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)

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

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:

The process of creating grassed strips entails either planting or maintaining a vegetative strip (natural) with perennial species aligned along contour lines to reduce runoff and foster water infiltration into the soil.

2.2 Detailed description of the Technology

Description:

The plant species commonly used to create grassed strips in the Sahel in general and in Burkina Faso in particular include: Andropogon gayanus, A. ascinodis, Cymbopogon ascinodis, C. zizanioides or C. negritana (Vetiver). These species are found across both dry and wet areas, which means that the technology can be applied in several agroclimatic zones.
Grassed strips are biological barriers that control runoff and mitigate soil erosion on gently sloping land, while simultaneously providing farmers with fodder for livestock.
Where there is no natural, maintained strip, grass is planted along contour lines by direct sowing or transplanting. The number of rows per strip varies from 1 to 4. The strip must be fairly dense, with no gaps along its entire length. The spacing between two strips varies from 25 to 40 meters, depending on the slope and type of terrain. The main activities involved in creating grass strips are as follows:
Choosing the grass to be used:
The grass must have a root system strong enough to survive the dry season. It must also grow easily and quickly. For the purposes of this documentation, the grass used is Andropogon gayanus.

Layout:
Strips should be laid out perpendicular to the direction of runoff, following the contour lines.
Preparatory activities:
•Harvest Andropogon seeds in the dry season;
•Mix the seeds with damp sand for 12 to 24 hours;
•Stir the mixture to remove seed hairs.
Installation of grass strips:
•Determine contour lines on the ground and trace them with a pointed object (pickaxe, plough) so that you can locate them when planting.
• In July, sow the seeds in at least two rows, after preparing the soil (it is advisable to minimize ploughing), at the start of the rainy season at a rate of 6 kg/ha of seed. The number of rows per strip varies from one to four. Seeds are sown in staggered rows. Spacing is 10 cm between rows and 20-30 cm between plants in the same row.
The main inputs required to implement this technology include:
•Andropogon gayanus seeds;
•Sand
•Small tools (A-Frame or water tube level, pickaxe, shovel, cart, wheelbarrow, bucket, etc.).
Combined with organic soil improvers on the ground, or buried,to restore soil organic matter, this technology significantly impacts agricultural production. Land users claim that it offers a number of opportunities, as it helps reduce land degradation and is also a source of animal feed or can be used as biomass for composting or mulching.

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:

Burkina Faso

Region/ State/ Province:

Hauts-Bassins region (Tuy province)

Further specification of location:

Koumbia (Commune of Koumbia)

Specify the spread of the Technology:

• applied at specific points/ concentrated on a small area

Is/are the technology site(s) located in a permanently protected area?

No

Map

×

2.6 Date of implementation

Indicate year of implementation:

2017

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

Comments (type of project, etc.):

The technology was introduced by ProSol in the commune of Koumbia.

3.1 Main purpose(s) of the Technology

• improve production
• reduce, prevent, restore land degradation
• protect a watershed/ downstream areas – in combination with other Technologies
• create beneficial economic impact

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

Land use mixed within the same land unit:

Yes

Specify mixed land use (crops/ grazing/ trees):

• Agroforestry

Cropland

• Annual cropping
• Perennial (non-woody) cropping
• Tree and shrub cropping

Annual cropping - Specify crops:

• cereals - maize
• cereals - sorghum
• fibre crops - cotton

• Andropogon gayanus

Tree and shrub cropping - Specify crops:

• grapes
• karite (sheanut)

Number of growing seasons per year:

• 1

Is crop rotation practiced?

Yes

If yes, specify:

Cotton, maize and sorghum

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

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

• No (Continue with question 3.4)

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

• improved ground/ vegetation cover
• minimal soil disturbance
• cross-slope measure

3.6 SLM measures comprising the Technology

agronomic measures

• A1: Vegetation/ soil cover
• A3: Soil surface treatment

A3: Differentiate tillage systems:

A 3.3: Full tillage (< 30% soil cover)

vegetative measures

• V2: Grasses and perennial herbaceous plants

3.7 Main types of land degradation addressed by the Technology

soil erosion by water

• Wt: loss of topsoil/ surface erosion
• Wg: gully erosion/ gullying

soil erosion by wind

• Et: loss of topsoil
• Ed: deflation and deposition

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 spacing of 10 cm between rows and 20-30 cm between seedlings on the same row;
•Spacing between two grassed strips varies from 25 to 40 m depending on the slope and type of terrain;
•The number of rows per strip varies from 1 to 4;
•Andropogon gayanus seed;
•A dose of 6 kg of seed per ha;
•Seeds are sown in staggered rows;
•A fairly dense strip, with no gaps along the entire row;
•The strip must follow the contour lines.

