1.2 Contact details of resource persons and institutions involved in the assessment and documentation of the Technology

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1.3 Conditions regarding the use of data documented through WOCAT

When were the data compiled (in the field)?

16/06/2006

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:

Restoration of degraded grazing land.

2.2 Detailed description of the Technology

Description:

Investigation of veld to assess situation and extent of problem, evaluating causes and making recommendations to minimise the problem.
For a large area: Take soil samples and send for analysis to determine the type of grass seeds present and to assess the chemical composition of soil.
Recommend required treatment of soil, chemical as well as mechanical and what quantitative inputs are needed.
For duplex soils the addition of gypsum (communities use manure for organic matter) is recommended. The preparation phase of the soil is very important. Add necessary components (dung, etc.) and plant the seeds. Add some rocks on top of the soil for entrapment of nutrients (nutrients and water flow are enhanced).
It is important to take the grasses from the immediate area, because it might be found that grass from another area is not adapted for the specific area.
Dactyloctenium eagyptium, Sporobulus nites, Enteropgon monostachyuns and Cynodon dactylon will be suitable for duplex soils. Digitaria eriantha will be better after the soil has improved a bit.
For branch packing (preparation of site), the branches of encroached bushes (Ghurrie bush, Acacia exofialus, nelotica) are used.
The area should be fenced off.

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:

• during experiments/ research

Comments (type of project, etc.):

From Institute for Reclamation Ecology from Potchefstroom University.

3.1 Main purpose(s) of the Technology

• reduce, prevent, restore land degradation

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

Comments:

Major land use problems (compiler’s opinion): Soil erosion on lower laying duplex.

Major land use problems (land users’ perception): Low production of grasses - seen as an example by specialist.

Ranching: Dumphries - cattle and Mthethomusha & Sabiesands - game

Grazingland comments: Large number of cattle owners, with few cattle. Rich people will do damage.

Type of grazing system comments: Large number of cattle owners, with few cattle. Rich people will do damage.

3.3 Further information about land use

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

• rainfed

Number of growing seasons per year:

• 1

Specify:

Longest growing period in days: 180; Longest growing period from month to month: Oct - Mar

3.4 SLM group to which the Technology belongs

• area closure (stop use, support restoration)

3.5 Spread of the Technology

Specify the spread of the Technology:

• evenly spread over an area

If the Technology is evenly spread over an area, indicate approximate area covered:

• < 0.1 km2 (10 ha)

Comments:

Total area covered by the SLM Technology is 0.03 km2.

Mthethomusha is a MSc project for B Samson, and Dumphries is a community driven project. In Mthethomusha there's less than 2 people/km2 and in the other none.

3.6 SLM measures comprising the Technology

Comments:

Main measures: management measures

Secondary measures: agronomic measures, vegetative measures

Type of agronomic measures: manure / compost / residues, soil conditioners (lime, gypsum)

3.7 Main types of land degradation addressed by the Technology

Comments:

Secondary types of degradation addressed: Wt: loss of topsoil / surface erosion, Wg: gully erosion / gullying

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:

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

4.2 Technical specifications/ explanations of technical drawing

Technical knowledge required for field staff / advisors: high

Technical knowledge required for land users: low

Main technical functions: increase in organic matter

Secondary technical functions: improvement of ground cover, increase in soil fertility

Agronomic measure: re-seeding
Material/ species: Grasses
Quantity/ density: 7kg/ha

Soil conditioners (lime, gypsum)
Material/ species: CaCo3 etc

Agronomic measure: ripping
Material/ species: 6 teeth plough

Vegetative measure: re-seeding
Vegetative material: G : grass

Vegetative measure: Vegetative material: G : grass

Grass species: Dactyloctenium aegyptium, Sporobolus nitens, Enteropogon monostachyus, Cynodon dactylon, Digitaria e

Structural measure: bunds/banks: contour

Construction material (earth): Done by tractor

Other type of management: Looking at water flow diagrams

4.3 General information regarding the calculation of inputs and costs

other/ national currency (specify):

Rand

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

6.0

4.4 Establishment activities

	Activity	Type of measure	Timing
1.	Selected bush clearing (if necessary)	Vegetative	Before 1st rain
2.	Ripping	Vegetative	After 1st rain
3.	Branch packing (should not exclude sunlight - 50%)	Vegetative

4.6 Maintenance/ recurrent activities

	Activity	Type of measure	Timing/ frequency
1.	Ripping	Agronomic	After 1st rain / Once
2.	Add organic material	Agronomic	After 1st rain / Once
3.	Packing of stones	Agronomic	After 2nd rain /

4.8 Most important factors affecting the costs

Describe the most determinate factors affecting the costs:

Depending if you need fencing or not. Fencing is 50% of costs. Chemical treatment of soil is also very expensive.

5.1 Climate

5.2 Topography

Comments and further specifications on topography:

Slopes on average: Gentle for Sabiesand and Dumphries and moderate for Mthethomusha

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.

Soil fertility is low

Topsoil organic matter: E-horizon expose in most cases

Soil drainage / infiltration is poor because there is a lot clay underneath E-horizon

Soil water storage capacity is very low in a degraded state

5.6 Characteristics of land users applying the Technology

Indicate other relevant characteristics of the land users:

Population density: < 10 persons/km2

Annual population growth: > 4%

100% of the land users are rich (People from Sabie Sand).
100% of the land users are poor (Dumphries, Mthethomusha).

Off-farm income specification: Impression - not sure. Sabiesands and Mthethomusha: both eco-tourism, going well (game increasing) and Dumphries just cattle. Parks board (Sabiesands) employ people from the community.

Market orientation of production system: Subsistence (self-supply) for Dumphries and Mthethomusha and commercial / market for Sabiesands (eco-tourism)

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

Land ownership:

• communal/ village
• individual, titled

Land use rights:

• communal (organized)
• individual

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

Climate and disaster risk reduction

Other ecological impacts

6.2 Off-site impacts the Technology has shown

6.7 Strengths/ advantages/ opportunities of the Technology

Strengths/ advantages/ opportunities in the land user’s view
Job creation to community
Better quality grazing available
Initially getting attention - tourism with game

Strengths/ advantages/ opportunities in the compiler’s or other key resource person’s view
Dung available (organic matter)
Provide income - people live on land
Job creation (1 time and eco-tourism) so ongoing How can they be sustained / enhanced? If you could do it on bigger areas it will be better
4 weeks (per ha) to implement
No maintenance (no costs) Not depended on rainfall

6.8 Weaknesses/ disadvantages/ risks of the Technology and ways of overcoming them

Weaknesses/ disadvantages/ risks in the compiler’s or other key resource person’s view	How can they be overcome?
Mechanical problems: not ripped deep enough you can experience problems
Need input from outside
Depending on knowledge from experts - expensive - need sponsor, from Government/other.
Laws not enough, slight increase of awareness under the farmers

7.2 References to available publications

Title, author, year, ISBN:

First report - 2001