended to large number of farmers' field since 2011 through the scale up program of the Ministry of Agriculture. For instance, in 2013 the Amhara region planned to cover 20-30% of teff growing fields.

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

Cropland

• Annual cropping

• teff

Number of growing seasons per year:

• 1

Specify:

Longest growing period in days: 180Longest growing period from month to month: July to December

Grazing land

• Livestock is grazing on crop residues

Comments:

Major land use problems (compiler’s opinion): Major land use problems are soil erosion by water, soil nutrient depletion, gully erosion, steep slope cultivation, land fragmentation, and inappropriate runoff drainage practices like drainage ditches on cultivated fields.

Major land use problems (land users’ perception): Land users commonly specify soil erosion by water, shallow soil depth or soil depletion, low productivity of the soil, scarcity of water, and shortage of grazing land or pasture.

3.4 Water supply

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

• mixed rainfed-irrigated

3.6 SLM measures comprising the Technology

agronomic measures

• A1: Vegetation/ soil cover

Comments:

Type of agronomic measures: mineral (inorganic) fertilizers

3.7 Main types of land degradation addressed by the Technology

physical soil deterioration

• Pc: compaction
• Pk: slaking and crusting

Comments:

Main causes of degradation: soil management (Teff fields are tilled 4-5 times and heavily trampled/compacted by livestock before sowing)

Secondary causes of degradation: Heavy / extreme rainfall (intensity/amounts) (Heavy rainfall cause high runoff and then erosion. It also create sealing effect on the soil surface)

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

4.1 Technical drawing of the Technology

Technical specifications (related to technical drawing):

A sketch describing Teff row planting

Location: Aba Gerima, Debre Mewi, Debre Yacob, Gosh Learning. West Gojam/ Amhara Region

Technical knowledge required for field staff / advisors: high (Because of its small seed size, the method requires knowledge of the soil where it performs well and at what depth the seed is placed so that there is high germination and minimizing lodging problem)

Technical knowledge required for land users: high (The land user has to develop capacity and skills on the specific soil and slope conditions where row planting performs well, spacing of rows, depth of furrow and seed quantity per unit area.)

Main technical functions: improvement of surface structure (crusting, sealing), increase of biomass (quantity), Reduction of plant population and competition effect

Secondary technical functions: improvement of topsoil structure (compaction)

Agronomic measure: Row planting
Material/ species: Teff seeds
Quantity/ density: 3-6kg/ha
Remarks: Spacing between rows is 20cm

Mineral (inorganic) fertilizers
Material/ species: Urea and DAP
Quantity/ density: 100 kg/ha
Remarks: for each type of fertilizer

Author:

Gizaw Desta, WLRC

Date:

2014-8-15

4.2 General information regarding the calculation of inputs and costs

other/ national currency (specify):

ETH BIRR

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

20.0

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)

Comments:

Machinery/ tools: Seed drill, local plough, sickle, hoe

The costs are calculated on hectare basis covered by row planting method. The costs apply for February/March 2014

4.7 Most important factors affecting the costs

Describe the most determinate factors affecting the costs:

The implementation costs are subject to change due to fluctuation in seasonal labor demand, price of fertilizer, price of iron to construct seed drill, and inflation

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:

Difference in the involvement of women and men: Women play a role of applying seeds either using locally made plastic bottles or using the manual drum type seed drill to pull. However, men are involved in both in tillage and seeding practices.

Population density: 100-200 persons/km2

Annual population growth: 2% - 3%

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, titled

Water use rights:

• open access (unorganized)

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

Water cycle/ runoff

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)

Climate-related extremes (disasters)

Meteorological disasters

Climatological disasters

Other climate-related consequences

Other climate-related consequences

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:

Since the new technology (Teff row planting) requires high human labor while placing seeds using hand metering or plastic bottles (locally adopted) to apply the seeds, the land users perceived that the cost of labor is high and can not be affordable using family labor alone. Until they developed experience the return may be considered as slightly positive. However, if the land users adopt to use the manual drum type seed drill the return is very positive and positive as compared to the establishment and recurrent costs, respectively.

6.5 Adoption of the Technology

Comments:

There is a moderate trend towards spontaneous adoption of the Technology

Comments on adoption trend: The adoption is growing with extensive technical guidance and push from the research and extension services.

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:

(Unpublished Report, 2013): Technical Evaluation and Selection of Suitable Teff Seed Drill in Amhara Region, by team of Researchers in ARARI, Bahir Dar Mechanization and Food Science research Center and Lecturers from Bahir Dar University

Title, author, year, ISBN:

Dereje Gorfu and Eshetu Ahmed (unpublished). Crops and Agro-ecological Zones of Ethiopia. Ethiopian Institute of Agricultural Research

Title, author, year, ISBN:

http://www.worldbank.org/html/cgiar/newsletter/Sept97/10tef.html