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)

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

1.5 Reference to Questionnaire(s) on SLM Approaches (documented using WOCAT)

Creation of sowed pastures from subshrubs and forbs … [Kazakhstan]

Increase of use effectiveness of limited resources of soil moisture in desert with sowing xerophyte fodder plants

• Compiler: Irina Skorintseva
• 01/20/2009 midnight

2.1 Short description of the Technology

Definition of the Technology:

Selection fodder plants and the technology of their cultivation for maximal use of poor soil water in desert

2.2 Detailed description of the Technology

Description:

1. Artificial fodder rangelands in desert are created in strong degraded sites by sowing of fodder subshrubs and perennial forbs.
2. The list of the fittest fodder plants, which can maximally effective use the poor desert soil resources, is established
3. The most capable plants belong to Chenopodiacia family: Kohia p., Salsola o., Ceratoides p., Artemisia t., to Areminea family – Agropyrum desertorum.
4. The preparation of soil for sowing is of sparing sort of under-winter ploughing (spike-tooth disk harrow). Sowing of subshrubs is carried out under winter in treated soil with sowing standard 2 million germinating seeds per 1 hectare. Agropyrum d. is sowed in early spring. Before sowing seeds are mixed in equal quantities at total sowing standard 2 million germinating seeds per 1 hectare.
5. The grazing is prohibited in the first year. It is possible to use the sowed site moderately since the latter half of the second year.
The cost of 1 hectare is 2700-3100 tenge with taking into account petrol, salary etc.

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

Comments (type of project, etc.):

SPCLHV( Scientific Production Centre for Livestock Husbandry and Veterinary)

3.1 Main purpose(s) of the Technology

• improve production
• create beneficial economic impact

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

Cropland

• Tree and shrub cropping

Tree and shrub cropping - Specify crops:

• fodder trees (Calliandra, Leucaena leucocephala, Prosopis, etc.)
• fruits, other

Grazing land

Extensive grazing:

• Nomadism
• Semi-nomadic pastoralism

Intensive grazing/ fodder production:

• Improved pastures

Animal type:

• sheep

Forest/ woodlands

• Artemisia and Ceratoides (Krascheninnikovia)

Comments:

Shrub species: Combination of Kochia, Solsola, Artemisia and Ceratoides (Krascheninnikovia)

Major land use problems (compiler’s opinion): The pasture production decline, containment of livestock husbandry development, low living standards of stock-breeders

Major land use problems (land users’ perception): Complication of animal maintenance, worsening of abode ecological conditions, forced migration

Number of growing seasons per year: 2
Longest growing period in days: 180; Longest growing period from month to month: Mar - Oct; Second longest growing period in days: 45; Second longest growing period from month to month: Sep - Oct

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 plant varieties/ animal breeds

3.6 SLM measures comprising the Technology

agronomic measures

• A1: Vegetation/ soil cover
• A3: Soil surface treatment
• A5: Seed management, improved varieties

vegetative measures

Comments:

Main measures: agronomic measures

Secondary measures: vegetative measures

Type of agronomic measures: early planting, relay cropping, mixed cropping / intercropping, minimum tillage

3.7 Main types of land degradation addressed by the Technology

soil erosion by water

• Wt: loss of topsoil/ surface erosion

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

4.1 Technical drawing of the Technology

4.2 General information regarding the calculation of inputs and costs

Specify currency used for cost calculations:

• USD

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: .tractor ÌÒÇ, flat hoe, seeder, roller

For conditions of degraded wormwood-ephemeron pastures in light clay sand carbonate serozems in north kazakhstan desert subzone

4.7 Most important factors affecting the costs

Describe the most determinate factors affecting the costs:

value of petrol

5.1 Climate

5.2 Topography

Comments and further specifications on topography:

Altitudinal zone: 490-510 m a.s.l.

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 depth on average: Dust content is up to 80% in autumn

Soil texture (topsoil): Clay sand light serozems

Soil fertility is very low with a humus content of 0.8-1.2%

Topsoil organic matter: 0.8-1.2%

Soil drainage / infiltration is medium due to crushed stone base

Soil water storage capacity is in spring 17-21 and in autumn the producing moisture is lacking

5.6 Characteristics of land users applying the Technology

Indicate other relevant characteristics of the land users:

Population density: 10-50 persons/km2

Annual population growth: 0.5% - 1%

10% of the land users are very rich and own 10% of the land.
10% of the land users are rich and own 40% of the land.
10% of the land users are average wealthy and own 30% of the land.
60% of the land users are poor and own 10% of the land.

Market orientation of production system: The possibility of primary accumulation of circulating

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

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

Land ownership:

• communal/ village

Land use rights:

• open access (unorganized)

6.1 On-site impacts the Technology has shown

Socio-economic impacts

Production

Other socio-economic impacts

Socio-cultural impacts

Ecological impacts

Soil

Other ecological impacts

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

• 11-50%

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

12 households coverin 20 percent of stated area

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

• 91-100%

Comments:

Comments on acceptance with external material support: survey results

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

Comments on spontaneous adoption: survey results

There is a little trend towards spontaneous adoption of the Technology

Comments on adoption trend: stock breeders advantaged and of moderate means can allow the introduction of SWC-technology in small area for now

6.7 Strengths/ advantages/ opportunities of the Technology

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

7.1 Methods/ sources of information

7.2 References to available publications

Title, author, year, ISBN:

1.Agribiological aspects of creation and use of pasturable phytocenoses in north desert subzone. Abstract of doctoral thesis, Alimaev I., Almaty,. 2001.

Available from where? Costs?

Almaty, free. Tel 8-(3272) 21-44-76

Title, author, year, ISBN:

2.Fodder production of south-east and east regions. /Pastures and haylands of Kazakhstan, Alimaev I., Isakov K., and others, Almaty. 1998.

Available from where? Costs?

Almaty, free. Tel 8-(3272) 21-44-76