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

Name of project which facilitated the documentation/ evaluation of the Technology (if relevant)

Scaling-up SLM practices by smallholder farmers (IFAD)

Name of the institution(s) which facilitated the documentation/ evaluation of the Technology (if relevant)

Uganda Landcare Network (ULN) - Uganda

1.3 Conditions regarding the use of data documented through WOCAT

When were the data compiled (in the field)?

10/05/2017

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

Comments:

Crop rotation enhances soil fertility due to its ability to maintain plant nutrients.

2.1 Short description of the Technology

Definition of the Technology:

Crop rotation is a common practice used by farmers in northern Uganda. It involves the growing a series of different types of crops in the same field in sequential seasons to improve soil fertility, nutrition, income and food security .

2.2 Detailed description of the Technology

Description:

With crop rotation, a crop that leaches the soil of one kind of nutrient is followed during the next growing season by a another crop that returns that nutrient to the soil or draws a different ratio of nutrients.

At the start of the season, soybean was planted on a gently sloping land in rows in a spacing of 1 meter between the rows and 30 cm between the plants. In the subsubsequent year, cassava tuber stems were cut at a length of 30 cm and planted in a hole of 30 cm depth and a spacing of 1 meter using the following required in puts: seed, hired labour, tractor, ox-plough, hoes and pangas (axes). This technology integrated as well the construction of trenches within the field for soil and water conservation.

The application of this technology increased crop yields as evidenced by the land user. Crop rotation mitigates as well the build up of pathogens and pests that often occur when one species is continuously cropped in the same location. Crop rotation improves soil structure and fertility by increasing subsoil biomass from various root structures. While promoting this practice, its important that the landuser plants as well legumes for nitrogen fixation after cropping a nitrogen depleting crop. Similarly, a low residue crop (i.e. a crop with low biomass) should be followed by a high biomass crop, like a mixture of grasses and legumes.

The application of this technology requires the land user to subdivide the land into different portions for different crops. Crops could be planted in the following manner: 1) Cereals crop with legumes, 2) Deep rooted with shallow rooted and a cover crop.

Important to note is that crop rotation is good at preventing soil depletion, maintaining soil fertility, reducing soil erosion, controlling insect/mite pests, reducing reliance on synthetic chemicals, reducing the pests' build-up and controlling weeds. On the other hand, crop rotation can be dangerous and may affect a following crop with diseases originating from the first crop.

2.3 Photos of the Technology

2.4 Videos 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

Indicate year of implementation:

2015

2.7 Introduction of the Technology

Specify how the Technology was introduced:

• through land users' innovation

Comments (type of project, etc.):

The cassava stems were obtained from Agago District Local Government supplied by Operation Wealth Creation (OWC).

3.1 Main purpose(s) of the Technology

• improve production
• reduce, prevent, restore land degradation
• adapt to climate change/ extremes and its impacts
• create beneficial economic impact

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

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

It was originally uncultivated land.

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:

Mostly cultivated during the wet season

3.4 SLM group to which the Technology belongs

• rotational systems (crop rotation, fallows, shifting cultivation)
• integrated soil fertility management

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:

• 0.1-1 km2

3.6 SLM measures comprising the Technology

3.7 Main types of land degradation addressed by the Technology

3.8 Prevention, reduction, or restoration of land degradation

Specify the goal of the Technology with regard to land degradation:

• prevent land degradation
• reduce land degradation

4.1 Technical drawing of the Technology

4.2 Technical specifications/ explanations of technical drawing

Soybean was been planted on gentlly sloping land in rows in a spacing of 1 meter between the rows and 30 cm between the plants. In the subsubsequent year, cassava was planted. The tuber stems were cut at a length of 30 cm and planted in a hole of 30 cm depth and a spacing of 1 x 1 meter integrated with trenches for soil and water conservation.