Author:

ProSol

Date:

2020

4.2 General information regarding the calculation of inputs and costs

Specify how costs and inputs were calculated:

• per Technology unit

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

613.5

4.3 Establishment activities

4.4 Costs and inputs needed for establishment

4.5 Maintenance/ recurrent activities

Comments:

Maintenance activities for this technology are minimal, primarily involving precautionary measures. This entails waiting until the fields have been ploughed and treated with herbicide before sowing Andropogon gayanus seeds. The implementation of this technology emphasizes raising awareness and engaging all relevant farmers in the process.

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

Comments:

Not applicable

4.7 Most important factors affecting the costs

Describe the most determinate factors affecting the costs:

Seed and labour availability are the most significant factors affecting costs.

5.1 Climate

5.2 Topography

Indicate if the Technology is specifically applied in:

• not relevant

Comments and further specifications on topography:

The site under consideration is located at an altitude of 347 m.

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 are predominantly leached tropical ferruginous soils with varying degrees of sandiness in the uplands and clay soils with differing levels of hydromorphy (waterlogging) in the lowlands.

5.4 Water availability and quality

Is water salinity a problem?

No

Is flooding of the area occurring?

No

5.5 Biodiversity

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:

• individual, not titled

Land use rights:

• open access (unorganized)

Water use rights:

• open access (unorganized)

Are land use rights based on a traditional legal system?

Yes

Specify:

Due to the sacred nature of the land, custom dictates that its management must not be subject to speculation.

Comments:

According to information gathered from the literature and interviews, land in the village of Koumbia is most commonly accessed through inheritance and borrowing. Other access methods (borrowing, renting and buying) do not seem to be widespread or perceptible.

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

Climate and disaster risk reduction

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)

Gradual climate change

Gradual climate change

Climate-related extremes (disasters)

Meteorological 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)?

6.5 Adoption of the Technology

• 1-10%

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

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:

Recueil des pratiques agro-écologiques éprouvées et mises en œuvre au Burkina Faso, Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique et Technologique, 2020/Compendium of proven agro-ecological practices implemented in Burkina Faso, National Scientific and Technological Research Center, 2020

Available from where? Costs?

Available on the Internet

Title, author, year, ISBN:

Catalogue de fiches techniques des mesures d’amélioration de la fertilité des sols, Projet « Réhabilitation et protection des sols dégradés et renforcement des instances foncières locales dans les zones rurales du Burkina Faso » (ProSol), 2020/A catalog of data sheets on soil fertility improvement measures, under the project entitled "Rehabilitation and protection of degraded soils and strengthening of local land tenure bodies in the rural areas of Burkina Faso" (ProSol), 2020

Available from where? Costs?

Available at ProSol-Burkina Faso

Title, author, year, ISBN:

Catalogue des mesures CES/DRS promues par le ProSol, 2020/A catalog of WSC/SDR measures promoted by ProSol, 2020

Available from where? Costs?

Available at ProSol-Burkina Faso

Title, author, year, ISBN:

Diagnostic sur les sites d’extension de quatre (04) micros bassins versants au profit du ProSol, Projet « Réhabilitation et protection des sols dégradés et renforcement des instances foncières locales dans les zones rurales du Burkina Faso » (ProSol), 2020/A diagnostic assessment of the extension sites of four (04) micro-catchment areas for the ProSol project, "Rehabilitation and protection of degraded soils and strengthening of local land tenure bodies in the rural areas of Burkina Faso" (ProSol), 2020

Available from where? Costs?

Available at ProSol-Burkina Faso

Title, author, year, ISBN:

Étude sur l’analyse coûts-bénéfices et économiques des mesures CES/DRS promues par ProSol, Projet « Réhabilitation et protection des sols dégradés et renforcement des instances foncières locales dans les zones rurales du Burkina Faso » (ProSol), 2020/A study on the cost-benefit and economic analysis of the WSC/SDR measures promoted by ProSol, under the project entitled "Rehabilitation and protection of degraded soils and strengthening of local land tenure bodies in the rural areas of Burkina Faso" (ProSol), 2020

Available from where? Costs?

Available at ProSol-Burkina Faso

Title, author, year, ISBN:

Réalisation d’un diagnostic de l’état des ressources naturelles et de la gestion foncière dans les régions du Sud-Ouest et des Hauts-Bassins au Burkina Faso, Projet « Réhabilitation et protection des sols dégradés et renforcement des instances foncières locales dans les zones rurales du Burkina Faso » (ProSol), 2015/A diagnostic study of the state of natural resources and land tenure management in the South-West and Hauts-Bassins regions of Burkina Faso, under the project entitled "Rehabilitation and protection of degraded soils and strengthening of local land tenure bodies in the rural areas of Burkina Faso" (ProSol), 2015

Available from where? Costs?

Available at ProSol-Burkina Faso

Title, author, year, ISBN:

Catalogue de bonnes pratiques d’adaptation aux risques climatiques au Burkina Faso, UICN/ Ministère de l’Environnement et du Développement Durable, 2011/A catalog of good climate risk adaptation practices in Burkina Faso, IUCN/Ministry of the Environment and Sustainable Development, 2011

Available from where? Costs?

Available on the Internet