1.3 Conditions regarding the use of data documented through WOCAT

When were the data compiled (in the field)?

01/12/2004

The compiler and key resource person(s) accept the conditions regarding the use of data documented through WOCAT:

Yes

2.1 Short description of the Technology

Definition of the Technology:

Application of Tithonia diversifolia (Mexican sunflower) as green manure

2.2 Detailed description of the Technology

Description:

Tithonia diversifolia hedges grow along roadsides or farm boundaries. The green leaf biomass is very suitable as green manure for annual crops, since the plant has a high content of nitrogen and phosphurus, and decomposes quickly after application to the soil: its nutrients are released within one growing season.

Purpose of the Technology: Tithonia biomass enhances soil organic matter and soil fertility, resulting in higher crop yields. The treatment supplies the crop with nutrients at the early stage of the growing process, and thus improves the establishment of the crops through the early development of a good rooting system. The technology is especially beneficial for maize: yields in the study area increased by over 50%.

Establishment / maintenance activities and inputs: At an early stage of plant growth, fresh green leaves and stems are cut, chopped and applied on the cropland as green manure after the first pass of ridging. The fresh material is spread over the half-made ridges at a ate of 2 kg per m2 and then covered with about 5-10 cm of soil to finish the ridges. Sowing of crop seeds is done only after a week or more, because of heat generation during the decomposition process of the leaves (which could damage the seeds).

Natural / human environment: Tithonia can also be applied as mulch 6 to 8 weeks after planting the crop. Covering the mulch with a little soil facilitates nutrient release. Tithonia green manuring - before planting - and mulching can be combined, which is especially applicable to maize, beans and cabbage cultivation. Tithonia hedgerows have to be cut back regularly; otherwise it can spread fast and become a weed. Interplanting Tithonia in the field is not recommended due to root competition with crops.

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 projects/ external interventions

Comments (type of project, etc.):

Tithonia was used in Kenya as green manure. In 1997 a PRTC/Forta/SCA joint research team started to try it in the North-West Province of Cameroon too.

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

Comments:

Major land use problems (compiler’s opinion): Soil fertility decline and reduced organic matter content.

Major land use problems (land users’ perception): Soil fertility decline

Type of cropping system and major crops comments: very heterogeneous sometimes.
E.g.: Maize/Beans/Yams: Planted in March, harvest in September (Maize), August (Beans), january of the following year (Yams)

3.3 Further information about land use

Comments:

Water supply: rainfed, mixed rainfed - irrigated

Number of growing seasons per year:

• 1

Specify:

Longest growing period in days: 200

Longest growing period from month to month: March - Mid-October

3.5 Spread of the Technology

Comments:

Total area covered by the SLM Technology is 0.3 m2.

Another 9 sites in the North-West Province of Cameroon are places where the SWC technology Tithonia diversifolia as green manure was applied

3.6 SLM measures comprising the Technology

Comments:

Main measures: agronomic measures

Type of agronomic measures: mulching, green manure

3.7 Main types of land degradation addressed by the Technology

Comments:

Main type of degradation addressed: Cn: fertility decline and reduced organic matter content

3.8 Prevention, reduction, or restoration of land degradation

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

• reduce land degradation
• prevent land degradation

Comments:

Main goals: prevention of land degradation, mitigation / reduction of land degradation

4.2 Technical specifications/ explanations of technical drawing

Green manuring with Tithonia: application good on maize, beans, soybeans, yam, cocoyam, etc.

Technical knowledge required for field staff / advisors: moderate

Technical knowledge required for land users: moderate

Main technical functions: increase in soil fertility

Secondary technical functions: increase in organic matter, if planted as living fence prevention of damage by predators

Mulching
Material/ species: Tithonia diversifolia

Green manure
Material/ species: Tithonia diversifolia

4.3 General information regarding the calculation of inputs and costs

other/ national currency (specify):

CFA

4.6 Maintenance/ recurrent activities

	Activity	Type of measure	Timing/ frequency
1.	Cutting back Tithonia hedge	Agronomic	annual
2.	Cutting back Tithonia hedge	Agronomic	annual
3.	Cutting back Tithonia hedge	Agronomic	annual
4.	Cutting back Tithonia hedge	Agronomic
5.	Laisser l’engrais vert se décomposer au moins une semaine avant de semer la culture	Agronomic

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

Comments:

Machinery/ tools: cutlass, hoe

4.8 Most important factors affecting the costs

Describe the most determinate factors affecting the costs:

Labour costs are the main factor affecting the costs. Labour inputs depend a lot on transport distance between Tithonia hedge and cropland.

5.1 Climate

5.2 Topography

5.3 Soils

5.6 Characteristics of land users applying the Technology

Indicate other relevant characteristics of the land users:

Land users applying the Technology are mainly disadvantaged land users

Population density: 50-100 persons/km2

Annual population growth: 2% - 3%

Off-farm income specification: No big difference. Almost all farmers live of their own farm production/depend on it.

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:

• individual, not titled

Land use rights:

• individual

6.1 On-site impacts the Technology has shown

Socio-economic impacts

Production

Income and costs

Socio-cultural impacts

Ecological impacts

Soil

Climate and disaster risk reduction

6.2 Off-site impacts the Technology has shown

6.4 Cost-benefit analysis

How do the benefits compare with the maintenance/ recurrent costs (from land users' perspective)?

Comments:

The closer to the field Tithonia is planted, the better is the benefit-cost ratio.

6.5 Adoption of the Technology

Comments:

100% of land user families have adopted the Technology without any external material support

15 land user families have adopted the Technology without any external material support

There is a strong trend towards spontaneous adoption of the Technology

Comments on adoption trend: In the villages where the OFT had been established the interest of other farmers is big.

6.7 Strengths/ advantages/ opportunities of the Technology

Strengths/ advantages/ opportunities in the land user’s view
is free of charge
is a good fertilizer
improves yield fast

Strengths/ advantages/ opportunities in the compiler’s or other key resource person’s view
grows in many places How can they be sustained / enhanced? plant Tirhonia around the field, on land that is less suitable for crops
is (so far) for free How can they be sustained / enhanced? cheap manure
increases yields significantly How can they be sustained / enhanced? make sure that it would not get into the field -> manage well

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?
Peu devenir envahissante dans les cultures (si plantée trop près) et aussi ailleurs ; certains fermiers considèrent la plante comme toxique	importance du service de conseils, bien informer sur le bonne gestion de Tithonia ; taille régulière
Technologie exigeante en main-d’œuvre (récolte, transport, taille régulière, hachage et épandage)	fournir / subventionner des équipements : brouettes pour un transport plus efficace et rapide
Peut entraîner des conflits si trop de fermiers veulent l’utiliser	clarifier les droits des usagers ; replanter Tithonia et créer de nouvelles haies

Weaknesses/ disadvantages/ risks in the compiler’s or other key resource person’s view	How can they be overcome?
can spread as a weed on cropland (if planted close to the fields) and also outside the area where it is used; some farmers consider the plant as poisonous	advisory service is important, good information on proper management of Tithonia; regular cutting
Labour-intensive technology (harvest, transport, regular cutting, chopping and spreading)	providing/subsidising transport equipment such as wheelbarrows would make transport more effective and time-saving.
might lead to conflicts if too many farmers want to use it	clarify user rights; replant Tithonia plants and grow new hedges.