4.3 General information regarding the calculation of inputs and costs

Specify how costs and inputs were calculated:

• per Technology area

other/ national currency (specify):

UGX

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

3500.0

4.4 Establishment activities

	Activity	Type of measure	Timing
1.	Acquiring cassava stems from Operation Wealth Creation	Agronomic	March
2.	Clearing the land by tractor	Agronomic	Late March
3.	Planting using hired labour	Agronomic	Early april

4.5 Costs and inputs needed for establishment

	Specify input	Unit	Quantity	Costs per Unit	Total costs per input	% of costs borne by land users
Labour	Hired labour	acres	10.0	2500.0	25000.0	100.0
Equipment	Tractor	pice	1.0	70000.0	70000.0	100.0
Equipment	Ox-plough	pice	1.0	17000.0	17000.0	100.0
Equipment	Axes	pieces	2.0	7000.0	14000.0	100.0
Equipment	Pangas	pices	2.0	10000.0	20000.0	100.0
Equipment	Hoes	pieces	5.0	10000.0	50000.0	100.0
Plant material	Seeds	1	100.0	5000.0	500000.0	100.0
Total costs for establishment of the Technology					696000.0

4.6 Maintenance/ recurrent activities

	Activity	Type of measure	Timing/ frequency
1.	Weeding	Agronomic	May
2.	Establishing a fireline	Agronomic	December

Comments:

There exists a risk of fire outbreaks in cassava cultivations.

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

	Specify input	Unit	Quantity	Costs per Unit	Total costs per input	% of costs borne by land users
Labour	Mans days for weeding for one month	1	30.0	5000.0	150000.0	100.0
Equipment	Hoe	Piece	5.0	12000.0	60000.0	100.0
Total costs for maintenance of the Technology					210000.0

If land user bore less than 100% of costs, indicate who covered the remaining costs:

no one

4.8 Most important factors affecting the costs

Describe the most determinate factors affecting the costs:

Seeds, tractor and labour hire.

5.1 Climate

5.2 Topography

Indicate if the Technology is specifically applied in:

• not relevant

Comments and further specifications on topography:

Generally flat landscape.

5.3 Soils

5.4 Water availability and quality

Is water salinity a problem?

No

Is flooding of the area occurring?

No

5.5 Biodiversity

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, not titled

Land use rights:

• individual

Water use rights:

• communal (organized)

5.9 Access to services and infrastructure

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

Biodiversity: vegetation, animals

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

Gradual climate change

Gradual climate change

	Season	Type of climatic change/ extreme	How does the Technology cope with it?
annual temperature		increase	moderately
seasonal temperature	wet/ rainy season	increase	moderately
annual rainfall		decrease	moderately
seasonal rainfall	wet/ rainy season	decrease	moderately

Climate-related extremes (disasters)

Meteorological disasters

	How does the Technology cope with it?
local rainstorm	moderately
local hailstorm	moderately

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

• 10-50%

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

10 household

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

• 50-90%

6.6 Adaptation

Has the Technology been modified recently to adapt to changing conditions?

Yes

If yes, indicate to which changing conditions it was adapted:

• climatic change/ extremes

Specify adaptation of the Technology (design, material/ species, etc.):

Crop rotation spectrum increased through incorporating maize into the rotation system.

6.7 Strengths/ advantages/ opportunities of the Technology

Strengths/ advantages/ opportunities in the land user’s view
Helps in controlling weeds thus improving productivity.
Good at providing income after sale of two crops.
Enhances maximum nutrients utilization.

Strengths/ advantages/ opportunities in the compiler’s or other key resource person’s view
Good at preventing depletion of nutrients hence, maintaining soil fertility.
Reduces soil erosion.
Reduces pest build-up therefore, reduces disease infestation.
Improves productivity and enhances maximum nutrients utilization.

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?
The fungi and pests left behind from the a previous crop can potentially harm the new crop.	Liase with agronomist for advice on appropriate pesticides and fungicides to use.
More time is required in preparing fields for crop ahead of rotation.	Proper timing of farm operations in preparation of rotations.

Weaknesses/ disadvantages/ risks in the compiler’s or other key resource person’s view	How can they be overcome?
The fungi and pests left behind from the a previous crop can potentially harm the new crop.	Liase with agronomist for advice on appropriate pesticides and fungicides to use.
More time is required in preparing field for crop ahead of rotation.	Proper timing of farm operations in preparation of rotations.
May affect second with disease if the first crop was diseased.	Need for spraying before planting.

7.1 Methods/ sources of information

7.2 References to available publications

Title, author, year, ISBN:

Efforts by Small-Scale Farmers to Maintain Soil Fertility and Their Impacts on Soil Properties, Luwero District, Uganda, K.Nyombi, K.B.Ester and Jj.Y.K.Zake2018

Available from where? Costs?

https://www.tandfonline.com/author/Zake%2C+J+Y+K

7.3 Links to relevant information which is available online

Title/ description:

Cropping systems and soil quality and fertility in south-central Uganda

URL:

Researchgate.net/publication/330101543_