Technologies

Seeding lyme grass for land reclamation and to protect the soil against wind erosion [Iceland]

technologies_5756 - Iceland

Completeness: 88%

1. General information

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

Key resource person(s)

SLM specialist:

Runólfsson Sveinn

Soil Conservation Service of Iceland

Iceland

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. Description of the SLM Technology

2.1 Short description of the Technology

Definition of the Technology:

Lyme grass is is sown by machines for revegetation in sandy areas to increase the vegetation cover, to capture and stabilise the moving sand. The extensive root system allows the plant to grow in sandy underground and thus protects the soil from extensive wind erosion.

2.2 Detailed description of the Technology

Description:

Lyme grass (Leymus arenarius) is a native pioneer plant in Iceland. Due to its spreading, rhizomatous habit it survives and spreads in sand and even in blown sand. The sand can be captured and stabilised, and vegetation cover increases. In this way, new vegetation cover comprising other plants can further develop. Therefore, this plant is used on degraded land with sandy soils to restore and hinder it from further erosion. Wind erosion can be minimized or stopped. Lyme grass protects and prevents the soil from being blown away and from causing damage on- and offsite. For these reasons, it has been applied in various locations throughout Iceland.

Lyme grass is seeded in with machinery in early spring or late autumn over a complete area. Before planting, the seeds have to be treated in order to go through the drilling machine. These seeds are harvested with specialized machinery in September. In order to promote growth and spread, the plants are supported with fertilizer in the four years after application. Normally this activity is carried out in early spring. The use of imported fertilizer is necessary, but quite expensive. Because lyme grass is sensitive to grazing, a fence is often built to protect the area from livestock. In more advanced restored land, seasonally controlled grazing in the summer with sheep can take place again. Sandy areas remain protected because of their vulnerability to wind erosion.

Once planted, lyme grass spreads by itself through rhizomes, and by producing large amounts of seeds every year. It is winter hardy - and copes well with droughts because of its deep roots. Lyme grass is highly appreciated because it brings clear long-term improvement onsite and provides offsite benefits. Onsite, Lyme grass improves soil and vegetation cover and minimizes evaporation from the soil surface. In addition, surface runoff is minimized. Less sediment is transported with the wind and damage to the neighbouring field or private and public infrastructure is minimised offsite. Furthermore, lyme grass can also store large quantities of carbon. Because of its many positive features, this technology is being adopted in many places.

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:

Iceland

Region/ State/ Province:

South of Iceland

Further specification of location:

Thorlákshöfn and Hekla area

Specify the spread of the Technology:
  • evenly spread over an area
If precise area is not known, indicate approximate area covered:
  • 10-100 km2
Is/are the technology site(s) located in a permanently protected area?

Yes

If yes, specify:

Fences protect the Lyme grass from grazing by sheep.

Comments:

Lyme grass is very sensitive to grazing.

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:
  • during experiments/ research
  • through projects/ external interventions

3. Classification of the SLM Technology

3.1 Main purpose(s) of the Technology

  • reduce, prevent, restore land degradation
  • protect a watershed/ downstream areas – in combination with other Technologies
  • preserve/ improve biodiversity
  • reduce risk of disasters

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

Land use mixed within the same land unit:

No


Grazing land

Grazing land

Extensive grazing:
  • Ranching
Intensive grazing/ fodder production:
  • Cut-and-carry/ zero grazing
Animal type:
  • horses
  • sheep
Is integrated crop-livestock management practiced?

No

Products and services:
  • meat
  • whool

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)
Land use mixed within the same land unit:

No

Other

Other

Specify:

Protected area

Remarks:

Because the lyme grass is very sensitive to grazing, grazing is excluded in a first step. After reclamation, the land can be used again for controlled grazing during the summer months. Sandy areas remain protected because of their vulnerability to wind erosion. For rehabilitation, lyme grass can be combined with birch tree planting.

3.4 Water supply

Water supply for the land on which the Technology is applied:
  • rainfed
Comments:

There are large deposits of groundwater in the area around Thorlákshöfn.

3.5 SLM group to which the Technology belongs

  • improved ground/ vegetation cover
  • ecosystem-based disaster risk reduction

3.6 SLM measures comprising the Technology

vegetative measures

vegetative measures

  • V2: Grasses and perennial herbaceous plants
Comments:

Could be combined with birch tree planting.

