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)

Royal University of Agriculture (RUA) - Cambodia

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:

The use of coconut leaves mulch for winter melon cultivation helps to conserve soil moisture, reduces evaporation, reduces weeds, saves water, preserves the soil from erosion, and increases crop productivity.

2.2 Detailed description of the Technology

Description:

Coconut leaves mulching is the process of covering the soil around plant root area using green/ dry coconut leaves to help keep the soil moisture longer and reduce evaporation and temperatures, especially during the dry season. Beside this, the use of coconut leaves mulch for covering rows of winter melons helps to prevent soil erosion, improves soil fertility, reduces weed growth, and increases soil fertility following the decomposition of the plant residues. The soils best suited to winter melon cultivation are loamy and sandy loam soils with a soil pH of between 5.0 and 6.3 and soils along the low-land areas. If the pH soil is lower than 5.0, the melon growth is not good and may accelerate the ripening of the fruit before the appropriate time, with the fruit plants sometimes dying due to lack of nutrients (TSTD, 2012). The roots of the winter melon are able to grow in soil with a depth of between 65 and 100 cm, particularly sandy soils. This crop is not suitable for cultivation in areas which are wind prone because of increased moisture loss through plant evapotranspiration. Such areas are also sometimes prone to high temperatures which are also unsuitable for winter melon.

The implementation area for this study was 280 squares meters, with a row height of 20-30 centimeters, a row width of 1 meter, row length of 40 meters, and row spacing of 1.5 meters. There were a total of 8 planted rows, with 40 melon stems being planted into each row. The crop stems and the intercrop space between the rows is covered with coconut leaves by laying the leaves along the slopes of the melon crop, with 5 or 6 coconut leaves as mulch along the two sides of the crop. In order to save time and water, farmers used drip irrigation using a pipe irrigation system that could provide water at a rate of about 6 liters per house, twice daily (in the morning and evening). Irrigation was provided over 20 minute periods at a rate of 100 ml per minute (although this was reduced during the rainy season). The watering technique is not required to fill the basal area of the stem of growing winter melon plants. Water is generally not provided at noon or late evening as watering at this time can cause problems, such as rotting of roots. If the soil around the stem becomes dry, more water should be applied at short notice without waiting for the soil to dry out. This is particularly important in the period immediately after planting of the seedlings, when water and nutrients are important for initial plant growth. Also, during the flowering and fruiting phases of melon plant growth, water needs have to be closely monitored. As the soil had previously been used for sugarcane cropping, the nutrient status of the soil was low, so farmers have improved the soil nutrient status by adding some organic fertilizer (cow manure) and some chemical fertilizers in an appropriate manner. In addition, some pesticides have been used as well.

In general, the advantage of this technique is the low cost materials which are locally available, such as coconut leaves, and materials which can be purchased in the local market, such as drip pipe, black plastic string, etc. However, the important aspects of the adoption of this technique, besides improving soil quality and maintaining a stable environment, is that it provides practical and potential economic benefits to farmers of about 800,000 (US$ 200) Riel per season.

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

Indicate year of implementation:

2013

2.7 Introduction of the Technology

Specify how the Technology was introduced:

• through projects/ external interventions

Comments (type of project, etc.):

USAID Harvest project and Boosting Food Production

3.1 Main purpose(s) of the Technology

• improve production
• adapt to climate change/ extremes and its impacts
• create beneficial economic impact

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

Comments:

ដំណាំត្រឡាច

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)

Comments:

From 1992 to 2012 farmers were growing sugarcane

3.4 Water supply

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

• full irrigation

3.5 SLM group to which the Technology belongs

• improved ground/ vegetation cover
• ground water management

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

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

other/ national currency (specify):

Riel

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

4000.0

4.3 Establishment activities

	Activity	Timing (season)
1.	Drying soil in the field	After harvest of crops
2.	Create rows by hilling up soil	Before onset of rains
3.	Installation of the irrigation system	before outplanting of the winter melon
4.	Digging the hole	2 days before transplanting
5.	Outplanting of the winter melon seedlings including the cover by coconut leaves	1 day of outplanting
6.	Building the pole of support	3 days after transplanting
7.	Seedling transplantation	Before onset of rains

