1.2 Detalles de contacto de las personas de referencia e instituciones involucradas en la evaluación y la documentación de la Tecnología

Nombre de la(s) institución(es) que facilitaron la documentación/ evaluación de la Tecnología (si fuera relevante)

ICIMOD International Centre for Integrated Mountain Development (ICIMOD) - Nepal

1.3 Condiciones referidas al uso de datos documentados mediante WOCAT

¿Cuándo se compilaron los datos (en el campo)?

27/09/2006

El compilador y la/s persona(s) de referencia claves aceptan las condiciones acerca del uso de los datos documentados mediante WOCAT:

Sí

2.1 Breve descripción de la Tecnología

Definición de la Tecnología:

Improving farmyard manure (FYM) by covering it with black plastic sheeting to provide a favourable environment for microbial activities, and to conserve available nutrients and moisture

2.2 Descripción detallada de la Tecnología

Descripción:

Applying compost or farmyard manure (FYM) is an excellent way of maintaining and building soil fertility. Considerable nutrient losses often occur through the inappropriate handling or storage of compost and FYM. Drying out causes losses through volatilisation and rainfall whilst runoff causes leaching and the washing out of nutrients. To reduce nutrient losses, farmyard manure needs to be protected from
direct sunlight, rainfall, run-on, and runoff.
A number of improved composting methods have been tested and demonstrated with farmers in the Jhikhu Khola watershed. The Sustainable Soil Management Project (SSMP) has recommended black plastic-covered farmyard manure as one of the most promising methods. Farmyard manure is covered with a piece of black plastic to prevent nutrients from leaching out, to decrease evaporation losses, and to provide a more favourable environment for the growth of microbes due to the increased temperature and moisture content. This method is especially suitable for
areas with low temperatures.
In this method, raw organic materials that are used for animal bedding - crop residues, leaves, grass, weeds and other organic materials - are piled up or put into a pit in layers together with animal urine and dung. The pile is then completely covered with black plastic sheeting. This method is based on the passive aeration approach, the plastic sheet is removed from the heap each day to add more bedding
materials. It is then covered again immediately. Maintenance is easy although care is needed to avoid damaging the sheet. The black plastic should be handled carefully while taking it off and returning it to the pile as the composting material may contain sharp-edged plant stems.
The method was found to be easy to apply and took little time and labour. In the Jhikhu Khola area, women are mainly responsible for preparing manure and carrying it to the fields. This technology reduces their burden as a smaller amount of black plastic FYM is needed to meet soil nutrient requirements compared to traditional FYM, which is normally applied in a poorly decomposed form and in large
quantities.
The method was tested in the middle mountains of Nepal in the Jhikhu Khola watershed, located at 800-2200 masl and with 1200-1600 mm annual rainfall, about 70-80% in the monsoon months (June to September). The temperature ranges from 3-40 degree Cel. in the lower parts of the watershed and about 3 degree Cel. less at the higher elevations.

2.5 País/ región/ lugares donde la Tecnología fue aplicada y que se hallan comprendidos por esta evaluación

2.6 Fecha de la implementación

Si no se conoce el año preciso, indique la fecha aproximada:

• hace menos de 10 años (recientemente)

2.7 Introducción de la Tecnología

Especifique cómo se introdujo la Tecnología:

• mediante proyectos/ intervenciones externas

Comentarios (tipo de proyecto, etc.):

It was first tried at Lumle agriculture research centre in Nepal.

3.1 Propósito(s) principal(es) de la Tecnología MST

• Improve farmyard manure

3.2 Tipo(s) actuales de uso de la tierra donde se aplica la Tecnología

Comentarios:

Major land use problems (compiler’s opinion): Crop production is limited as a result of soil fertility deterioration, high cropping intensity, and a scarcity of irrigation
water. Application of increasing amounts of agrochemicals is further deteriorating soil health.

Major land use problems (land users’ perception): Increased amount of chemical fertilizer input, less production, and irrigation water shortage.

Type of cropping system and major crops comments: rice- wheat- vegetables; rice- vegetables-vegetables; maize - vegetables

3.3 Información adicional sobre el uso de tierras

Provisión de agua para la tierra donde se aplica la Tecnología:

• mixta de secano – irrigada

Comentarios:

Water supply: Also rainfed

Número de temporadas de cultivo por año:

• 3

Especifique:

Longest growing period in days: 150; Longest growing period from month to month: Jun - Oct; Second longest growing period in days: 120; Second longest growing period from month to month: Nov - Feb

3.4 Grupo MST al que pertenece la Tecnología

• manejo integrado de la fertilidad del suelo

3.5 Difusión de la Tecnología

Especifique la difusión de la Tecnología:

• distribuida parejamente sobre un área

Si la tecnología se halla difundida homogéneamente en un área, indique el área aproximada que cubre:

• 1-10 km2

Comentarios:

The black plastic covered FYM was tested at about 50 households of above mentioned villages Development Committees ( VDCs) and Dhulikhel municipality.

