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)

Wageningen Environmental Research (Alterra) (Wageningen Environmental Research (Alterra)) - Netherlands

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

Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas - Instituto de Agricultura Sostenible (CSIC - IAS) - Spain

1.3 Conditions regarding the use of data documented through WOCAT

When were the data compiled (in the field)?

01/12/2016

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:

Aserpias are micro-depressions within a field along all or alternate inter vines rows, made by a tillage tool. The main objective of implementing Aserpiado is to let water infiltrate on-site, thereby increasing soil moisture and plant available water, decreasing runoff and associated losses of soil.

2.2 Detailed description of the Technology

Description:

Aserpiado (also known as Alumbrado) is applied in vineyards in Southern Spain in lower and mid altitudes where the climate is characterized by relative high rainfall during winter, but almost none in summer. This requires adoptions in the water management like irrigation or on-site storage of water.
With the aserpiado technique, seasonal soil bunds are made every autumn in order to limit irrigation requirements and to protect the soil against erosion. These contour bunds in the allies remain in place the entire winter to make best use of precipitation that occurs mostly during this period.

The functioning of Aserpias was analysed in a vineyard within the Appellation of Origin Montilla-Moriles in Córdoba, the only previously existing documentation on this measure comes from vineyards in the Jerez wine region. Farmers use Aserpiado because it is the only way to get enough water without irrigation, as when irrigation is applied it cannot get the protected ‘Jerez-Sherry’ label.

The microbasins are made in the inter-row area by dragging a caterpillar tractor pulled (see picture Aserpiadora) hydraulic beam over the field which lifts leaving a heap of soil behind. The speed and interval of the beam are set in such a way that a bund is made every 1.5 meter. Some users sow barely directly in advance of making the aserpiado which results in a high plant cover of the bunds during winter. The main function of Aserpiado is to catch rainwater which otherwise would be lost runoff. With Aserpiado the runoff is close to zero this means more water should become available for the crops.

The required inputs for creating and maintaining aserpias depends upon whether the bunds are permanent or seasonal. If permanent the ridges should be checked regulary and maintained by hand. When the aserpiado is only present during the winter season regular tillage in summer is necessary to keep the soil workable so the 'aserpiadora' (specialized tillage tool) can create the aserpias in autumn which are removed in spring to ease field traffic. With a modern-day Aserpiadora a farmer can create 3 to 5 ha of aserpias a day (Narvaez, 1980). The impacts of establishing aserpias are less soil erosion, less runoff and more water storage in the soil. Land users like Aserpiado as it is a very effective way to increase soil moisture and reduce soil erosion, when used in combination with cover crops the soil quality also improves over time.

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:

• through land users' innovation
• as part of a traditional system (> 50 years)

Comments (type of project, etc.):

Written texts exist of Aserpias being used in vineyards near Jerez de la Frontera in the 1860's which were made either by hand with a hoe or with a mule dragging a beam (Gonzalez Moreno, 2011). It is not an easily found in the Montilla-Moriles region; it is mainly developed in the Appellation of Origin of Jerez. However, the combination of Aserpiado and cover crops is the result of the innovation of some farmers who have been implementing it since 2011.

Aserpias have been used since the XIX century mainly in the Jerez being a common practice not only in vineyards but also in olive orchards, especially in steep slopes farms. No data found about the actual extension of this practice. The combined used with cover crops is fundamentally implemented by this farmer who started doing this practice in 120 ha.

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
• adapt to climate change/ extremes and its impacts
• create beneficial economic impact

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

Comments:

Aserpias are only used if vine rows are perpendicular to slope. Documentation exists also of Aserpias being used in olive orchards (Narvaez, 1980).

3.3 Further information about land use

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

• rainfed

Comments:

Measure is applied to decrease necessity of supplemental irrigation.

Number of growing seasons per year:

• 1

3.4 SLM group to which the Technology belongs

• improved ground/ vegetation cover
• water harvesting
• irrigation management (incl. water supply, drainage)

3.5 Spread of the Technology

Specify the spread of the Technology:

• applied at specific points/ concentrated on a small area

Comments:

Popularity of this measure is unknown as very little documentation exists.

3.6 SLM measures comprising the Technology

Comments:

Cover crops are not used in all sites with Aserpiado

3.7 Main types of land degradation addressed by the Technology

Comments:

Local circumstances and agricultural practices make agricultural soils very prone to water erosion.

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

Comments:

The main goal is to increase water availability, but also decreases soil losses in inter-row areas.

