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)

Participatory on-farm demonstration in UK arable cropping: Loddington [United Kingdom]

Provision of expert knowledge in appropriating equipment and setting up small scale on farm trials in collaboration with the land manager

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

2.1 Short description of the Technology

Definition of the Technology:

Surface cultivation of the top 10cm of soil but not complete inversion

2.2 Detailed description of the Technology

Description:

machinery with discs or tines replace the plough.

Purpose of the Technology: (i) improved crop establishment particularly by speeding up of operations (ii) improved soil structure.

Establishment / maintenance activities and inputs: appropriate machinery, soil condition and following crop all determine establishment.
Maintenance: on an annual basis.

Natural / human environment: farmer working to protect environment and maintain rural employment

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:

Leicestershire

Further specification of location:

Loddington

Comments:

Total area covered by the SLM Technology is 1.46 km2.

This represents 60% of the total arable area on the farm

Map

×

2.7 Introduction of the Technology

Comments (type of project, etc.):

From the USA where in te 1930's the 'dust-bowls' necessitated the development of soil conservation in intensive agriculture

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

Cropland

• Annual cropping

Annual cropping - Specify crops:

• cereals - other
• cereals - wheat (spring)
• legumes and pulses - beans
• oilseed crops - sunflower, rapeseed, other

Number of growing seasons per year:

• 1

Specify:

Longest growing period in days: 330Longest growing period from month to month: Sep - Aug

Comments:

Major land use problems (compiler’s opinion): Water turbidity, compaction, erosion

Major land use problems (land users’ perception): Compaction

Type of cropping system and major crops comments: wheat - oilseed rape - wheat - beans. Typically these will be winter-sown (Sept) crops rather than spring sown (March)

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

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

chemical soil deterioration

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

physical soil deterioration

• Pc: compaction

Comments:

Main type of degradation addressed: Pc: compaction

Secondary types of degradation addressed: Wt: loss of topsoil / surface erosion, Wo: offsite degradation effects, Cn: fertility decline and reduced organic matter content

Main causes of degradation: other human induced causes (specify) (agricultural causes), 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:

• prevent land degradation
• reduce land degradation

Comments:

Main goals: mitigation / reduction of land degradation

Secondary goals: prevention of land degradation

4.1 Technical drawing of the Technology

4.2 General information regarding the calculation of inputs and costs

other/ national currency (specify):

UK pounds (£)

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

0.56

4.5 Maintenance/ recurrent activities

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

Comments:

Machinery/ tools: Simba Solo, Cambridge rollers, Vaderstad drill

Per hectare of land where technology applied. The costs represent the total crop establishment costs (machinery + labour) for this technology. Other costs eg seeds, fertiliser, are not included as these are identical to those incurred by other technologies (UNK1b) at this farm. These costs are related to the prevailing conditions - crop type, state of the soil, climate etc. Crop establishment costs by ploughing were: 224 (year1), 204 (year2), 263 (year3)

Additional info: - Year2: chop straw as low to the ground as possible: after harvest / annual - Year2:incorporate straw to 10cm depth, though this is dependent on density of straw: September / per crop - Year2: additional cultivation: March / per crop - Year2: drilling (2.5-4cm depth): March / once per crop - Year3:chop straw as low to the ground as possible: after harvest / annual - Year3: incorporate straw and relieve compaction of soil: October / per crop - Year3: additional cultivation: October / per crop - Year3: drill (2.5-4cm depth): October / once per crop - Year3: consolidation: October / once per crop

4.7 Most important factors affecting the costs

Describe the most determinate factors affecting the costs:

Equipment costs, slope (higher horse power required for steeper slopes), presence of weeds (higher herbicide costs),

5.1 Climate

5.2 Topography

Comments and further specifications on topography:

Landforms: Hill slopes (some slopes < 8%)

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
Soil water storage capacity is high

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: 1% - 2%

50% of the land users are rich and own 60% of the land.
50% of the land users are average wealthy and own 40% of the land.

Off-farm income specification: The time saved by practising non-inversion tillage (52 minutes/ha) allows the land manager to undertake contracted work on other farms

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

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

• Trust

• Trust

• Trust

6.1 On-site impacts the Technology has shown

Socio-economic impacts

Production

Income and costs

Other socio-economic impacts

Ecological impacts

Water cycle/ runoff

Soil

Other ecological impacts

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

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

• 91-100%

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

Comments on spontaneous adoption: survey results

There is a little trend towards spontaneous adoption of the Technology

Comments on adoption trend: Currently 40% of UK farmers practice non-inversion tillage mainly for economic reasons

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:

Guide to managing crop establishment, SMI

Available from where? Costs?

www.smi.org.uk

Title, author, year, ISBN:

Improved soil management for agronomic and environmental gain, SMI

Available from where? Costs?

www.smi.org.uk

Title, author, year, ISBN:

ECAF website

Available from where? Costs?

www.sowap.org