3.6 Medidas MST que componen la Tecnología

3.7 Principales tipos de degradación del suelo encarados con la Tecnología

3.8 Prevención, reducción o restauración de la degradación del suelo

Especifique la meta de la Tecnología con relación a la degradación de la tierra:

• reducir la degradación del suelo

4.1 Dibujo técnico de la Tecnología

4.2 Especificaciones técnicas/ explicaciones del dibujo técnico

Black plastic covered farmyard manure

Location: Jhikhu Khola watershed. Kabhre palanchowk district

Technical knowledge required for field staff / advisors: low

Technical knowledge required for land users: low

Main technical functions: nutrient conservation, accelerated decomposition

Change of land use practices / intensity level: traditional FYM used to be uncovered

4.3 Información general sobre el cálculo de insumos y costos

Especifique cómo se calcularon los costos e insumos:

• por unidad de Tecnología

Especifique la moneda usada para calcular costos:

• dólares americanos

4.4 Actividades de establecimiento

	Actividad	Tipo de medida	Momento
1.	Bedding material (e.g. crop residues, leaves, grass, weeds) along	Manejo	Daily
2.	Each day farmers add bedding material to the piled heap or into the	Manejo	Daily

4.5 Costos e insumos necesarios para el establecimiento

	Especifique insumo	Unidad	Cantidad	Costos por unidad	Costos totales por insumo	% de los costos cubiertos por los usuarios de las tierras
Equipo	Black plastic sheet	pieces	1,0	17,6	17,6
Costos totales para establecer la Tecnología					17,6

Comentarios:

Duration of establishment phase: 2 month(s)

4.6 Actividades de establecimiento/ recurrentes

	Actividad	Tipo de medida	Momento/ frequencia
1.	Moisture and temperature is checked regularly	Manejo	/ weekly

4.7 Costos e insumos necesarios para actividades de mantenimiento/ recurrentes (por año)

	Especifique insumo	Unidad	Cantidad	Costos por unidad	Costos totales por insumo	% de los costos cubiertos por los usuarios de las tierras
Mano de obra	Check mosture and temeprature	Persons/day	4,0	2,1	8,4	100,0
Indique los costos totales para mantenecer la Tecnología					8,4

Comentarios:

The only establishment cost is the cost of the sheet. In this case study, a 5 kg black plastic sheet costing about
$17.6 was used. This sheet was thick (800 microns thick) and is expected to last for 4-5 years. Less durable and smaller
sheets cost less. Each day a farmer needs about 30 minutes to add bedding materials, equivalent to 4 person days per
month for 2 months. The labour is mainly done by women and girls. All costs were based as in 2006.

4.8 Factores más determinantes que afectan los costos:

Describa los factores más determinantes que afectan los costos:

Black plastic sheet, per kg cost of which is about $3.5. It is thick (thickness: 800 micron) and durable for 4-5 years.

5.1 Clima

5.2 Topografía

Comentarios y especificaciones adicionales sobre topografía :

Slopes on average: Also gentle and moderate

Landforms: Also mountain slopes and valley floors

5.3 Suelos

Si se halla disponible, adjunte una descripción completa de los suelos o especifique la información disponible, por ej., tipo de suelo, pH/ acidez de suelo, capacidad de intercambio catiónico, nitrógeno, salinidad, etc. :

Soil depth on average: variable

Soil fertility is very low and medium

Soil drainage / infiltration is poor and good

Soil water storage capacity is low - very low

5.6 Las características de los usuarios de la tierra que aplican la Tecnología

Indique otras características relevantes de los usuarios de las tierras:

Land users applying the Technology are mainly common / average land users

Population density: 200-500 persons/km2

Annual population growth: 2% - 3%

15% of the land users are rich and own 35% of the land.
35% of the land users are average wealthy and own 40% of the land.
50% of the land users are poor and own 25% of the land.

Off-farm income specification: In most farm households, off-farm income plays at least a minor and increasingly a major role. Occasional opportunities for off-farm income present themselves in the form of daily labour wages. Some households’ members receive regular salaries, whilst an increasing number of Nepalis are
working in India, the Middle East, Malaysia, and elsewhere and sending remittance incomes home.

Level of mechanization: Manual labour for planting, irrigation and harveting; Land preparation mostly with animal traction but at valley bottom also with machines.

