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)

Decision Support for Mainstreaming and Scaling out Sustainable Land Management (GEF-FAO / DS-SLM)

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

Design and Research UZGIP Institute, Ministry of Water Resources (UzGIP) - Uzbekistan

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:

Сrop rotation Improvement through the introduction of legumes after harvesting winter wheat and green manure crops in order to reduce land degradation and increase the productivity of irrigated lands

2.2 Detailed description of the Technology

Description:

Secondary salinization, decrease in soil organic matter and elements of mineral nutrition of plants are the main indicators of degradation of irrigated arable lands in Uzbekistan. Poor crop rotation is one of the major causes of degradation. Crop rotation “wheat-cotton-wheat” is applied On farm fields: for several years in a row cotton has been cultivated after cotton, or wheat after wheat. After harvesting of winter wheat, plant residues are removed from the fields for economic needs. The field remains fallow since June. The bare land dries up, loses its structure and resistance to soil erosion. Salts from groundwater are pulled up and accumulate in the root zone, which leads to soil salinization and production decrease. Crops diversification improves the existing crop rotation by re-sowing after winter wheat legumes and crops as a green manure/ fertilizer. The improved crop rotation includes the following steps- " winter wheat-legumes (mash, beans) - green manure (rye, etc.) - cotton»: Next, the cycle repeats. The field is under vegetation all year round, unproductive evaporation from the soil surface is reduced, which slows down the development of secondary salinization processes. Plant residues of winter wheat, legumes and green manure plants plowed into the soil replenish humus reserves. The Technology allows to get two crops (wheat and legumes) during the year, which provides land users with additional income from re-culture and contributes to strengthening the country's food security.
Costs of inputs needed for establishment:
The cultivation of repeated crops and green manure is usual, as for other row crops, therefore, local land users are well aware of the methods of preparation and tillage of the technology for growing repeated crops. The Technology does not require large additional financial and labor costs and includes chiseling, harrowing, sowing, cutting irrigation furrows, irrigation, inter-row cultivation. Growing a second crop and green manure will require financial imputs for seed acquisition, sowing and crop care. However, the income received from the re-crop crop (mung bean, beans) is about 4 million Uzbek soums / ha, and fully covers these costs
Natural and human environment:
The technology has been tested on irrigated lands in various agro-climatic zones of Uzbekistan: Kashkadarya, Jizzakh region and in South Karakalpakstan (Beruni, Turtkul and Ellikkala regions). Technology received government support. According to the Decree of the President of the country in 2018, it is planned to place repeated crops of legumes after harvesting winter wheat for 374 thousand hectares. This technology is recommended for use in farms engaged in the cultivation of cotton and winter wheat, within all irrigated areas of the country. The use of irrigation equipment and other methods of an improved surface irrigation method saves the amount of irrigation water

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

Indicate year of implementation:

2002

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 projects/ external interventions

Comments (type of project, etc.):

The Technology is being implemented through projects aimed at improving land productivity. Currently, agricultural firms are providing assistance under an agreement with the farm through district khokimiyats (local executive authorities)

3.1 Main purpose(s) of the Technology

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

• The main objectives are to improve soil, crop yields and food production

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?

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

• Yes (Please fill out the questions below with regard to the land use before implementation of the Technology)

Comments:

no change

3.4 Water supply

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

• full irrigation

3.5 SLM group to which the Technology belongs

• rotational systems (crop rotation, fallows, shifting cultivation)
• improved ground/ vegetation cover
• integrated soil fertility management

3.6 SLM measures comprising the Technology

3.7 Main types of land degradation addressed by the Technology

Comments:

The deterioration of the soil chemical properties due to the secondary salinization is caused by natural conditions (arid climate, difficult groundwater outflow conditions) and anthropogenic impact (low efficiency of irrigation systems, inappropriate agricultural technology). Poor crop rotation (the alternation of two crops - “cotton - wheat”), low rates of organic fertilizers, harvesting of crop residues from the fields are the main reasons for the soil humus content and soil macro- and microfauna decrease.

3.8 Prevention, reduction, or restoration of land degradation

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

• reduce land degradation

Comments:

Vegetation cover and plant residues reduce evaporation from the soil and prevent secondary salinization. The use of plant residues and siderate helps to increase the content of soil organic matter and nutrients, forms the structure of the soil

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 unit

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 =:

3500.0

4.3 Establishment activities

	Activity	Timing (season)
1.	Winter wheat growing activities	October-June
2.	Bean and siderat re-cultivation activities	July-October
3.	Plowing, harrowing, levelling	June
4.	Sowing bean (mash)	The end of June - the beginning of July
5.	Crop care (cultivation with fertilizer, watering)	July-October
6.	Harvest	The end of October - the beginning of November
7.	Plant residues stocking	The end of October - the beginning of November
8.	Harrowing, levelling and sowing of siderates	The end of October - the beginning of November
9.	Siderat stocking	April
10.	Cotton Growing activities	April-October

Comments:

The Technology allows you to get 2 crops per year - wheat and mung bean / bean, which helps to strengthen food security. Sowing legumes after harvesting winter wheat must be completed no later than July 5, otherwise repeated crops will not have time to ripen. Siderat is grown to increase soil fertility (plowed into the soil before sowing cotton), and not for harvest. As a result of continuous crop cultivation, the soil surface is covered with vegetation throughout the year, which prevents the soil from drying out, wind erosion and secondary salinization.

