Technologies

Terrasse [Morocco]

Taghoulte

technologies_3208 - Morocco

Completeness: 88%

1. General information

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

Key resource person(s)

SLM specialist:
land user:

Outrif Sidi Hammadi

Morocco

SLM specialist:
Name of project which facilitated the documentation/ evaluation of the Technology (if relevant)
Decision Support for Mainstreaming and Scaling out Sustainable Land Management (GEF-FAO / DS-SLM)
Name of the institution(s) which facilitated the documentation/ evaluation of the Technology (if relevant)
Royaume du Maroc, Haut Commissariat aux Eaux et Forêts et à la Lutte Contre la Désertification (Royaume du Maroc) - Morocco

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. Description of the SLM Technology

2.1 Short description of the Technology

Definition of the Technology:

La terrasse correspond à une cassure de la pente du versant par la construction de murets, tallus ou de gradins. Elle permet de recueillir et infiltrer les eaux de pluie et par conséquent réduire le ruissellement et l'érosion des sols et améliorer le bilan hydrique du sol.

2.2 Detailed description of the Technology

Description:

Les terrasses sont construites sur des versants à pente <60%, à substrats meubles faciles à travailler et à climat aride et semi aride. Elles sont souvent proches des douars pour faciliter le travail et le gardienage. Elles consistent à la cassure de la pente par des murets, talus et gradins. Elles sont de hauteur 1 à 2 m, d'épaisseur 80 cm à la base et 50 cm à la tête avec un fruit vers l'intérieur. La longueur peut aller de quelques m à plusieurs centaines de m (5-200m). La largeur du gradin est variable selon la pente, de 50cm sur pente forte à 10m sur pente faible. Le gradin a une légère pente vers le versant. Les murets ou les tallus sont souvent renforcés par de la végétation naturelle (arbustes fourragers) ou plantée (arbres fruitiers).
Les terrasses cassent la pente du versant, augmentent l'infiltration de l'eau de pluie, réduisent le ruissellement et les pertes en terres et accumulent les sédiments sur le gradin. Le bilan hydrique et la fertilité du sol sont améliorés. Le travail du sol est plus facile. La productivité de la terres est améliorée, notamment en fourrage et en grain (céréales).
Les murets sont construits progressivement à partir des pierres collectées sur la terrasse. Ils sont renforcés par les herbes (fourrage), les arbustes et les arbres à usage multiples (fourrage, fruits, bois). Les murets et talus sont entretenus avant et après chaque saison pluvieuse (hiver: octobre-janvier). Elles sont amendées à chaque début de compagne agricole (octobre) par du fumier produit par le cheptel de l'exploitation.
Les terrasses augmentent la productivité des terres (amélioration du bilan hydrique) en améliorant l'infiltration de l'eau, réduisent l'érosion et conservant la fertilité des sols. Le revenu de l'exploitation se trouve amélioré.
A chaque fois que le terrain le permet, les paysans en construisent parceque ces aménagements augmentent la productivité la terre. Cependant, elles nécessitent des entretines réguliers et donc beaucoup de main d'oeuvre.

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:

Morocco

Region/ State/ Province:

Province Agadir-Ida Ou Tanane

Further specification of location:

Commune de Tamri

Specify the spread of the Technology:
  • evenly spread over an area
If precise area is not known, indicate approximate area covered:
  • 10-100 km2

2.6 Date of implementation

If precise year is not known, indicate approximate date:
  • more than 50 years ago (traditional)

2.7 Introduction of the Technology

Specify how the Technology was introduced:
  • as part of a traditional system (> 50 years)

3. Classification of the SLM Technology

3.1 Main purpose(s) of the Technology

  • improve production
  • reduce, prevent, restore land degradation
  • conserve ecosystem
  • protect a watershed/ downstream areas – in combination with other Technologies
  • preserve/ improve biodiversity
  • reduce risk of disasters
  • adapt to climate change/ extremes and its impacts
  • mitigate climate change and its impacts
  • create beneficial economic impact

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

Cropland

Cropland

  • Annual cropping
  • Tree and shrub cropping
Annual cropping - Specify crops:
  • fodder crops - other
  • cereals - barley
  • blé
Tree and shrub cropping - Specify crops:
  • olive
  • Arganier (cf. Argania spinosa)
Number of growing seasons per year:
  • 1
Comments:

Principales cultures (vivrières et commerciales): Céréales: orge, blé dur à usage domestique.
Principaux produits/ services: grain, paille, olive, noix d'argan (Arganier).

