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

1.4 Declaration on sustainability of the described Technology

Is the Technology described here problematic with regard to land degradation, so that it cannot be declared a sustainable land management technology?

No

2.1 Short description of the Technology

Definition of the Technology:

Manejo integrado de producción de café con miras a una producción orgánica.

2.2 Detailed description of the Technology

Description:

Windbreaks of trees are a major agroforestry system across Central Asia. The SLM technology presented here concentrates on windbreaks, chiefly of poplar trees (Populus nigra var. pyramidalis), within irrigated agriculture. These windbreaks of poplars have a long tradition as an agroforestry system in irrigated agriculture in the river basins of south and southeastern Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan. In Kazakhstan and northern parts of Kyrgyzstan, poplars are partly replaced by Elm (Ulmus minor) windbreaks.
After those five countries had become independent, a large share of the windbreaks was cut down primarily for fuelwood and secondarily for timber, as the energy supply system had broken down in the course of the disintegration of the Soviet Union. Such windbreaks reduce the overall water consumption of irrigated agriculture by 10-20% compared to open field conditions, depending on crops and tree spacing (Thevs et al., 2019: doi:10.3390/land8110167). The trees serve as an additional source of income, chiefly from sustainable harvest of the trees for timber. Windbreaks also help to increase crop yields. In total, farm income is increased by 10-15% over the rotation period of the trees (Thevs and Aliev, 2021: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10457-021-00617-7). The rotation period of poplars is between 12 and 20 years, depending on the climatic conditions, e.g. poplars in the Ferghana Valles reach DBH (diametre at breast height) values of 22-27 cm and tree heights of 18 m after 13 years.
In this recent assessment, it was found that windbreaks of single tree rows with distances between trees of 1 m had the best effects on water saving and increasing farm income. The most suitable spacing between windbreaks was found to be around 200 m.
Windbreaks are perceived differently by land users depending on the region and knowledge (Ruppert et al., 2020: doi:10.3390/su12031093). For example, land users in the Ferghana Valley perceived windbreaks positively and were planting them primarily with the aim to have wood resources in the near future. In contrast, land users in the northern part of Kyrgyzstan were afraid firstly that windbreaks shaded their crops, consumed space, and competed for water and nutrients, and secondly that planting windbreaks may cause conflicts with neighbours due to those negative connotations. Farmers with larger field plots were more open towards them.
Windbreaks are planted with 2-year-old poplar saplings, which are locally available. The preferred place to plant is along irrigation ditches or other existing field boundaries. If windbreaks are planted along irrigation ditches, they simply tap water from the moist soil or elevated groundwater adjacent to those ditches. Otherwise, the trees need to be irrigated like the crops. As furrow irrigation is the dominant irrigation practice throughout Central Asia, poplars can be integrated without further adjustments in the field of irrigation. Alongside irrigation ditches poplars can withstand high water levels in those ditches as they occur during irrigation periods. If farmers switch to drip irrigation, and irrigation ditches are no longer present, the trees will need to be supplied with a dripline as well. The locally available poplar cultivars do not need additional fertilizer, but profit from the fertilizer applied to the crop. Only if high yielding modern cultivars were to be used, additional fertilizer application to the trees would be needed to unfold their full potential.

2.3 Photos of the Technology

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

Country:

Costa Rica

Region/ State/ Province:

Alajuela

Specify the spread of the Technology:

• evenly spread over an area

If the Technology is evenly spread over an area, specify area covered (in km2):

2.75

Comments:

2.75 km2.
Este área de la tecnología es uno de 8 áreas pilotos del proyecto MAG/FAO.

Map

×

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

3.1 Main purpose(s) of the Technology

• improve production

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

Land use mixed within the same land unit:

Yes

Specify mixed land use (crops/ grazing/ trees):

• Agroforestry

Cropland

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

Tree and shrub cropping - Specify crops:

• coffee, shade grown

Number of growing seasons per year:

• 2

Specify:

210 Días, de Mayo hasta Noviembre y 150 días, de Diciembre hasta Abril

Comments:

Problemas principales del uso de tierras: Uso excesivo de herbicidas, descubierto del suelo unido a la poca utilización de suelos. El uso pasado que se dio al suelo (tabaco), uso excesivo de herbicidas.
Tipo de sistema de cultivo y cultivos principales: Sistema agrosilvicultura: café arbolado en combinación de frutas y verduras.

3.5 SLM group to which the Technology belongs

• integrated crop-livestock management

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

chemical soil deterioration

• Cn: fertility decline and reduced organic matter content (not caused by erosion)

water degradation

• Ha: aridification

4.1 Technical drawing of the Technology

4.2 General information regarding the calculation of inputs and costs

other/ national currency (specify):

colones

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

315.0

4.3 Establishment activities

4.5 Maintenance/ recurrent activities

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

Comments:

Promedios costos por fanega de café por año (vease calculación adicional).

4.7 Most important factors affecting the costs

Describe the most determinate factors affecting the costs:

Pendiente fuerte, costo mano de obra, costo de los insumos.

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:

Densedad de población: 100-200 personas/km2
Crecimiento anual de población: 1% - 2%
Especificación del ingreso fuera de la finca: Muchos habitantes se trasladan a trabajar en manufacturas y "polleras" (procesan el pollo), los insumos de la finca no son suficientes para toda la familia.

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

Land use rights:

• communal (organized)
• individual

6.5 Adoption of the Technology

Comments:

100% de las familias de usuarios de la tierra han adoptado la tecnología con soporte de material externo
45 familias de usuarios de la tierra han adoptado la tecnología con apoyo material externo
70% de las familias de usuarios de la tierra han adoptado la tecnología sin ningún tipo de apoyo material externo
32 familias de usuarios de la tierra han adoptado la Tecnología sin ningún tipo de apoyo material externo
Existe una tendencia moderada hacia la adopción espontánea de la Tecnología.

7.1 Methods/ sources of information