Market orientation of production system: Commercial is only grrowing vegetables

5.7 Área promedio de la tierra que pertenece a o es arrendada por usuarios de tierra que aplican la Tecnología

5.8 Tenencia de tierra, uso de tierra y derechos de uso de agua

Tenencia de tierra:

• individual, con título

Derechos de uso de tierra:

• individual

6.1 Impactos in situ demostrados por la Tecnología

Impactos socioeconómicos

Producción

Ingreso y costos

Impactos socioculturales

Impactos ecológicos

Otros impactos ecológicos

6.3 Exposición y sensibilidad de la Tecnología al cambio climático gradual y a extremos relacionados al clima/ desastres (desde la percepción de los usuarios de tierras)

Cambio climático gradual

Cambio climático gradual

	Estación	tipo de cambios climáticos/ climas extremos	¿Cómo es que la tecnología soporta esto?
temperatura anual		incrementó	no se sabe

Extremos (desastres) relacionados al clima

Desastres climatológicos:

	¿Cómo es que la tecnología soporta esto?
tormenta de lluvia local	bien
tormenta de viento	bien

Desastres climatológicos

	¿Cómo es que la tecnología soporta esto?
sequía	bien

Desastres hidrológicos

	¿Cómo es que la tecnología soporta esto?
inundación general (río)	bien

Otras consecuencias relacionadas al clima

Otras consecuencias relacionadas al clima

	¿Cómo es que la tecnología soporta esto?
periodo reducido de crecimiento	bien

6.4 Análisis costo-beneficio

¿Cómo se comparan los beneficios con los costos de establecimiento (desde la perspectiva de los usuarios de tierra)?

¿Cómo se comparan los beneficios con los costos de mantenimiento/ recurrentes (desde la perspectiva de los usuarios de tierra)?

Comentarios:

The investment costs are paid back within the first year leading to positive results due to higher production due to more nutrient-rich compost.

6.5 Adopción de la Tecnología

• casos individuales / experimentales

Si tiene la información disponible, cuantifique (número de hogares y/o área cubierta):

50 households in an area of 1 - 10 sq km (200-500 persons per sq km)

De todos quienes adoptaron la Tecnología, ¿cuántos lo hicieron espontáneamente, es decir, sin recibir incentivos/ pagos materiales?

• 0-10%

Comentarios:

100% of land user families have adopted the Technology with external material support

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

Comments on acceptance with external material support: survey results

Comments on spontaneous adoption: survey results

There is no trend towards spontaneous adoption of the Technology

Comments on adoption trend: Spontaneous adoption of the technology was not seen as the sheeting was not locally available and also due to the lack of dissemination and awareness raising activities.

6.7 Fuerzas/ ventajas/ oportunidades de la Tecnología

Fuerzas/ ventajas/ oportunidades desde la perspectiva del usuario de la tierra
More production observed (especially for vegetables) with black plastic FYM compared to traditional FYM How can they be sustained / enhanced? Carry out comparative production studies on more crops

Fuerzas/ ventajas/ oportunidades desde la perspectiva del compilador o de otra persona de referencia clave
Less workload for women during FYM preparation and transportation. How can they be sustained / enhanced? Promote and implement the technology more
The technology will promote organic production of desired crops as avoids the need for chemical fertilisers. How can they be sustained / enhanced? As above
FYM decomposes within 45-50 days compared to about 180 days with the traditional method; the improved FYM is very fine and with equal decomposition from top to bottom of the heap. How can they be sustained / enhanced? Share experiences with a wider audience and test the technology in different ecological zones.
The quality of FYM is better than traditionally made FYM; nutrient content (N, P, K, organic matter, C-N ratio) is higher. How can they be sustained / enhanced? As above
Black plastic is easy to handle, light, and durable. This method is very much appropriate for high mountains and middle mountains. How can they be sustained / enhanced? As above

6.8 Debilidades/ desventajas/ riesgos de la Tecnología y formas de sobreponerse a ellos

Debilidades/ desventajas/ riesgos desde la perspectiva del usuario de la tierra	¿Cómo sobreponerse a ellas?
Poorer rural people are put off by the cost and unavailability of the sheets; they have to bear the extra cost of bringing sheet from a far.	Make the sheets available in the local market and arrange for the cost to be subsidised by agriculture departments and non-government organisations.

Debilidades/ desventajas/ riesgos desde la perspectiva del compilador o de otra persona de referencia clave	¿Cómo sobreponerse a ellas?
Unavailability of large enough sheets to cover huge heaps.	Make two or more smaller heaps; or cover big heaps with two or more sheets.
Plastic sheet gets damaged if not handled carefully and is easily damaged by rats.	Handle sheets carefully and protect from rats using locally available rat repellent plants like Artemisia indica (titepati).

7.2 Vínculos a las publicaciones disponibles

Título, autor, año, ISBN:

ICIMOD (2007) Good Practices in Watershed Management, Lessons Learned in the Mid Hills of Nepal. Kathmandu: ICIMOD.

¿Dónde se halla disponible? ¿Costo?

ICIMOD