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

  • agroforestry
  • cross-slope measure
  • water harvesting

3.6 SLM measures comprising the Technology

agronomic measures

agronomic measures

  • A1: Vegetation/ soil cover
  • A2: Organic matter/ soil fertility
  • A3: Soil surface treatment
vegetative measures

vegetative measures

  • V1: Tree and shrub cover
  • V2: Grasses and perennial herbaceous plants
structural measures

structural measures

  • S1: Terraces
  • S2: Bunds, banks
  • S6: Walls, barriers, palisades, fences

3.7 Main types of land degradation addressed by the Technology

soil erosion by water

soil erosion by water

  • Wt: loss of topsoil/ surface erosion
  • Wg: gully erosion/ gullying
chemical soil deterioration

chemical soil deterioration

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

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. Technical specifications, implementation activities, inputs, and costs

4.1 Technical drawing of the Technology

Technical specifications (related to technical drawing):

- Murette:
Hauteur: 50 cm à 2 m; Epaisseur: 80 cm à la base et 50 cm à la tête;
Fruit (inclinaison): de 30%;
Espacement: de 60 cm à 10 m;
- Gradin:
Largeur: 60 cm à 10 m (sur pente faible);
Longueur: 4 à 200 m.

Author:

Sabir Mohamed

Date:

17/01/2017

4.2 General information regarding the calculation of inputs and costs

Specify how costs and inputs were calculated:
  • per Technology unit
Specify unit:

ligne de pierre

Specify dimensions of unit (if relevant):

de 50 m.

other/ national currency (specify):

Dirham marocain MAD

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

9.64971

Indicate average wage cost of hired labour per day:

70 MAD

4.3 Establishment activities

Activity Timing (season)
1. Collecte des pierres Toute l'année
2. Transport des pierres Automne
3. Construction des murets Automne
4. Apport de la terre fine (remblais) Automne
5. Terrassement Automne

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 Ouvrier Jour-personne 50.0 70.0 3500.0 100.0
Labour Ouvrier qualifié (Maâlam) Jour-personne 10.0 120.0 1200.0 100.0
Equipment Pioches Pioche 5.0 120.0 600.0 100.0
Equipment Pelles Pelle 5.0 120.0 600.0 100.0
Total costs for establishment of the Technology 5900.0
Total costs for establishment of the Technology in USD 611.42
Comments:

Parfois, dans les villages les pyasans réalisent des ouvrages lourds (demandant beaucoup de main d'oeuvre) en solidarité dans le cadre d'un travail communautaire appelé "Twiza".

4.5 Maintenance/ recurrent activities

Activity Timing/ frequency
1. Réhabilitation des murets et remises en place des pierres qui tombent du muret site aux événements pluvieux intenses. Chaque saison de culture
2. Réhaussement des murets après atterissement des sédiments. Chaque saison de culture

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 Ouvrier Jour - Personne 1.0 70.0 70.0
Labour Ouvrier qualifié (Maâlam) Jour - Personne 1.0 120.0 120.0 100.0
Total costs for maintenance of the Technology 190.0
Total costs for maintenance of the Technology in USD 19.69

4.7 Most important factors affecting the costs

Describe the most determinate factors affecting the costs:

La main d'oeuvre (soit salariée, soit familiale) est le facteur le plus important.
La terre et les pierres sont disponibles soit sur le versant, soit dans l'oued.
Les ouvriers les ramassent et les compilent pour construire la murette et le gradin.

5. Natural and human environment

5.1 Climate

Annual rainfall
  • < 250 mm
  • 251-500 mm
  • 501-750 mm
  • 751-1,000 mm
  • 1,001-1,500 mm
  • 1,501-2,000 mm
  • 2,001-3,000 mm
  • 3,001-4,000 mm
  • > 4,000 mm
Specify average annual rainfall (if known), in mm:

400.00

Specifications/ comments on rainfall:

Pluies irregulières dans le temps et dans l'espace.
Saison pluvieuse: hiver (novembre - février),
Saison sèche: été, 5 à 7 mois.
Orages en été (juillet-août), début automne (septembre).

Indicate the name of the reference meteorological station considered:

Agadir

Agro-climatic zone
  • semi-arid

Climat méditerranéen.

