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)

R4D Woody Weeds

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

Tanzania Forestry Research Institute (TAFORI) - Tanzania, United Republic of

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

CDE Centre for Development and Environment (CDE Centre for Development and Environment) - Switzerland

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

CABI Switzerland (CABI Switzerland) - Switzerland

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

Comments:

It is an SLM technology and is being tested for out-scaling in areas invaded by Prosopis juliflora

2.1 Short description of the Technology

Definition of the Technology:

The cut stump technology is probably the most effective means of killing mature Prosopis trees using the herbicide Triclon with active ingredients Triclopyr 480g/l . Stems are cut with a chainsaw as close to the ground as possible and the herbicide is applied to the stump within three minutes of cutting using a paintbrush. The young plants with less than 2 cm root collar diameter should be uprooted by hand. The treatment is repeated after three months on resprouting stumps.

2.2 Detailed description of the Technology

Description:

The technology is highly relevant and effective for controlling the invasion of Prosopis spp. in both agricultural and grassland areas where the species is considered problematic. It is particularly suitable for dry regions prone to Prosopis invasions, especially those experiencing drought periods of more than four months, which allow the herbicide to take significant effect. To avoid chemical contamination, the technology should only be applied in areas located more than 200 meters away from water sources.

This method requires simple tools to cut trees efficiently, with a chainsaw being recommended for the task. However, in areas where infestations cover less than 20 percent of the land, simpler tools such as machetes can be used. Trees should be cut as close to the ground as possible (no more than 15 cm stump height), and herbicide should be applied to the stump within three minutes of cutting. The treatment should be carried out during the dry season, ensuring no rainfall is expected within a month to allow for complete absorption of the herbicide.

A minimum of two people equipped with proper protective clothing is required for this operation: one to cut the trees and another to apply the herbicide and clear the cut branches. The herbicide, typically Triclopyr, is often mixed with diesel at a 1:50 ratio. A follow-up application is crucial to target any trees that were not completely killed during the initial treatment.

Herbicides can be ordered from Arysta Co. Ltd in Tanzania at a cost of TZS 1,000,000 (USD 430) per 20 liters. The advantages of using this technology include its effectiveness in killing the trees and the ability to utilize the cut branches as fuelwood or for making Prosopis charcoal. However, the major drawbacks include limited information leading to scepticism among land users regarding the health risks and potential long-term effects on soil quality, as well as the limited availability of the herbicide in local agro-stores.

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:

2017

If precise year is not known, indicate approximate date:

• less than 10 years ago (recently)

2.7 Introduction of the Technology

Specify how the Technology was introduced:

• during experiments/ research

Comments (type of project, etc.):

The technology was introduced through experimentation during the implementation of the Woody Weeds Project. For more details visit www.woodyweeds.org

3.1 Main purpose(s) of the Technology

• improve production
• reduce, prevent, restore land degradation
• conserve ecosystem
• preserve/ improve biodiversity
• create beneficial social impact

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

Land use mixed within the same land unit:

Yes

Specify mixed land use (crops/ grazing/ trees):

• Agro-pastoralism (incl. integrated crop-livestock)

Comments:

Crop cultivation and grazing are rotated to avoid crop damage and sometimes cropland is fenced with thorny branches of Prosopis juliflora to deter livestock from accessing the crop fields.

3.3 Has land use changed due to the implementation of the Technology?

Has land use changed due to the implementation of the Technology?

• No (Continue with question 3.4)

Land use mixed within the same land unit:

Yes

Specify mixed land use (crops/ grazing/ trees):

• Agro-pastoralism (incl. integrated crop-livestock)

Comments:

Crop cultivation and grazing are rotated to avoid crop damage and sometimes cropland is fenced with thorny branches of Prosopis juliflora to deter livestock from accessing the crop fields.

3.4 Water supply

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

• mixed rainfed-irrigated

Comments:

Cultivation of vegetables relies fully on irrigation. Water is obtained from shallow bore holes and pumped out to irrigate the fields.

3.5 SLM group to which the Technology belongs

• Weed control and management

3.6 SLM measures comprising the Technology

Comments:

The cut stump technology is considered a control of species composition because the intention is to remove or reduce the abundance of the invasive species and improve performance of desired native plant species.

3.7 Main types of land degradation addressed by the Technology

Comments:

The technology controls and reduces the density of an invasive tree Prosopis juliflora on grazing land and cultivated fields.

3.8 Prevention, reduction, or restoration of land degradation

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

• restore/ rehabilitate severely degraded land

Comments:

The land degradation is due to change of vegetation cover as a result of increasing abundance of an invasive tree.

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):

Tanzanian Shilling

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

2400.0

4.3 Establishment activities

	Activity	Timing (season)
1.	Acquisition of Chemical (Triclon)	anytime of the year
2.	Hiring a Chain Saw	anytime of the year
3.	Cutting of stems	During dry season (normally January - March)
4.	Chemical application using paint brush	Within five minutes after cutting the stems
5.	Separating intertwined branches	Immediately after cutting the stems
6.	Cleaning the area from thorns and small branches	Immediately after cutting the stems
7.	2nd treatments of stumps	Two months after chemical treatments and during dry season
8.	3rd treatment of stumps	After 6-8 months after 1st treatment and should be during dry season (normally September - October)
9.	Removing regenerating Prosopis	Every three months after 1st treatment for 15 months

Comments:

It is important to find out which chemical is registered for use in your area. Triclopyr was easy to use and very effective to kill trees with stem diameter > 5cm.

