Technologies

Reducing Tillage by Slashing [Uganda]

lum ajwera

technologies_3329 - Uganda

Completeness: 86%

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)

land user:

Aryemo Eveline

Farmer

Obul Village, Lii Sub county, Nwoya District

Uganda

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)
Makerere University (Makerere University) - Uganda

1.3 Conditions regarding the use of data documented through WOCAT

When were the data compiled (in the field)?

12/07/2017

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

2. Description of the SLM Technology

2.1 Short description of the Technology

Definition of the Technology:

A minimum tillage technology where the garden is cleared by slashing and crops are planted without opening the land. Only the spot where the seed is planted is dug. The rest of the land is left undisturbed.

2.2 Detailed description of the Technology

Description:

Soil tillage, which is practiced traditionally to prepare fine seedbeds and control weeds, bears several undesirable side effects that have forced land users to rethink and develop other sustainable management strategies such as reduced tillage or no-till (see photo below). Tillage as a practice damages soil and leaves it exposed to erosion, particularly by wind and water. Yet weeding using tillage methods is often laborious and costly. In parts of northern Uganda, minimum or reduced tillage is used to ease land preparation.

Labor is an important factor that determines the size of gardens that farmers can prepare and work on. With this technology, immediately after crop harvest, the field is cleared by slashing residues (weeds and crop residues) present in the field. It is a good practice to cut the vegetation before they produce seeds to ensure that few weed seeds germinate. After slashing down crop residues, planting holes for the subsequent crop are dug following the given recommendations for the crop to be planted.

This practice ensures that the residues provide mulch, which in turn reduces surface runoff and soil erosion. The decomposing residues provide humus and replenish nutrients into the soil. Plants can also escape harsh weather conditions since they can be planted in time. This technology is still new among the farming communities in northern Uganda, thus its proper use requires extension advisory support.

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:

Uganda

Region/ State/ Province:

Nothern

Further specification of location:

Nwoya district

Comments:

The three sites in Nwoya were demonstrations established by CIAT/IITA on CSA practices which included minimun tillage

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
  • through projects/ external interventions

3. Classification of the SLM Technology

3.1 Main purpose(s) of the Technology

  • improve production
  • conserve ecosystem
  • preserve/ improve biodiversity
  • adapt to climate change/ extremes and its impacts
  • create beneficial economic impact
  • ensure early planting

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

Cropland

Cropland

  • Annual cropping

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:
  • 2
Specify:

Two rainy seasons

3.4 SLM group to which the Technology belongs

  • improved ground/ vegetation cover
  • minimal soil disturbance

3.5 Spread of the Technology

Specify the spread of the Technology:
  • applied at specific points/ concentrated on a small area

3.6 SLM measures comprising the Technology

agronomic measures

agronomic measures

  • A1: Vegetation/ soil cover
vegetative measures

vegetative measures

  • V2: Grasses and perennial herbaceous plants

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
soil erosion by wind

soil erosion by wind

  • Et: loss of topsoil
chemical soil deterioration

chemical soil deterioration

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

biological degradation

  • Bh: loss of habitats
  • Bq: quantity/ biomass decline
  • Bl: loss of soil life

3.8 Prevention, reduction, or restoration of land degradation

Specify the goal of the Technology with regard to land degradation:
  • reduce land degradation
  • adapt to land degradation

4. Technical specifications, implementation activities, inputs, and costs

4.2 Technical specifications/ explanations of technical drawing

Grasses are slashed to ground surface. Only the spot onwhich the seed is to be planted is dug to create conditions for good germination.

4.3 General information regarding the calculation of inputs and costs

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

acre

Specify volume, length, etc. (if relevant):

30x160m2

other/ national currency (specify):

uganda shillings

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

3600.0

Indicate average wage cost of hired labour per day:

5000

4.4 Establishment activities

Activity Type of measure Timing
1. Slashing Management dry season
Comments:

This is an activity in replacement to land preparation by tillage

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 Personnel persondays 9.0 5000.0 45000.0 100.0
Equipment Slashes pieces 3.0 6000.0 18000.0 100.0
Total costs for establishment of the Technology 63000.0
Comments:

Farmer can use hoes instead of slasher for slashing the grass. If grasses are tall and mature, the farmer prefers to use a hand hoe of equivalent cost

4.6 Maintenance/ recurrent activities

Comments:

This technology is not maintained, it is repeated. That is it is to be done prior to every planting season.

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

Comments:

This technology is not maintained, it is repeated every season

4.8 Most important factors affecting the costs

Describe the most determinate factors affecting the costs:

Farm labour, although this technology reduces the labour demand in general

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
Specifications/ comments on rainfall:

Two rainy seasons in a year, dry season between December and March

Indicate the name of the reference meteorological station considered:

Gulu Meteorological Station

Agro-climatic zone
  • sub-humid

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:
  • not relevant

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):
  • medium (loamy, silty)
Soil texture (> 20 cm below surface):
  • fine/ heavy (clay)
Topsoil organic matter:
  • medium (1-3%)

5.4 Water availability and quality

Ground water table:

5-50 m

Availability of surface water:

medium

Water quality (untreated):

poor drinking water (treatment required)

Is water salinity a problem?

No

Is flooding of the area occurring?

No

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
Relative level of wealth:
  • poor
Individuals or groups:
  • individual/ household
Level of mechanization:
  • manual work
Gender:
  • women
Age of land users:
  • youth
  • middle-aged

5.7 Average area of land owned or leased 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)?
  • small-scale

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

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
Comments/ specify:

More land can be opened

crop quality

decreased
increased
Comments/ specify:

Better crop growth

production area

decreased
increased
Quantity before SLM:

1acre

Quantity after SLM:

2acre

Comments/ specify:

more land can be opened

land management

hindered
simplified
Comments/ specify:

Reduced soil erosion

Income and costs

expenses on agricultural inputs

increased
decreased
Comments/ specify:

Less expenses on land opening

farm income

decreased
increased
Comments/ specify:

due to increased production

workload

increased
decreased
Comments/ specify:

Primary and secondary tillage reduced to just slashing

6.2 Off-site impacts the Technology has shown

water availability

decreased
increased
Comments/ specify:

Grasses retain more water so that more water is in the soils

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 rainfall decrease very well
seasonal rainfall wet/ rainy season decrease well

Climate-related extremes (disasters)

Climatological disasters
How does the Technology cope with it?
drought very well
Biological disasters
How does the Technology cope with it?
insect/ worm infestation moderately

6.4 Cost-benefit analysis

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

positive

Long-term returns:

very positive

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

positive

Long-term returns:

very positive

Comments:

In real sense, this technology its not maintained but it is done each and every season for annual crops for land clearence

6.5 Adoption of the Technology

  • 1-10%
Of all those who have adopted the Technology, how many have did so spontaneously, i.e. without receiving any material incentives/ payments?
  • 90-100%

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
Reduction of labour demands
More land can be cleared
Less farm activities
Strengths/ advantages/ opportunities in the compiler’s or other key resource person’s view
Reduction in soil disturbance hence increase in soil life

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?
more weeds proper control of weeds, before they produce seeds
Weaknesses/ disadvantages/ risks in the compiler’s or other key resource person’s view How can they be overcome?
Leached nutrients are not brought to surface plant deep rooted crops

7. References and links

7.1 Methods/ sources of information

  • field visits, field surveys

3

  • interviews with land users

1

  • interviews with SLM specialists/ experts

1

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