5.2 Topography

Slopes on average:
  • flat (0-2%)
  • gentle (3-5%)
  • moderate (6-10%)
  • rolling (11-15%)
  • hilly (16-30%)
  • steep (31-60%)
  • very steep (>60%)
Landforms:
  • plateau/plains
  • ridges
  • mountain slopes
  • hill slopes
  • footslopes
  • valley floors
Altitudinal zone:
  • 0-100 m a.s.l.
  • 101-500 m a.s.l.
  • 501-1,000 m a.s.l.
  • 1,001-1,500 m a.s.l.
  • 1,501-2,000 m a.s.l.
  • 2,001-2,500 m a.s.l.
  • 2,501-3,000 m a.s.l.
  • 3,001-4,000 m a.s.l.
  • > 4,000 m a.s.l.
Indicate if the Technology is specifically applied in:
  • concave situations

5.3 Soils

Soil depth on average:
  • very shallow (0-20 cm)
  • shallow (21-50 cm)
  • moderately deep (51-80 cm)
  • deep (81-120 cm)
  • very deep (> 120 cm)
Soil texture (topsoil):
  • coarse/ light (sandy)
  • medium (loamy, silty)
Soil texture (> 20 cm below surface):
  • coarse/ light (sandy)
  • medium (loamy, silty)
Topsoil organic matter:
  • low (<1%)
If available, attach full soil description or specify the available information, e.g. soil type, soil PH/ acidity, Cation Exchange Capacity, nitrogen, salinity etc.

Sol peu évolué.
pH = 7,5

5.4 Water availability and quality

Ground water table:

> 50 m

Availability of surface water:

poor/ none

Water quality (untreated):

good drinking water

Is water salinity a problem?

No

Is flooding of the area occurring?

No

Comments and further specifications on water quality and quantity:

En été, les nappes sont très profondes (100 m). Elles se rechargent en hiver. Mais la quantité n'est pas suffisante.

5.5 Biodiversity

Species diversity:
  • medium
Habitat diversity:
  • medium

5.6 Characteristics of land users applying the Technology

Sedentary or nomadic:
  • Sedentary
Market orientation of production system:
  • subsistence (self-supply)
Off-farm income:
  • less than 10% of all income
  • 10-50% of all income
Relative level of wealth:
  • poor
  • average
Individuals or groups:
  • individual/ household
  • groups/ community
Level of mechanization:
  • manual work
  • animal traction
Gender:
  • men
Age of land users:
  • middle-aged
  • elderly

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

  • < 0.5 ha
  • 0.5-1 ha
  • 1-2 ha
  • 2-5 ha
  • 5-15 ha
  • 15-50 ha
  • 50-100 ha
  • 100-500 ha
  • 500-1,000 ha
  • 1,000-10,000 ha
  • > 10,000 ha
Is this considered small-, medium- or large-scale (referring to local context)?
  • medium-scale

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

Land ownership:
  • individual, not titled
  • individual, titled
Land use rights:
  • open access (unorganized)
Water use rights:
  • communal (organized)

5.9 Access to services and infrastructure

health:
  • poor
  • moderate
  • good
education:
  • poor
  • moderate
  • good
technical assistance:
  • poor
  • moderate
  • good
employment (e.g. off-farm):
  • poor
  • moderate
  • good
markets:
  • poor
  • moderate
  • good
energy:
  • poor
  • moderate
  • good
roads and transport:
  • poor
  • moderate
  • good
drinking water and sanitation:
  • poor
  • moderate
  • good
financial services:
  • poor
  • moderate
  • good

6. Impacts and concluding statements

6.1 On-site impacts the Technology has shown

Socio-economic impacts

Production

crop production

decreased
increased
Quantity before SLM:

2 q/ha/an

Quantity after SLM:

5 q/ha/an

Comments/ specify:

Le bilan hydrique amélioré engendre une augmentation de la productivité.

crop quality

decreased
increased
Quantity before SLM:

1 q/ha/an

Quantity after SLM:

4 q/ha/an

fodder production

decreased
increased

fodder quality

decreased
increased

animal production

decreased
increased
Comments/ specify:

Les animaux sont mieux alimentés.

wood production

decreased
increased

risk of production failure

increased
decreased

product diversity

decreased
increased

production area

decreased
increased

land management

hindered
simplified
Comments/ specify:

La gestion de la terre est mieux organisée.