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	Cutting of stems	Mandays	2.0	20000.0	40000.0
Labour	Chemical application using paint brush	Mandays	1.0	20000.0	20000.0
Labour	Separating intertwined branches	Mandays	2.0	20000.0	40000.0
Labour	Removing small branches and debris	Mandays	1.0	20000.0	20000.0
Equipment	Hiring a Chain saw	Hours	8.0	4000.0	32000.0
Fertilizers and biocides	Triclon (480g/l Triclopyr)	Litres	1.2	50000.0	60000.0
Total costs for establishment of the Technology					212000.0
Total costs for establishment of the Technology in USD					88.33

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

R4D Woody Weeds Project

Comments:

The estimated costs is for an area covered with > 80 Prosopis juliflora. The technology has not yet been out-scaled. The main challenge with its adoption is the availability of the chemical Triclon.

4.5 Maintenance/ recurrent activities

	Activity	Timing/ frequency
1.	Uprooting regenerating Prosopis	after every three months
2.	Chemical application	Every dry season up to 15 months

Comments:

To ensure effective control it is important to uproot all regenerating Prosopis after every three months.

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	uprooting regenerating Prosopis	Mandays	5.0	20000.0	100000.0
Fertilizers and biocides	Triclon (triclopyr 480g/L)	Litres	0.6	50000.0	30000.0
Total costs for maintenance of the Technology					130000.0
Total costs for maintenance of the Technology in USD					54.17

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

R4D Woody Weeds

Comments:

After every three months, uprooting of all regenerating Prosopis should be done before they develop deep roots and start competing with desired plants.

4.7 Most important factors affecting the costs

Describe the most determinate factors affecting the costs:

(i) Availability of labor during farming seasons
(ii) Distance from and availability of agro-chemical stores
(iii) Size of Prosopis trees
(iv) Length of dry and wet seasons (long wet season makes many seed of Prosopis to germinate and long dry season makes it difficult to work out under the sun)

5.1 Climate

5.2 Topography

Indicate if the Technology is specifically applied in:

• not relevant

Comments and further specifications on topography:

Extensive flat terrain interrupted by seasonal rivers flowing southeast of the Kilimanjaro Mountains. There are big acacia (mainly Vachelia xanthophloea) and fig trees along the seasonal rivers and anthills far away from rivers where floods are unlikely.

5.3 Soils

If available, attach full soil description or specify the available information, e.g. soil type, soil PH/ acidity, Cation Exchange Capacity, nitrogen, salinity etc.

See attached soil information that was taken before implementation of the Cut Stump at Kahe, Kilimanjaro Tanzania

5.4 Water availability and quality

Is water salinity a problem?

Yes

Specify:

Continuous irrigation from underground waters increases salinity and makes farms unproductive thus necessitate rotational cropping and woody trees

Is flooding of the area occurring?

Yes

Regularity:

frequently

Comments and further specifications on water quality and quantity:

The underground water recharges quickly after rain seasons but due to limited vegetation cover, the rate of evapotranspiration is high thus the water remaining in the ground is very little.

5.5 Biodiversity

Comments and further specifications on biodiversity:

Typical diversity of continuous cultivated areas

5.6 Characteristics of land users applying the Technology

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

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

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)

Climate-related extremes (disasters)

Hydrological disasters

	How does the Technology cope with it?
general (river) flood	not well

Comments:

Frequent floods may limit the application of the technology because it requires long dry periods for it to be effective and for the chemical to degrade.

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)?

Comments:

It might be difficult to assess after 4 years of implementation of the technology but quick assessment of land users'perception indicate high initial costs that requires time to offset.

6.5 Adoption of the Technology

• single cases/ experimental

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

4 households farming a total of 5 hactares

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

• 0-10%

Comments:

Very few have adopted the technology spontaneously.

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 compiler’s or other key resource person’s view
Efficient and fast method with minimal impact as the chemical is applied directly on the cut stump.
Allows to use the tree's biomass e.g. charcoal production

6.8 Weaknesses/ disadvantages/ risks of the Technology and ways of overcoming them

Weaknesses/ disadvantages/ risks in the compiler’s or other key resource person’s view	How can they be overcome?
Even though the method is relatively fast, very large invaded areas would still be difficult to clear with this method.	For such large invasions the only feasible approach would be biological control.
One must be very careful not to disperse seeds during the treatment, for example when transporting the cut biomass, as this could worsen the situation.	Implement when trees have no fruits.

7.1 Methods/ sources of information

7.2 References to available publications

Title, author, year, ISBN:

Experimental prosopis management practices and grassland restoration in three Eastern African countries, Eschen et al., 2023

Available from where? Costs?

https://doi.org/10.1186/s43170-023-00163-5

7.3 Links to relevant online information

Title/ description:

Cut stump treatment to manage Prosopis juliflora

URL:

www.woodyweeds.org

7.4 General comments

The questionnaire is very good and well designed to collect information that will be very useful to others that wish to practice the technologies.