3.7 Main types of land degradation addressed by the Technology

soil erosion by wind

soil erosion by wind

  • Et: loss of topsoil
  • Ed: deflation and deposition
  • Eo: offsite degradation effects

3.8 Prevention, reduction, or restoration of land degradation

Specify the goal of the Technology with regard to land degradation:
  • reduce land degradation
  • restore/ rehabilitate severely degraded land

4. Technical specifications, implementation activities, inputs, and costs

4.1 Technical drawing of the Technology

Technical specifications (related to technical drawing):

completly cover ground

seeded with machinery

seed has to be treated in order to go through the drilling machinery

100 kg per ha and add fertilizer

Author:

Sveinn Runólfsson

4.2 General information regarding the calculation of inputs and costs

Specify how costs and inputs were calculated:
  • per Technology area
Indicate size and area unit:

Project costs in Thorlákshöfn

other/ national currency (specify):

ISK

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

138.0

4.3 Establishment activities

Activity Timing (season)
1. seeding and topdressing with fertelizer in one operation early spring time, possible late autumn
2. harvest seeds by specialized machinery 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
Other Seeding lyme grass ha 1.0 203539.0 203539.0
Total costs for establishment of the Technology 203539.0
Total costs for establishment of the Technology in USD 1474.92

4.5 Maintenance/ recurrent activities

Activity Timing/ frequency
1. spreading fertelizer early spring time once a year

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
Fertilizers and biocides repeated ferilizer 2. year ha 1.0 19000.0 19000.0
Fertilizers and biocides repeated ferilizer 3. year ha 1.0 19000.0 19000.0
Fertilizers and biocides repeated ferilizer 4. year ha 1.0 19000.0 19000.0
Total costs for maintenance of the Technology 57000.0
Total costs for maintenance of the Technology in USD 413.04

4.7 Most important factors affecting the costs

Describe the most determinate factors affecting the costs:

workers, seeds, fertilizer, machinery

5. Natural and human environment

5.1 Climate

Annual rainfall
  • < 250 mm
  • 251-500 mm
  • 501-750 mm
  • 751-1,000 mm
  • 1,001-1,500 mm
  • 1,501-2,000 mm
  • 2,001-3,000 mm
  • 3,001-4,000 mm
  • > 4,000 mm
Agro-climatic zone
  • sub-humid
  • semi-arid

5.2 Topography

Slopes on average:
  • flat (0-2%)
  • gentle (3-5%)
  • moderate (6-10%)
  • rolling (11-15%)
  • hilly (16-30%)
  • steep (31-60%)
  • very steep (>60%)
Landforms:
  • plateau/plains
  • ridges
  • mountain slopes
  • hill slopes
  • footslopes
  • valley floors
Altitudinal zone:
  • 0-100 m a.s.l.
  • 101-500 m a.s.l.
  • 501-1,000 m a.s.l.
  • 1,001-1,500 m a.s.l.
  • 1,501-2,000 m a.s.l.
  • 2,001-2,500 m a.s.l.
  • 2,501-3,000 m a.s.l.
  • 3,001-4,000 m a.s.l.
  • > 4,000 m a.s.l.
Indicate if the Technology is specifically applied in:
  • not relevant

5.3 Soils

Soil depth on average:
  • very shallow (0-20 cm)
  • shallow (21-50 cm)
  • moderately deep (51-80 cm)
  • deep (81-120 cm)
  • very deep (> 120 cm)
Soil texture (topsoil):
  • coarse/ light (sandy)
Soil texture (> 20 cm below surface):
  • coarse/ light (sandy)
Topsoil organic matter:
  • low (<1%)

5.4 Water availability and quality

Ground water table:

< 5 m

Availability of surface water:

medium

Water quality (untreated):

good drinking water

Water quality refers to:

ground water

Is water salinity a problem?

Yes

Specify:

in sites along the coast, soils/ sand can be saline

Is flooding of the area occurring?

No

5.5 Biodiversity

Species diversity:
  • low
Habitat diversity:
  • low

5.6 Characteristics of land users applying the Technology

Sedentary or nomadic:
  • Sedentary
Market orientation of production system:
  • commercial/ market
Off-farm income:
  • 10-50% of all income
Relative level of wealth:
  • rich
Individuals or groups:
  • groups/ community
  • employee (company, government)
Level of mechanization:
  • mechanized/ motorized
Gender:
  • women
  • men
Age of land users:
  • middle-aged

5.7 Average area of land used by land users applying the Technology

  • < 0.5 ha
  • 0.5-1 ha
  • 1-2 ha
  • 2-5 ha
  • 5-15 ha
  • 15-50 ha
  • 50-100 ha
  • 100-500 ha
  • 500-1,000 ha
  • 1,000-10,000 ha
  • > 10,000 ha
Is this considered small-, medium- or large-scale (referring to local context)?
  • medium-scale

5.8 Land ownership, land use rights, and water use rights

Land ownership:
  • state
  • communal/ village
Land use rights:
  • communal (organized)
  • individual
Water use rights:
  • open access (unorganized)
Are land use rights based on a traditional legal system?

