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)

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

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

1.5 Reference to Questionnaire(s) on SLM Approaches (documented using WOCAT)

Individual experimental farmer: Tivington [United Kingdom]

Individual farmer experimenting with machinery to maintain economic viability and reduce time spent on land preparation.

• Compiler: Ceris A. Jones
• 01/12/2009 midnight

2.1 Short description of the Technology

Definition of the Technology:

Non-inversion tillage to create a seedbed

2.2 Detailed description of the Technology

Description:

Non-inversion tillage to provide suitable seedbed for following crop.

Purpose of the Technology: Even and cost-effective crop establishment, saving time and benefiting the environment. Maintenance: annually, per crop,

Establishment / maintenance activities and inputs: innovative farmer reducing impacts of farming on the environemnt, expanding his businesss and saving time

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:

United Kingdom

Region/ State/ Province:

Somerset

Further specification of location:

Minehead

Comments:

Total area covered by the SLM Technology is 0.78 km2.

Farm is a total of 126ha of which 28ha are grazed, 9ha are under environmental stewardship and 7ha are set aside

Map

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3.1 Main purpose(s) of the Technology

• reduce, prevent, restore land degradation

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

Cropland

• Annual cropping

Annual cropping - Specify crops:

• cereals - wheat (spring)
• oilseed crops - sunflower, rapeseed, other

Number of growing seasons per year:

• 1

Specify:

Longest growing period in days: 300 Longest growing period from month to month: Sep - Jul

Comments:

Major land use problems (compiler’s opinion): Soil erosion and compaction caused by inappropriate land use and intensive grazing respectively

Major land use problems (land users’ perception): Soil erosion and capping of the soil

Type of cropping system and major crops comments: winter wheat - winter oilseed rape - winter wheat - beans - winter wheat

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

• minimal soil disturbance

3.6 SLM measures comprising the Technology

agronomic measures

• A3: Soil surface treatment

Comments:

Main measures: agronomic measures

Type of agronomic measures: early planting, manure / compost / residues, mineral (inorganic) fertilizers, soil conditioners (lime, gypsum), breaking compacted topsoil, minimum tillage

3.7 Main types of land degradation addressed by the Technology

soil erosion by water

• Wt: loss of topsoil/ surface erosion
• Wo: offsite degradation effects

physical soil deterioration

• Pk: slaking and crusting

Comments:

Main type of degradation addressed: Wt: loss of topsoil / surface erosion

Secondary types of degradation addressed: Wo: offsite degradation effects, Pk: sealing and crusting

Main causes of degradation: other human induced causes (specify) (economic viability), poverty / wealth (lack of captial), education, access to knowledge and support services (lack of knowledge)

3.8 Prevention, reduction, or restoration of land degradation

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

• reduce land degradation

4.1 Technical drawing of the Technology

4.2 General information regarding the calculation of inputs and costs

other/ national currency (specify):

£

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

0.56

4.3 Establishment activities

Comments:

Additional info: - Year2: surface cultivation: mid September / per crop - Year2: drill: mid September / per crop - Year2: roll: mid September / per crop - Year3: shallow sub-soil: November / per crop - Year3: drill: November / per crop

4.5 Maintenance/ recurrent activities

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

Comments:

Machinery/ tools: Vaderstad Carrier, Vaderstad drill and roller

Only crop establishment costs are included as all other costs - seed, fertilisers, pesticides - are equivalent with those for conventionally mouldboard ploughing. The costs highlghted include labour. Equivalent crop establishment costs by ploughing are 225 (year1), 231 (year2), 190 (year3)

4.7 Most important factors affecting the costs

Describe the most determinate factors affecting the costs:

slope (steeper slopes require more horsepower), state of the soil, climate, crop

5.1 Climate

5.2 Topography

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.

Soil fertility is medium
Soil drainage/infiltration is good

5.6 Characteristics of land users applying the Technology

Indicate other relevant characteristics of the land users:

Population density: 10-50 persons/km2

Annual population growth: < 0.5%

5% of the land users are very rich and own 20% of the land.
10% of the land users are rich and own 20% of the land.
85% of the land users are average wealthy and own 60% of the land.

Off-farm income specification: Contracting work forms greater part of income

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

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

• Other

Land use rights:

• leased

6.1 On-site impacts the Technology has shown

Socio-economic impacts

Production

Other socio-economic impacts

Socio-cultural impacts

Ecological impacts

Soil

Biodiversity: vegetation, animals

6.2 Off-site impacts the Technology has shown

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

Comments:

100% of land user families have adopted the Technology without any external material support

1 land user families have adopted the Technology without any external material support

There is a moderate trend towards spontaneous adoption of the Technology

Comments on adoption trend: Driven by economics

6.7 Strengths/ advantages/ opportunities of the Technology

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

7.1 Methods/ sources of information

7.2 References to available publications

Title, author, year, ISBN:

SOWAP project

Available from where? Costs?

www.sowap.org

7.3 Links to relevant online information

Title/ description:

L and D farming

URL:

www.landdfarming.co.uk

Title/ description:

Vaderstad machinery

URL:

www.vaderstad.com