4.1 Technical drawing of the Technology

4.2 Technical specifications/ explanations of technical drawing

The bunds stretch over most of the inter-row alley, but in order not to expose superficial roots the bunds are 1.5 m wide so at each side there is about half a meter distance from the stems. Often the bunds are covered with barley and pruning residues. The bunds itself are 15 to 20 cm high and usually spaced 90 cm apart leaving 40 cm space at the base. At Cañada Navarro the Aserpia-bunds and sides are covered with barley as a cover crop during winter, in other sites where Aserpiado is applied the bunds remain bare.

4.3 General information regarding the calculation of inputs and costs

Specify how costs and inputs were calculated:

• per Technology area

other/ national currency (specify):

Euros

Indicate exchange rate from USD to local currency (if relevant): 1 USD =:

0.94

4.6 Maintenance/ recurrent activities

	Activity	Type of measure	Timing/ frequency
1.	Tillage with cultivator (15-20 cm deep)	Agronomic	After harvest crop
2.	Sowing barley in allies	Vegetative	Autumn
3.	Making aserpias in every other alley	Agronomic	Soon after sowing barley
4.	Killing cover crop	Vegetative	Early in march
5.	Tillage with cultivator (removing aserpias)	Agronomic	After killing the cover crop

4.7 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	Tractor driver	h/ha	5.5	40.0	220.0	96.0
Equipment	Scarifier	h/ha	1.5	40.0	60.0	100.0
Equipment	Seeder	h/ha	2.25	40.0	90.0	100.0
Equipment	Aserpiadora	h/ha	1.5	40.0	60.0	100.0
Equipment	Cultivator	h/ha	1.5	40.0	60.0	100.0
Plant material	Barley seed	kg/ha	80.0	0.2	16.0
Fertilizers and biocides	Herbicide**	l/ha	3.0	6.67	20.01
Total costs for maintenance of the Technology					526.01

Comments:

*herbicide is not used when mechanical control is applied

4.8 Most important factors affecting the costs

Describe the most determinate factors affecting the costs:

The cost of Aserpiado and sown tasks compared to conventional farming.

5.1 Climate

5.2 Topography

Indicate if the Technology is specifically applied in:

• not relevant

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.

Most soils in the region are Cambisols by FAO classification with quite homogeneous well-drained soil consisting mostly of silty clay loam which has a good water holding capacity.

5.4 Water availability and quality

Is water salinity a problem?

No

Is flooding of the area occurring?

No

5.5 Biodiversity

Comments and further specifications on biodiversity:

Biodiversity was not analyzed

5.6 Characteristics of land users applying the Technology

5.7 Average area of land owned or leased by land users applying the Technology

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

Land ownership:

• company
• individual, titled

Land use rights:

• individual

5.9 Access to services and infrastructure

6.1 On-site impacts the Technology has shown

Socio-economic impacts

Water availability and quality

Ecological impacts

Water cycle/ runoff

Soil

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

• single cases/ experimental

If available, quantify (no. of households and/ or area covered):

120 ha (in Montilla-Moriles region)

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

• 90-100%

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
1. Storage of water from winter rainfalls. 2. Control of soil erosion. 3. Benefits associated to the cover crops.

Strengths/ advantages/ opportunities in the compiler’s or other key resource person’s view
Control of erosion Increasing infiltration

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?
No significant disadvantages or higher cost have been noticed compared to a cover crop farm.

Weaknesses/ disadvantages/ risks in the compiler’s or other key resource person’s view	How can they be overcome?
If the aserpiado fails, concentration of runoff in rills will easily occur.	To make aserpiado large enough to not be overtopped by regular rainstorms, also bunds need to be checked for stability.

7.1 Methods/ sources of information

7.3 Links to relevant information which is available online

Title/ description:

El Alumbrado para acumalacion del agua en cultivos leñosos de secano, Revilla Narvaez (in Spanish)

URL:

http://www.mapama.gob.es/ministerio/pags/biblioteca/hojas/hd_1980_19.pdf

Title/ description:

APROVECHAMIENTO DE LAS LLUVIAS EN VIÑEDOS SITUADOS EN LADERAS Y PENDIENTES MEDIANTE “ASERPIADO”, José Mª González Moreno, 2011

Title/ description:

Los viticultores del Marco de Jerez apuestan por la Producción Integrada

URL:

http://www.mapama.gob.es/ministerio/pags/biblioteca/revistas/pdf_vrural/Vrural_1999_87_54_55.pdf