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

2.1 Short description of the Technology

Definition of the Technology:

Night corralling of cattle, sheep and goats on cropland during the dry season (November-April) replenishes soil fertility of agricultural land depleted by continuous cropping.

2.2 Detailed description of the Technology

Description:

This technology is mainly applied in semi-arid and sub-humid areas on sandy/loamy plains with low soil organic matter content, low soil pH, and with slopes below 5%. Adequate spacing of animals helps to homogenously distribute the manure on the field (see photo): in cattle this is ensured through tying the animals to poles, in sheep and goats a movable fence serving as night enclosure helps to save labour. Corals and animals are moved to a new spot within the field every 4-5 nights to homogeneously manure fields. Ideal is a rate of 2.5 tons of faecal dry matter per hectare. The application of this amount results in superior grain yields (millet, sorghum) as compared to an unmanured field. High yield response is achieved in the cropping season directly following the corralling (year 1) and in the subsequent two to three years, in which no new deposit of faeces and urine, i.e. no further corralling, is needed. While a 250 kg cow deposits about 1 kg of manure dry matter per night, 7 sheep or 7 goats are needed to produce this same amount. Thus, to cover 1 hectare of land with 2.5 tons of manure, a herd of 15 cattle would need to be corralled during 167 nights; alternatively 178 nights would be needed if 70 small ruminants were corralled. Since individual herds are often smaller than 15 cattle (or 70 small ruminants) and fields are larger than 1 hectare, it is recommended to organize corralling of fields within a community (village) of farmers and especially to revitalize the traditional corralling contracts (‘contrats de parcage’) with transhumant herders.

2.5 Country/ region/ locations where the Technology has been applied and which are covered by this assessment

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

Comments:

Major land use problems (compiler’s opinion): Loss of soil fertility (organic matter, nutrients, pH decline) due to continuous cropping

Future (final) land use (after implementation of SLM Technology): Mixed: Mp: Agro-pastoralism

If land use has changed due to the implementation of the Technology, indicate land use before implementation of the Technology:

Cropland: Ca: Annual cropping

3.3 Further information about land use

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

• rainfed

3.6 SLM measures comprising the Technology

Comments:

Main measures: agronomic measures, management measures

Type of agronomic measures: manure / compost / residues

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:

• restore/ rehabilitate severely degraded land

Comments:

Main goals: rehabilitation / reclamation of denuded land

4.1 Technical drawing of the Technology

4.2 Technical specifications/ explanations of technical drawing

Corralling area of 4 sheep to poles (brown circles) during 5 nights (left) and principle of shifting corralling areas across a field of undefined size (right)

Location: Chikal territory. Fakara region

Technical knowledge required for field staff / advisors: moderate

Technical knowledge required for land users: moderate (spacing and timing of animal placement need to be respected))

Main technical functions: increase in organic matter, increase in nutrient availability (supply, recycling,…)

Manure / compost / residues
Material/ species: faecal dry matter
Quantity/ density: 2.5
Remarks: t/ha

4.6 Maintenance/ recurrent activities

	Activity	Type of measure	Timing/ frequency
1.	Placing poles in the field at 2m x 2m spacing for small ruminants and at 4m x 4m spacing for cattle, starting at the field border	Agronomic	in year 1 of 3-year cycle
2.	Attach individual animals (adult small ruminants, adults or calves if you work with cows) to the pole during night	Agronomic	in year 1 of 3-year cycle
3.	Shift the poles to an adjacent unmanured part of the field every 4 days in cattle, and every 5 days in small ruminants.	Agronomic	in year 1 of 3-year cycle
4.	To cover the whole field (1 ha) with manure: with 15 cattle you will need a total of 167 nights of corralling; with 70 small ruminants you will need 178 nights	Agronomic	in year 1 of 3-year cycle
5.	Cultivate the field for 3 subsequent cropping seasons (year of application, plus year 2 and 3) without further corralling in year 2 and year 3	Agronomic	in year 2 and 3 (of a 3-years cycle)

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

Comments:

costs were calculated for 1 ha with 15 cattle

4.8 Most important factors affecting the costs

Describe the most determinate factors affecting the costs:

Labour costs incur in a 3-years cycle: putting and changing the poles on a specific field is done in year 1, while in years 2 and 3 the respective field is cultivated, and no corralling takes place. Actual labour inputs for corralling in year 1 is 4–5 days (= 10–15 minutes during approx. 170 days), equivalent to US$ 10–13; maintenance costs given in the tables above refer the average expenses of the whole 3-years cycle

5.1 Climate

5.2 Topography

5.3 Soils

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:

• individual, titled

Land use rights:

• individual
• open access (unorganized)

Comments:

individual land us rights for field, communal for pastures

6.1 On-site impacts the Technology has shown

Socio-economic impacts

Production

Income and costs

Socio-cultural impacts

Ecological impacts

Soil

6.3 Exposure and sensitivity of the Technology to gradual climate change and climate-related extremes/ disasters (as perceived by land users)

Comments:

Technology not much affected by climatic extremes or changes.

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)?

Comments:

Labour input in year 1 (dry season) pays through high yields in harvest seasons of years 1–3.

6.5 Adoption of the Technology

Comments:

There is a moderate trend towards spontaneous adoption of the Technology

Comments on adoption trend: Relatively high, but incomplete in the sense that homogeneity of dung application is lacking

6.7 Strengths/ advantages/ opportunities of the Technology

Strengths/ advantages/ opportunities in the land user’s view
Strong increase of soil organic matter and therefore soil fertility which leads to an increase in crop yield and revenues

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?
Implementation constraint: organization of rotational corralling is necessary to effectively manure fields of a village community; this needs skillful organization
Need to invest some money in poles
High labour investment in year 1
Difficulty to revitalize trustful partnership with transhumant pastoral groups, as more and more crop residues are harvested and stored at the homestead (no dry season feed for mobile herds)
Extensive consultation and coordination is needed if rotational (community) corralling or involvement of transhumant herders is necessary due to low animal numbers (<12 cattle, <50 small ruminants) at the level of individual households