4.4 Costs and inputs needed for establishment

	Specify input	Unit	Quantity	Costs per Unit	Total costs per input	% of costs borne by land users
Labour	Seedling preparation	person-day	1.0	25000.0	25000.0	100.0
Labour	Soil preparation	person-day	5.0	30000.0	150000.0	100.0
Labour	Building of the pole support	person-day	2.0	25000.0	50000.0	100.0
Labour	Installment of the irrigation system	pieces	2.5	27500.0	68750.0	100.0
Equipment	Hoe	set	2.0	7000.0	14000.0	100.0
Equipment	Scissors	set	5.0	2500.0	12500.0	100.0
Equipment	Hacksaw	set	1.0	12000.0	12000.0	100.0
Equipment	Axe	set	1.0	12000.0	12000.0	100.0
Equipment	Watering can	pair	2.0	25000.0	50000.0	100.0
Equipment	Floral hoe	set	3.0	15000.0	45000.0	100.0
Fertilizers and biocides	Pesticide	bottle	2.0	2500.0	5000.0	100.0
Fertilizers and biocides	DAP	bottle	2.0	25000.0	50000.0	100.0
Fertilizers and biocides	Cali	kg	50.0	2400.0	120000.0	100.0
Fertilizers and biocides	UREA	kg	50.0	1800.0	90000.0	100.0
Fertilizers and biocides	Cow manure	bag	1.0	25000.0	25000.0	100.0
Construction material	Black string for building pole support	kg	5.0	47000.0	235000.0	100.0
Construction material	Irrigation pipes	pieces	2.5	90000.0	225000.0	100.0
Construction material	Valve	number	1.0	20000.0	20000.0	100.0
Other	Create rows by hilling up soil	person-day	2.0	25000.0	50000.0	100.0
Total costs for establishment of the Technology					1259250.0
Total costs for establishment of the Technology in USD					314.81

4.5 Maintenance/ recurrent activities

	Activity	Timing/ frequency
1.	Watering in the morning and evening	2 times per day, 2-3 minutes per time
2.	Cutting the grass or branches of plant (3-4 braches)	every 14 days per time during the growing period
3.	Spraying the pesticide if needed	when damaged by insects
4.	Fixing the irrigaton pipes	once per growing season
5.	Installing poles support for the melon	once per growing season

4.6 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	Thinning the branches	Person-day	1.0	25000.0	25000.0	100.0
Labour	Fixing the irrigation pipes	Person-day	1.0	20000.0	20000.0	100.0
Equipment	Irrigation pipes	kg	8.0	4700.0	37600.0	100.0
Equipment	Black strings for pole support	kg	7.0	4700.0	32900.0	100.0
Total costs for maintenance of the Technology					115500.0
Total costs for maintenance of the Technology in USD					28.88

4.7 Most important factors affecting the costs

Describe the most determinate factors affecting the costs:

•Fixing the irrigation pipes is 20000 Riel for repair service per time.
•Buying the black string for building pole support, which is 37600 Riel per time.

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

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:

• individual, titled

Land use rights:

• individual

Water use rights:

• communal (organized)
• individual

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

Climate and disaster risk reduction

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	increase or decrease	How does the Technology cope with it?
annual temperature		increase	moderately
seasonal temperature	summer	increase	moderately
annual rainfall		increase	moderately

Climate-related extremes (disasters)

Meteorological disasters

	How does the Technology cope with it?
local rainstorm	moderately

Hydrological disasters

	How does the Technology cope with it?
flash flood	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

• 11-50%

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

16 housholds of Chamkar Ou village implemented the technology (the one examined in this case study included)

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

• 11-50%

Comments:

8 households of all those have adopted the technology without receiving any material incentives/materials. However, the other households got supports from the USAID Harvest project include the cropping techniques and fertilizer application. The project of Boosting Food Production is providing the training on food safety for market demand.

6.6 Adaptation

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

No

6.7 Strengths/ advantages/ opportunities of the Technology

Strengths/ advantages/ opportunities in the land user’s view
This form of mulching is good for some farmers who do not have money for the purchase of plastic mulching materials.
It provides good soil health and keeps a stable environment for humans.

Strengths/ advantages/ opportunities in the compiler’s or other key resource person’s view
It is important that the farmers can understand the environment, and that they can also find low cost materials around their houses, such as coconut leaves mulch, because such materials will not pollute the soil and environment.
Keep the soil quality using animal manure (cow dung)

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?
It is difficult for first time implementation.	Try as much as possible to learn from the growing experience.

7.1 Methods/ sources of information

7.2 References to available publications

Title, author, year, ISBN:

Lalljee, B., 2013. Mulching as a mitigation agricultural technology against land degradation in the wake of climate change. International Soil and Water Conservation Research, 1(3), pp. 68-74.

Available from where? Costs?

Free of charge

7.3 Links to relevant online information

Title/ description:

Agricultural Technique Manual of Tonle Sap Poverty Reduction and Smallholder Development Project

URL:

http://www.tssdcambodia.org/