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

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:

Desho grass strip is a vegetative SWC measure used for stablizing the bund and provide fodder for animals.

2.2 Detailed description of the Technology

Description:

Desho grass is established by planting tillered cuttings. It establishes easily with little soil moisture. It is a perennial herbaceous grass which has massive fibrous root system that anchors the plant to the bind. It provides better cover to the bund and establishes agressively. The growth is upright with a growth potential of 90-120 cm depending on the fertility of the soil and regenerates quickly. It can grow and mature (ready for harvesting) at least once in a month and it requires only one seasontime rain to cover the whole bund.

Purpose of the Technology: The purpose of Desho grass is to stablize the bund and provide palatable grass for livestock.

Establishment / maintenance activities and inputs: Desho grass can be established/regenerate by tiller splitting and planting. The soil should be moist during establishment of Desho grass.

Natural / human environment: Desho grass can grow at 1500-2800 m asl and its best performs at an altitude of 1700-2800m asl.

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

Country:

Ethiopia

Region/ State/ Province:

SNNPR

Further specification of location:

Sorro/Lintala, Ajacho

Specify the spread of the Technology:

• evenly spread over an area

If precise area is not known, indicate approximate area covered:

• 10-100 km2

Comments:

Importance in bund stablization of desho grass (Pennisetum pedecillatum Trin) is not well known. But it is fast growing and best for soil bund stablization in crop lands with multipurpose use. Desho grass increases the productivity of land taken by the bund. It is a good sources of forage. It also support food security efforts by substituting enset feeding.

Map

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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.):

SOS Sahel introduced Desho grass to be plant on bunds for stablization and forage development through Integrated Watershed Management Approach.

3.1 Main purpose(s) of the Technology

• improve production
• reduce, prevent, restore land degradation

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

Cropland

• Annual cropping
• Perennial (non-woody) cropping
• Tree and shrub cropping

Annual cropping - Specify crops:

• cereals - barley
• cereals - sorghum

• wheat, teff, Irish potato, haricot bean

• Enset, Desho grass

Tree and shrub cropping - Specify crops:

• avocado
• coffee, open grown

• Eucalyptus, Cajans cajan, Sesbania sesban, casmir

Number of growing seasons per year:

• 2

Specify:

Longest growing period in days: 180 Longest growing period from month to month: Apr - Sep Second longest growing period in days: 120 Second longest growing period from month to month: Jul - Sep

Grazing land

Intensive grazing/ fodder production:

• Cut-and-carry/ zero grazing

Forest/ woodlands

Products and services:

• Timber
• Fuelwood
• Other forest products
• Grazing/ browsing

Comments:

Major land use problems (compiler’s opinion): Population pressure, lack of land management skill, shortage of farm land, decline of soil fertility, low income (food insecurity)

Major land use problems (land users’ perception): Shortage of farm land, decline of soil fertility, low productivity per unit area of land and climate change (drought)

Grazingland comments: After Desho grass introduction the trends of grazing system change from open grazing on farm land to stall feeding and as a result land degradation problems are reduced in the area. The grass is used by cutoff and carry system.

Problems / comments regarding forest use: Focus on eucalyptus planting reduced crop production. Other multipurpose indeginous species should be considered.

Type of cropping system and major crops comments: Irish potato or haricot bean - wheat or barley or teff

3.3 Has land use changed due to the implementation of the Technology?

Has land use changed due to the implementation of the Technology?

• Yes (Please fill out the questions below with regard to the land use before implementation of the Technology)

Grazing land

Intensive grazing/ fodder production:

• Cut-and-carry/ zero grazing

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

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

Comments:

Main type of degradation addressed: Wt: loss of topsoil / surface erosion

Secondary types of degradation addressed: 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

4.1 Technical drawing of the Technology

4.2 General information regarding the calculation of inputs and costs

other/ national currency (specify):

Birr

If relevant, indicate exchange rate from USD to local currency (e.g. 1 USD = 79.9 Brazilian Real): 1 USD =:

8.6

4.3 Establishment activities

4.4 Costs and inputs needed for establishment

Comments:

Duration of establishment phase: 12 month(s)

4.5 Maintenance/ recurrent activities

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

Comments:

Machinery/ tools: shovel, hoe

Length of structure and grass strip

4.7 Most important factors affecting the costs

Describe the most determinate factors affecting the costs:

Cost/labour and requirment increased as slope increased.

5.1 Climate

5.2 Topography

Comments and further specifications on topography:

Altitudinal zone: <2400m a.s.l.
Landforms: Hill slopes (most of the catchment area up to 50% slope, ranked 1) and plateau/plains (around 10% slope, ranked 2)
Slopes on average: Also hilly (ranked 2) and rolling (ranked 3)

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 texture: Fine/heavy (clay loam)
Soil fertility: Very low (production is very low with out organic/chemical fertilizer, ranked 1) and low (production is low with out organic/chemical fertilizer, ranked 2)
Topsoil organic matter: Low (top fertile soil is eroded away)
Soil drainage/infiltration: Good (well drained nitosols)
Soil water storage capacity: Medium (lack of organic matter)

5.6 Characteristics of land users applying the Technology

Indicate other relevant characteristics of the land users:

Population density: 200-500 persons/km2
Annual population growth: 3% - 4%
28% of the land users are rich and own 40% of the land.
58% of the land users are average wealthy and own 50% of the land.
14% of the land users are poor and own 10% of the land.
Off-farm income specification: There is little difference between them.
Level of mechanization: Animal traction (ranked 1, on gentle to hilly slope oxen is used for ploughing) and manual work (ranked 2, manual labour is used on steep slopes)
Market orientation of cropland production system: subsistence (self-supply) land users produce crop for household consumption
Market orientation of grazing land production system: subsistence (self-supply) cattle rearing is for own use, traction and saving.
Market orientation of forest production system: subsistence (self-supply) and agroforestry
Market orientation of production system: agroforestry

5.7 Average area of land used by land users applying the Technology

6.1 On-site impacts the Technology has shown

Socio-economic impacts

Production

Income and costs

Socio-cultural impacts

Ecological impacts

Soil

6.2 Off-site impacts the Technology has shown

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

Comments:

66% of land user families have adopted the Technology with external material support

4145 land user families have adopted the Technology with external material support

Comments on acceptance with external material support: survey results

There is a strong trend towards spontaneous adoption of the Technology

Comments on adoption trend: The grass is very fast growing, easly to established and naturally palatable, good for stablizing bund, harvest once a month during rainy season and grows at right position and therefore it does not hinder other farm activities.

6.7 Strengths/ advantages/ opportunities of the Technology

7.1 Methods/ sources of information

7.2 References to available publications

Title, author, year, ISBN:

SOS Sahel IFSSP Terminal evaluation Report. 2003.

Title, author, year, ISBN:

Case study assessing the signifcance of Desho grass intervention on SWC structures, Food security Strategy, by Daniel Dantamo.