Income and costs

expenses on agricultural inputs

increased
decreased

farm income

decreased
increased

workload

increased
decreased

Socio-cultural impacts

food security/ self-sufficiency

reduced
improved

SLM/ land degradation knowledge

reduced
improved

Ecological impacts

Water cycle/ runoff

water quantity

decreased
increased

harvesting/ collection of water

reduced
improved

surface runoff

increased
decreased
Soil

soil moisture

decreased
increased

soil loss

increased
decreased

soil accumulation

decreased
increased

soil organic matter/ below ground C

decreased
increased
Biodiversity: vegetation, animals

biomass/ above ground C

decreased
increased

animal diversity

decreased
increased

beneficial species

decreased
increased

habitat diversity

decreased
increased
Climate and disaster risk reduction

flood impacts

increased
decreased

drought impacts

increased
decreased

impacts of cyclones, rain storms

increased
decreased

6.2 Off-site impacts the Technology has shown

downstream flooding

increased
reduced

damage on public/ private infrastructure

increased
reduced

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 not known
seasonal rainfall summer decrease well

Climate-related extremes (disasters)

Meteorological disasters
How does the Technology cope with it?
local rainstorm well
Climatological disasters
How does the Technology cope with it?
drought well

Other climate-related consequences

Other climate-related consequences
How does the Technology cope with it?
reduced growing period well

6.4 Cost-benefit analysis

How do the benefits compare with the establishment costs (from land users’ perspective)?
Short-term returns:

very positive

Long-term returns:

very positive

How do the benefits compare with the maintenance/ recurrent costs (from land users' perspective)?
Short-term returns:

very positive

Long-term returns:

very positive

6.5 Adoption of the Technology

  • > 50%
If available, quantify (no. of households and/ or area covered):

Tous les ménages ayant de la terre sur pente.

Of all those who have adopted the Technology, how many did so spontaneously, i.e. without receiving any material incentives/ payments?
  • 91-100%

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
Améliore le bilan hydrique du sol.
Réduit les pertes en sol.
Augmente les rendements des cultures.
Strengths/ advantages/ opportunities in the compiler’s or other key resource person’s view
Le bilan hydrique est nettement amélioré avec les terrasses.
Améliore la fertilité des sols et donc leur productivité.
Améliore le paysage (patrimoine national).

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?
Entretien indispensable au moins une fois par an après la saison des pluies. Comblement des creusements par des pierres et de la terre.
Remise en place des pierres tombées.
Accès aux parcelles agricoles. Des chemins étroits sont laissés entre les terrasses.
Weaknesses/ disadvantages/ risks in the compiler’s or other key resource person’s view How can they be overcome?
Nécessité d'entretien régulier (après les pluies).
Réduisent la circulation des animaux et des outils.

7. References and links

7.1 Methods/ sources of information

  • field visits, field surveys

Plusieurs journées de prospection.

  • interviews with land users

Plus de trente paysans.

  • interviews with SLM specialists/ experts

3 spécialistes.

When were the data compiled (in the field)?

24/01/2017

7.2 References to available publications

Title, author, year, ISBN:

Roose E., Sabir M. et Laouina A. Adaptation des stratégies paysannes de Gestion Conservatoire de l’Eau et des Sols (GCES) aux conditions agro-écologiques du Maroc. (Manuel de GCES du Maroc). Edition IRD 2010.

Available from where? Costs?

http://horizon.documentation.ird.fr/exl-doc/ pleins_textes/divers12-09/010054911.pdf

Title, author, year, ISBN:

Roose E. et Sabir M. Restauration des basses terrasses rasées par les torrents dans le Haut Atlas (Maroc). In Roose E. (Edit). Restauration de la productivité des sols tropicaux et méditerranéens-Contribution à l'agroécologie. Editions IRD, 2017.

Available from where? Costs?

http://horizon.documentation.ird.fr/exl-doc/ pleins_textes/divers16-05/010064961.pdf

7.3 Links to relevant online information

Title/ description:

Roose E., Sabir M. et Laouina A. Adaptation des stratégies paysannes de Gestion Conservatoire de l’Eau et des Sols (GCES) aux conditions agro-écologiques du Maroc. (Manuel de GCES du Maroc). Edition IRD 2010.

URL:

http://horizon.documentation.ird.fr/exl-doc/ pleins_textes/divers12-09/010054911.pdf

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