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)

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:

Soil tillage with chisel, non-inversion of furrow, 28 cm depth of tillage implemented.

2.2 Detailed description of the Technology

Description:

The technology is applied in Braila region and is located in north-eastern part of Romanian Plain. It has an agricultural area of 387,646 ha (of which 350,001 ha are arable land), and has specific geomorphologic, hydrological and climatic conditions which need to use ameliorative agricultural systems. Within Braila County are distinguished the following relief units: Calmatui Plain, part of the Braila Plain (51% from County area) and the Floodplains of Danube (Big Island of Braila), Siret, Buzau and Calmatui rivers (49% from County area).
Braila Plain is characterized by a specific micro-relief of Baragan type with large floodplains, poorly fragmented, with altitudes ranging between 20-25 m in the east part and 35-40 m to the west part, with soils mainly of chernozem type, formed on loess and loess deposits and which shows numerous small depression areas. Floodplains, areas adjacent to Danube, Siret, Buzau and Calmatui rivers are located at lower altitudes, ranging between 2-4 m and 13-15 m and are characterized by the presence of alluvial soils formed on river-limnic and alluvial deposits, with alternating of layers with different textures. According to United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification, Braila County is located in arid region with an average annual temperature of 10.9°C, long-term average annual precipitations (P) of 447 mm, potential evapotranspiration (ETP) of 705 mm (750-800 mm in dry years) and an average climatic water deficit of 258 mm (350-400 mm in dry years). The biophysical aridity index (P/ETP = 0.50-0.65) places the Braila region in area with moderate risk to desertification. Both intensive and extensive farming systems are practiced within Braila County. Intensive agriculture, characterized by high inputs and yield levels, is realized on large vegetal farms. On the other hand, extensive agriculture, with low input and yield levels, is practiced by farmers on small vegetal farms, and is so-called the semi-subsistent agriculture.
The chisel tillage technology is an agronomic measure, that is practiced on medium to large farms (from 50 ha to more than 1000 ha in size) within the North-Eastern part of the Romanian Plain. Over the past years some farmers have changed the farming system from conventional to reduced or conservation tillage. The most important characteristic of the technology is that the farmers do not invert the furrow during the main soil tillage operation. Also the soils are covered by plant residues (cereals straw and maize stalk chopped) on 30% of soil surface. In this way, in the long term, the soils remain protected from destructive factors, as e.g. erosive rainfalls, increases soil water retention capacity, and with this water availability and infiltration rate increase. The technology is applied on arable land with annual crops. The advantage of the tillage by chisel is that it leaves a higher surface roughness and is less destructive to soil aggregates.
The technology is applied on flat Fluvisols and Chernozems. The soil depth is very deep, the texture is in the medium class within the whole profile and the organic matter content is in medium range (1-3 %). The technology was firstly applied within a research project by the Agricultural Research and Development Station of Braila (ARDS Braila) and later was adopted by some land users within the area. The chisel equipment is usually bought by land users which have big vegetal farms. However, the equipment may be borrowed/leased by other land users from neighborhood.
In the land user's view, the strengths of the technology are as follows: positive effects on soil structure, biodiversity and soil water conservation, is a simple agricultural technique. In addition, the weaknesses of the technology reported by the land user might be: high investment costs for buying new agricultural machinery which can be met by renting from other farmers/agricultural contractors, new technology requires greater skill of the farmer which can be countered by further education and training, and sometimes soil surface neuniformity which can be prevented by additional tillage.

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:

Romania

Region/ State/ Province:

Braila

Further specification of location:

Braila

Specify the spread of the Technology:

• evenly spread over an area

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

• < 0.1 km2 (10 ha)

Comments:

Documentation of the technology is based on examination of field plots tilled by chisel smaller than 0.1 km2.

Map

×

2.6 Date of implementation

If precise year is not known, indicate approximate date:

• 10-50 years ago

2.7 Introduction of the Technology

Specify how the Technology was introduced:

• during experiments/ research

Comments (type of project, etc.):

The technology was firstly implemented in the early 2000's and described by the Agricultural Research and Development Station of Braila (ARDS Braila) which is subordinated to the Academy of Agricultural and Forestry Sciences. The station ARDS Braila conducts research and development in the following subjects: irrigation systems, agricultural technologies and improvement and reclamation of salted soils.

3.1 Main purpose(s) of the Technology

• reduce, prevent, restore land degradation
• preserve/ improve biodiversity
• adapt to climate change/ extremes and its impacts

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

Cropland

• Annual cropping

Annual cropping - Specify crops:

• cereals - maize
• cereals - wheat (winter)
• oilseed crops - sunflower, rapeseed, other

Number of growing seasons per year:

• 1

Comments:

Main crops (cash and food crops): winter wheat, maize, sunflower

3.4 Water supply

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

• mixed rainfed-irrigated

3.5 SLM group to which the Technology belongs

• minimal soil disturbance

3.6 SLM measures comprising the Technology

agronomic measures

• A3: Soil surface treatment

A3: Differentiate tillage systems:

A 3.2: Reduced tillage (> 30% soil cover)

3.7 Main types of land degradation addressed by the Technology

physical soil deterioration

• Pu: loss of bio-productive function due to other activities

Comments:

Physical soil deterioration due to soil structure destruction.

3.8 Prevention, reduction, or restoration of land degradation

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

• reduce land degradation

4.1 Technical drawing of the Technology

4.2 General information regarding the calculation of inputs and costs

Specify how costs and inputs were calculated:

• per Technology area

Specify currency used for cost calculations:

• USD

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

4.12

4.4 Costs and inputs needed for establishment

Comments:

No initial investment needed, as for the machinery land users are working with agricultural contractors from the neighboring area or other land users that own the equipment.

4.5 Maintenance/ recurrent activities

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

4.7 Most important factors affecting the costs

Describe the most determinate factors affecting the costs:

Costs are mostly affected by input costs (e.g. seeds, biocides). Costs do not include chisel equipment because the farmer rely on borrowing/leasing the equipment from other land users or agricultural contractors from the neighboring area.

5.1 Climate

5.2 Topography

Indicate if the Technology is specifically applied in:

• not relevant

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

Indicate other relevant characteristics of the land users:

The technology was firstly implemented by the Agricultural Research and Development Station of Braila.

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:

• state
• individual, not titled

Land use rights:

• leased

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

Soil

Biodiversity: vegetation, animals

6.2 Off-site impacts the Technology has shown

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

Climate-related extremes (disasters)

Meteorological disasters

Climatological disasters

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

• 1-10%

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

• 91-100%

Comments:

One land user has implemented the technology voluntary.

6.6 Adaptation

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

No

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:

"Lucrarea conservativa a solului intre traditie si perspectiva in agricultura durabila" (Conservative tillage of soil between tradition and perspective in sustainable agriculture), Elisabeta Dumitru et. al., 2005, ISBN 973-86587-9-9.