Yes

5.9 Access to services and infrastructure

health:
  • poor
  • moderate
  • good
education:
  • poor
  • moderate
  • good
technical assistance:
  • poor
  • moderate
  • good
employment (e.g. off-farm):
  • poor
  • moderate
  • good
markets:
  • poor
  • moderate
  • good
energy:
  • poor
  • moderate
  • good
roads and transport:
  • poor
  • moderate
  • good
drinking water and sanitation:
  • poor
  • moderate
  • good
financial services:
  • poor
  • moderate
  • good

6. Impacts and concluding statements

6.1 On-site impacts the Technology has shown

Socio-economic impacts

Water availability and quality

drinking water availability

decreased
increased

drinking water quality

decreased
increased
Other socio-economic impacts

land price/lease

decreased
increased

Socio-cultural impacts

health situation

worsened
improved
Comments/ specify:

Less sediment in the air during windstorms due to increased ground cover and therefore fewer health consequences.

cultural opportunities

reduced
improved

recreational opportunities

reduced
improved

community institutions

weakened
strengthened

national institutions

weakened
strengthened

SLM/ land degradation knowledge

reduced
improved

Ecological impacts

Water cycle/ runoff

water quantity

decreased
increased

water quality

decreased
increased

harvesting/ collection of water

reduced
improved

surface runoff

increased
decreased

groundwater table/ aquifer

lowered
recharge

evaporation

increased
decreased
Soil

soil moisture

decreased
increased

soil cover

reduced
improved

soil loss

increased
decreased

nutrient cycling/ recharge

decreased
increased

soil organic matter/ below ground C

decreased
increased
Biodiversity: vegetation, animals

Vegetation cover

decreased
increased

biomass/ above ground C

decreased
increased

plant diversity

decreased
increased

animal diversity

decreased
increased

habitat diversity

decreased
increased
Climate and disaster risk reduction

emission of carbon and greenhouse gases

increased
decreased
Comments/ specify:

The lyme grass can store large amounts of carbon.

wind velocity

increased
decreased

6.2 Off-site impacts the Technology has shown

water availability

decreased
increased

downstream flooding

increased
reduced

downstream siltation

increased
decreased

groundwater/ river pollution

increased
reduced

buffering/ filtering capacity

reduced
improved

wind transported sediments

increased
reduced

damage on neighbours' fields

increased
reduced

damage on public/ private infrastructure

increased
reduced

impact of greenhouse gases

increased
reduced

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
How does the Technology cope with it?
local windstorm well
Climatological disasters
How does the Technology cope with it?
drought well

6.4 Cost-benefit analysis

How do the benefits compare with the establishment costs (from land users’ perspective)?
Short-term returns:

positive

Long-term returns:

very positive

How do the benefits compare with the maintenance/ recurrent costs (from land users' perspective)?
Short-term returns:

positive

Long-term returns:

very positive

6.5 Adoption of the Technology

  • > 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
Seeding lyme grass increases the vegetation cover, stabalize the sand and sucesfully protects against wind erosion.
Strengths/ advantages/ opportunities in the compiler’s or other key resource person’s view
Seeding lyme grass increases the vegetation cover, stabalize the sand and successfully protects against wind erosion.
The creeping horizontal roots allows the lyme grass to spread, establish and stabilize the sand dunes and can therefore protect infrastructure.
The long roots allow the lyme grass in contrast to other plants to survive in sandy grounds.
Lyme grass sequests enourmous amount of carbon.

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?
A lot of expensive imported fertelizer is needed for this technology. Instead of imported fertilizer, manure can be used (but this way more expensive).
Lyme grass is highly sensitve to grazing.
Weaknesses/ disadvantages/ risks in the compiler’s or other key resource person’s view How can they be overcome?
Lyme grass is highly sensitive to grazing. The lyme grass is protected by building fences or implementing controlled grazing.
A lot of expensive imported fertelizer is needed for this technology.

7. References and links

7.1 Methods/ sources of information

  • field visits, field surveys
  • interviews with land users
  • interviews with SLM specialists/ experts
When were the data compiled (in the field)?

01/08/2019

7.3 Links to relevant online information

Title/ description:

Webpage Soil Conservation Service of Iceland

URL:

https://land.is/english/

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