Technologies

Controlling of soil erosion during crop production [South Africa]

technologies_950 - South Africa

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Completeness: 69%

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:

Mahlakoane Francis

Department of Agriculture & Environment, Northern Province

South Africa

SLM specialist:

Mashatola Mokgwakgwe Boy

South Africa

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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

2. Description of the SLM Technology

2.1 Short description of the Technology

Definition of the Technology:

The technology that applies contouring, mulching and intercropping in SWC.

2.2 Detailed description of the Technology

Description:

Agronomic technology is used to control soil erosion during the crop production period, i.e. method that is employed to improve soil fertility, conserve water and protect from soil erosion while the land is under crop production.

Purpose of the Technology: The purpose is to keep the fertility of the soil stable by protecting the soil from soil erosion and water loss.

Establishment / maintenance activities and inputs: The establishment is either done by planting strong root crops in between cultivated areas, or leaving the soil uncultivated, with a mulch cover on the soil surface. This will be maintained by keeping the intercrop strong and healthy while using zero or minimum tillage without removal of left over material on the soil surface.

2.3 Photos of the Technology

Media Gallery

2.5 Country/ region/ locations where the Technology has been applied and which are covered by this assessment

Country:

South Africa

Region/ State/ Province:

Limpopo Province

Further specification of location:

Sekhukuneland

Specify the spread of the Technology:
  • evenly spread over an area
If the Technology is evenly spread over an area, specify area covered (in km2):

10.0

If precise area is not known, indicate approximate area covered:
  • 1-10 km2
Comments:

Total area covered by the SLM Technology is 10 km2.

Soil conservation measures were constructed (contour banks), then but was looked after until 1980's.

2.6 Date of implementation

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:
  • through projects/ external interventions
Comments (type of project, etc.):

Western World

3. Classification of the SLM Technology

3.1 Main purpose(s) of the Technology

  • reduce, prevent, restore land degradation
  • Prevent water loss

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

Cropland

Cropland

  • Annual cropping
Annual cropping - Specify crops:
  • cereals - maize
  • legumes and pulses - beans
  • oilseed crops - groundnuts
Number of growing seasons per year:
  • 1
Specify:

Longest growing period in days: 120; Longest growing period from month to month: Nov - Feb

Grazing land

Grazing land

  • cattle
Comments:

Major cash crop and major food crop: Maize
Other: Groundnuts & dry beans

Major land use problems (compiler’s opinion): Silting and low infiltration rate.

Major land use problems (land users’ perception): Injudicious cultivation.

Other grazingland: intensive grazing land

Grazingland comments: Cattle graze in the cropland during winter periods.

Type of cropping system and major crops comments: Maize mixed with groundnuts.
Maize mixed with dry beans

Type of grazing system comments: Cattle graze in the cropland during winter periods.

3.4 Water supply

Water supply for the land on which the Technology is applied:
  • mixed rainfed-irrigated
Comments:

Water supply: Also rainfed for cattle

3.5 SLM group to which the Technology belongs

  • improved ground/ vegetation cover
  • minimal soil disturbance

3.6 SLM measures comprising the Technology

agronomic measures

agronomic measures

  • A7: Others
Comments:

Type of agronomic measures: contour planting / strip cropping, manure / compost / residues, mineral (inorganic) fertilizers, contour ridging

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
Comments:

Main causes of degradation: other human induced causes (specify) (Agricultural causes)

Secondary causes of degradation: other natural causes (avalanches, volcanic eruptions, mud flows, highly susceptible natural resources, extreme topography, etc.) specify

3.8 Prevention, reduction, or restoration of land degradation

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

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

4.1 Technical drawing of the Technology

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Technical specifications (related to technical drawing):

Technical drawing off slope

Location: Mahlanga. Northern Province

Technical knowledge required for field staff / advisors: moderate

Technical knowledge required for land users: moderate

Main technical functions: control of concentrated runoff: retain / trap, control of concentrated runoff: drain / divert

Author:

Mokgwakgwe Mashatola

4.2 General information regarding the calculation of inputs and costs

Specify currency used for cost calculations:
  • USD
Indicate average wage cost of hired labour per day:

