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:

Vegetation along contour stone bunds with herbaceous species adds an additional water and soil conservation measure on sloping agricultural lands.

2.2 Detailed description of the Technology

Description:

This case study focuses on the revegetation of stone bunds with herbaceous plants such as Andropogon sp., which is a species suited to the agro-ecological conditions of the Hauts-Bassins region. This technology can be applied across different agro-ecological zones.
Vegetating contour stone bunds with Andropogon sp. creates biological barriers that enhance the role of stone bunds in controlling runoff and soil erosion, with the added benefit of producing fodder for farmers. The strip may include other annual or perennial species that help maintain the filtering system of the stone barriers, fix and stabilize the structures and produce biomass for various uses (domestic use, fodder, etc.).

The main activities involved are as follows:
•Stage 1: Selection of the grass
The grass must have a root system strong enough to survive during the dry season. It must also grow easily and quickly. It must not interfere with field crops. This documentation focuses on revegetation with Andropogon gayanus, which is drought and bushfire resistant.

•Stage 2
Harvest or buy seeds prepare the Andropogon seedlings
Mix the seeds with moist sand for 12 to 24 hours;
Stir the mixture to remove the seed hairs;
Let the mixture rest in a bag to allow the water to penetrate the seeds. The seeds germinate 5 to 8 days later.

•Stage 3: Trenching
This stage involves digging a trench at least 30 cm deep along and upstream of the stone bunds.

•Stage 4: Sowing
Sowing takes place at the beginning of the rainy season when the soil is being prepared for cultivation. Seeds are sown in the trench about 20 cm upstream of the stone cordon. The sowing rate varies from 4 to 5 kg/ha.

The main inputs required to implement this technology are as follows:
–Andropogon gayanus seeds;
– “A-Frame” or watertube level;
– Sand
– Tools (pickaxe, shovel, cart, wheelbarrow, etc.).

The advantages of this technology are:
–Improved soil fertility through the capture and sedimentation upstream of the bunds;
–Conservation of the filtering system of the stone strips;
–Reduced soil degradation, erosion and runoff;
–Improved water infiltration;
–Maintenance of the soil's productive potential;
–Improved availability of fodder;
–Diversified income for farmers.

This technology produces green fodder, if cut when the crop is at an early growth stage, and hay (when it is mature and has lost its nutritional value) which is used to make secco, mats, etc. The farmers claim that it improves their income through the sale of grasses, secco and mats.

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:

2017

2.7 Introduction of the Technology

Specify how the Technology was introduced:

• through projects/ external interventions

Comments (type of project, etc.):

The vegetation of stone bunds is a technology promoted by ProSoil.

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
• Tree and shrub cropping

Annual cropping - Specify crops:

• cereals - maize
• cereals - millet
• fibre crops - cotton

Tree and shrub cropping - Specify crops:

• karite (sheanut)

• Grape tree, African locust bean (Néré) tree

Number of growing seasons per year:

• 1

Is intercropping practiced?

No

Is crop rotation practiced?

Yes

If yes, specify:

Cotton, maize, millet

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
• cross-slope measure

3.6 SLM measures comprising the Technology

vegetative measures

• V2: Grasses and perennial herbaceous plants

structural measures

• S2: Bunds, banks

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
• Wo: offsite degradation effects

soil erosion by wind

• Et: loss of topsoil
• 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

4.1 Technical drawing of the Technology

Technical specifications (related to technical drawing):

Trench at least 30 cm deep along the structures;
Direct seeding upstream and along stone structures at about 20 cm from them in the trench;
Andropogon sp seeds;
Seeding rate ranging from 4 to 5 kg/ha or a 200 ml line;
Stone structures;
Installation of the grass cover at the beginning of the rainy season

Author:

ProSoil

Date:

2021

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

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

ProSoil promotes this technology and finances its implementation.

Comments:

Monitoring and coordination fall within the remit of agricultural technicians. To this end, they monitor and coordinate the activities of the working groups set up to implement this technology.

4.5 Maintenance/ recurrent activities

Comments:

Maintenance activities are minimal, primarily consisting of precautionary measures. This entails waiting until the fields have been ploughed and treated with herbicides before sowing Andropogon gayanus seeds. This also involves raising awareness and engaging all the farmers concerned in the process of implementing this technology.

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:

The most significant factor affecting costs is seed and labour availability.

5.1 Climate

5.2 Topography

Indicate if the Technology is specifically applied in:

• convex situations

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:

Based on information gathered from both literature and interviews, land access in the village of Dimikuy is mainly through inheritance and lending. Other modes of access (lending, leasing and buying) do not appear to be common, nor 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:

Gestion Durable des Terres (GDT) sensible genre, Projet « Réhabilitation et protection des sols dégradés et renforcement des instances foncières locales dans les zones rurales du Burkina Faso » (ProSol), 2021/Gender-sensitive Sustainable Land Management (SLM), 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), 2021

Available from where? Costs?

Available at ProSol-Burkina Faso