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	Hired labor during the growing season (irrigation, crop care, harvesting)	USD/ha	1.0	474.2	474.2	100.0
Equipment	Use of machinery (tillage, sowing, cultivation, additional nutrition)	USD/ha	1.0	584.5	584.5	100.0
Plant material	Seeds (cotton, wheat, re-crop, green manure)	USD/ha	1.0	233.7	233.7	54.5
Fertilizers and biocides	Mineral fertilizers, manure, pesticides, defoliant	USD/ha	1.0	559.6	559.6	100.0
Total costs for establishment of the Technology					1852.0
Total costs for establishment of the Technology in USD					0.53

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

The cost of the seeds of the re-culture (mash) and green manure (winter rye) paid by the project

4.5 Maintenance/ recurrent activities

	Activity	Timing/ frequency
1.	Winter wheat growing activities	October-June
2.	Bean and siderat re-cultivation activities	July-October
3.	Plowing, harrowing, levelling	June
4.	Sowing bean (mash)	The end of June - the beginning of July
5.	Crop care (cultivation with fertilizer, watering)	July-October
6.	Harvest	The end of October - the beginning of November
7.	Plant residues stocking	The end of October - the beginning of November
8.	Harrowing, levelling and sowing of siderates	The end of October - the beginning of November
9.	Siderat stocking	April
10.	Cotton Growing activities	April-October

Comments:

Activities to maintain technology are no different from activities to launch Technology

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	Hired labor during the growing season (irrigation, crop care, harvesting)	USD/ha	1.0	474.2	474.2	100.0
Equipment	Use of machinery (tillage, sowing, cultivation, additional nutrition)	USD/ha	1.0	584.5	584.5	100.0
Plant material	Seeds (cotton, wheat, re-crop, green manure)	USD/ha	1.0	233.7	233.7	54.5
Fertilizers and biocides	Mineral fertilizers, manure, pesticides, defoliant	USD/ha	1.0	559.6	559.6	100.0
Total costs for maintenance of the Technology					1852.0
Total costs for maintenance of the Technology in USD					0.53

If you are unable to break down the costs in the table above, give an estimation of the total costs of maintaining the Technology:

2846.92

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

cost of seeds of re-culture and green manure paid by the Project

4.7 Most important factors affecting the costs

Describe the most determinate factors affecting the costs:

The highest costs relate to the use of machinery, including fuel and mineral fertilizers

5.1 Climate

5.2 Topography

Indicate if the Technology is specifically applied in:

• not relevant

Comments and further specifications on topography:

380 m above sea level

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.

Meadow soils, humus content in the arable layer is 0.77%, the content of mobile forms of nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium-N 7,2 P 9,4 K 160

5.4 Water availability and quality

Is water salinity a problem?

Yes

Specify:

Water suitable for irrigation

Is flooding of the area occurring?

No

Comments and further specifications on water quality and quantity:

Water in surface sources is polluted from discharges of drainage from irrigation fields

5.5 Biodiversity

Comments and further specifications on biodiversity:

the vegetation is represented by cultural plant species: cotton, wheat, vegetables, melons, perennial plantations, fruit and ornamental trees and shrubs

5.6 Characteristics of land users applying the Technology

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

Land use rights:

• leased

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

Soil

Biodiversity: vegetation, animals

6.2 Off-site impacts the Technology has shown

Specify assessment of off-site impacts (measurements):

The Technology does not have negative off-site impacts

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?
seasonal temperature	winter	increase	very well
seasonal temperature	spring	increase	well
seasonal temperature	summer	increase	well
seasonal temperature	autumn	increase	well
annual rainfall		decrease	not well

Climate-related extremes (disasters)

Meteorological disasters

	How does the Technology cope with it?
local hailstorm	not well

Climatological disasters

	How does the Technology cope with it?
heatwave	not well
drought	not well

Biological disasters

	How does the Technology cope with it?
insect/ worm infestation	not well at all

Other climate-related consequences

Other climate-related consequences

	How does the Technology cope with it?
extended growing period	very well
reduced growing period	moderately

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 benefits are already positive in the short term

6.5 Adoption of the Technology

• 11-50%

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

• 0-10%

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
Fast high income
The ability to produce food crops on the same area
Crop Production which is traditionally used in local culture

Strengths/ advantages/ opportunities in the compiler’s or other key resource person’s view
No special training for land users is required (only awareness raising), all activities are based on traditional knowledge
Quick income generation: up to 500 USD net income per hectare
Local resources and materials are used, no special equipment is required
Provides food production

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?
Need for additional irrigation water	Water conservation
The risk of delays with the sowing period (until July 5) and not to get the crop	Improve the organization of field work

Weaknesses/ disadvantages/ risks in the compiler’s or other key resource person’s view	How can they be overcome?
Lack of broad information on the costs and inputs of Technology	Awareness raising on the costs and benefits of technology on a larger scale
Need for additional irrigation water	Water conservation provides sufficient water for irrigation of re-crops and siderates (about 1200 m3 / ha)

7.1 Methods/ sources of information

7.2 References to available publications

Title, author, year, ISBN:

Practices And Technologies For Sustainable Use Of Irrigated And RainFed Lands Subject To Salinization And Drought T. Khamzina, T. Mukimov, A. Ismonov, G. Khasankhanova And U. Abdullayev, 2018, Tashkent

Available from where? Costs?

"Иклим узгариши шароитида ер ресурсларини баркарор бошкариш" в сборнике статей Республиканского научно-практического семинара