6.00

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 Labour persons/day/ha 100.0 6.0 600.0 10.0
Equipment Machine use ha 1.0 200.0 200.0
Construction material Earth ha 1.0 25.0 25.0
Total costs for establishment of the Technology 825.0
Total costs for establishment of the Technology in USD 825.0
Comments:

Duration of establishment phase: 24 month(s)

4.5 Maintenance/ recurrent activities

Activity Timing/ frequency
1. Conventional tillage early in rainy season / once a year

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 Conventional tillage persons/day/ha 20.0 6.0 120.0
Total costs for maintenance of the Technology 120.0
Total costs for maintenance of the Technology in USD 120.0
Comments:

Machinery/ tools: tractor/gallion

Grass strips per ha.

4.7 Most important factors affecting the costs

Describe the most determinate factors affecting the costs:

The voluntary labour was at minimal, therefore labour affected the cost significantly.

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
Agro-climatic zone
  • semi-arid

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.
Comments and further specifications on topography:

Altitudinal zone: 1490 m a.s.l.

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)
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.

Soil texture: Gravely loamy to sandy

Soil fertility is very low

Soil drainage / infiltration is poor

Soil water storage capacity is very low

5.6 Characteristics of land users applying the Technology

Market orientation of production system:
  • subsistence (self-supply)
Off-farm income:
  • less than 10% of all income
Relative level of wealth:
  • very poor
  • poor
Level of mechanization:
  • mechanized/ motorized
Indicate other relevant characteristics of the land users:

Population density: > 500 persons/km2

1% of the land users are average wealthy.
66% of the land users are poor.
33% of the land users are poor.

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
Comments:

For CA (1-2 ha): 1 ha/ household

6. Impacts and concluding statements

6.1 On-site impacts the Technology has shown

Socio-economic impacts

Production

crop production

decreased
increased
Comments/ specify:

Maize production & legume crops improved in good seasons

production area

decreased
increased

land management

hindered
simplified
Other socio-economic impacts

input constraints

increased
decreased

Socio-cultural impacts

community institutions

weakened
strengthened

Ecological impacts

Water cycle/ runoff

surface runoff

increased
decreased
Quantity before SLM:

40

Quantity after SLM:

10

excess water drainage

reduced
improved
Comments/ specify:

More water entered the soil

Soil

soil moisture

decreased
increased
Comments/ specify:

Less clay was eroded

soil cover

reduced
improved
Comments/ specify:

Not a priority in this case

soil loss

increased
decreased
Quantity before SLM:

0.5

Quantity after SLM:

0

Comments/ specify:

More soil was trapped

Other ecological impacts

soil fertility

decreased
increased
Comments/ specify:

Less fertilisers was washed away

soil erosion locally

increased
decreased

waterlogging

increased
decreased

6.2 Off-site impacts the Technology has shown

reliable and stable stream flows in dry season

reduced
increased

downstream flooding

increased
reduced

6.4 Cost-benefit analysis

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

slightly positive

Long-term returns:

positive

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

slightly negative

Long-term returns:

slightly positive

6.5 Adoption of the Technology

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

350 households cover 80 percent of the area stated

Of all those who have adopted the Technology, how many did so spontaneously, i.e. without receiving any material incentives/ payments?
  • 0-10%
Comments:

97% of land user families have adopted the Technology with external material support

350 land user families have adopted the Technology with external material support

Comments on acceptance with external material support: estimates

6.7 Strengths/ advantages/ opportunities of the Technology

Strengths/ advantages/ opportunities in the land user’s view
Soil protection

How can they be sustained / enhanced? Involve land-users right from the beginning and allow them to run the SWC on their own
Strengths/ advantages/ opportunities in the compiler’s or other key resource person’s view
Control soil erosion effectively

How can they be sustained / enhanced? Involve land-users right from the beginning and allow them to run the SWC on their own
Conserve moisture

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?
Implementation Implement with the land users and allow the land users to own the technology

7. References and links

7.1 Methods/ sources of information

7.2 References to available publications

Title, author, year, ISBN:

Sustainable land use plan for Nebo-district

Available from where? Costs?

Department of Soil Science, University of the North

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