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)

International Center for Agricultural Research in the Dry Areas (ICARDA) - Líbano

1.3 Condiciones referidas al uso de datos documentados mediante WOCAT

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

Sí

1.4 Declaración de la sostenibilidad de la Tecnología descrita

¿La Tecnología aquí descrita resulta problemática en relación a la degradación de la tierra, de tal forma que no puede considerársela una tecnología sostenible para el manejo de la tierra?

No

Comentarios:

The technology supports the rehabilitation of degraded rangelands; the Vallerani plough forms micro water harvesting pits suitable for native shrub seedlings. This boosts vegetation recovery through both out-planted shrubs and the emergence of local seeds.

2.1 Breve descripción de la Tecnología

Definición de la Tecnología:

Mechanized micro water harvesting breaks up crusted and compacted soils, and fosters the capture and retention and the deep-infiltration of surface runoff generated during heavy rainfall events. The micro water harvesting pits store water and provide soil moisture to the out-planted shrub seedlings and the emerging seeds - and thus boosts the development of resilient vegetation patches towards the eventual rehabilitation of degraded rangelands.

2.2 Descripción detallada de la Tecnología

Descripción:

The micro water harvesting technology is part of a larger watershed rehabilitation initiative; It is the most upstream technology used in an integrated approach, including upland rehabilitation (Vallerani), gully erosion control, and revegetation (gully plugs), and downstream local barley agriculture using the ‘Marab’ technology.

1: Main Elements: The Vallerani tractor plow (Delfino 50 MI/CM) (Gammoh & Oweis, 2011) constructs intermittent water harvesting pits along the contour of terrain and transects the hill slopes at approximately 5-10 m between lines. The local hill slope (at the implementation site) ranges between 2% and 15%. Pit length is adjustable and relates to the speed of the tractor. At the implementation site, pit lengths are around 4.5 m. In the micro water harvesting pits, several native shrub seedlings can be out-planted (at the site, 2 per pit).

2: Where: This technology is used in a watershed context close to Al Majeddyeh village, located in the Middle Badia zone, approximately 30 km south-east of Amman. The climate is arid and warm (Palmer, 2013). The average annual rainfall is around 130 mm. The natural environment is classified as steppe, Bsh in the köppen classification. The human environment is characterized by agropastoralists. They are semi-nomadic and live in villages around the watershed, for example, Al Majeddyeh village.

3: The purpose of the technology: Breaking the land degradation cycle by retaining and encouraging deep-infiltration of surface runoff, which supports native vegetation growth. The stored soil moisture boosts the growth of both out-planted shrub seedlings and emerging local seeds towards healthy and resilient vegetation patches. Over time, the plowed pits degrade, but vegetation takes over the dryland hydrological functions of rainfall interception, runoff deceleration, and fostering infiltration. The developing shrubland provides various ecosystem services, predominately fodder for livestock of local agropastoralists.

4: Major activities: 1) Mechanized micro water harvesting establishment through the Vallerani tractor plow. 2) plantation of native seedlings in the pits (2 shrubs per pit at the local site). 3) Manage rangelands through sustainable grazing.

5: Impact: The technology breaks up the degradation cycle, increases soil moisture, and eventually boosts vegetation development and biodiversity. Through retention of runoff, sediments and residues, it decreases erosion and enhances organic carbon storage. It reduces peak surface runoff and thus mitigates flooding. The enhanced biomass supports livestock (grazing) and reduces agricultural inputs required (such as those required for low input barley production).

6: Land users' opinion: Land users evaluate the technology ambivalently. In the short term, landowners are often skeptical, because the rehabilitation requires a recovery time and strict non-grazing/resting for (usually) the first 2 rainy seasons. Thereafter, the rehabilitated lands require sustainable management. Later, after vegetation development, most landowners are convinced of the improvements and understand the economic and environmental value. The acceptance strongly depends on the social and cultural context – many farmers continue preferring the already established barley monoculture, mainly due to lack of sustainable rangeland management options and land ownership. However, well-targeted awareness campaigns can be supportive.

2.3 Fotografías de la Tecnología

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

2.6 Fecha de la implementación

Indique año de implementación:

2016

2.7 Introducción de la Tecnología

Especifique cómo se introdujo la Tecnología:

• durante experimentos/ investigación
• mediante proyectos/ intervenciones externas

Comentarios (tipo de proyecto, etc.):

This specific project was serving as a basis for SLM introduction and was launched in 2016.
The Vallerani Plough was locally tested in earlier projects.
The Vallerani Plough in Badia rehabilitation context was first introduced in Syria in 2004-2007.

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

• mejorar la producción
• reducir, prevenir, restaurar la degradación del suelo
• conservar el ecosistema
• proteger una cuenca hidrográfica/ áreas corriente abajo – en combinación con otras Tecnologías
• adaptarse al cambio climático/ extremos climáticos y sus impactos

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

Mezcla de tipos de uso de tierras dentro de la misma unidad de tierras: :

No

3.3 ¿Cambió el uso de tierras debido a la implementación de la Tecnología?

¿Cambió el uso de tierras debido a la implementación de la Tecnología?

• No (Continúe con la pregunta 3.4)

3.4 Provisión de agua

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

• de secano

Comentarios:

The technology harvests surface runoff of erratic and heavy rainstorms

3.5 Grupo MST al que pertenece la Tecnología

• cobertura de suelo/ vegetal mejorada
• medida de pendiente transversal
• cosecha de agua

3.6 Medidas MST que componen la Tecnología

Comentarios:

Native shrubs (fodder shrubs) planted in the water harvesting pits.
Intermittent pits constructed by the Vallerani Plough
Management (grazing) plan after implementation

3.7 Principales tipos de degradación del suelo encarados con la Tecnología

Comentarios:

Degradation is mainly caused by over-exploitation of vegetation (overgrazing), mechanized agriculture (ploughing and barley seeding) – but accelerated by climate change.

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
• restaurar/ rehabilitar tierra severamente degradada

4.1 Dibujo técnico de la Tecnología

4.2 Información general sobre el cálculo de insumos y costos

Especifique cómo se calcularon los costos e insumos:

• por área de Tecnología

Especifique la moneda usada para calcular costos:

• USD

4.3 Actividades de establecimiento

	Actividad	Momento (estación)
1.	Site Selection (biophysical suitability)	At least 1 year prior implementation
2.	Site inspection & local community consultation (social assessment, awareness and planning)	Around 1 year prior implementation
3.	Ploughing of micro water harvesting pits along the contour (e.g. laser guided)	Late dry season (at least 1 month prior rainy season onset)
4.	Out-planting of native shrubs seedlings (e.g. Atriplex and Ratameh) – potentially community inclusive activity	After first substantial rainfall (e.g. > 5mm rainfall event)
5.	Sustainable management by the local community (grazing and resting plan)	Approximately after 2 years (sustainable grazing includes certain resting – chance for seeds production and recruitment)

4.4 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
Mano de obra	Tractor plough operation	Labour Day per hectare	0,2	25,0	5,0
Mano de obra	Technical assistance	LD	0,2	50,0	10,0
Mano de obra	Seedling planters (local community)	LD	5,0	20,0	100,0
Equipo	Tractor + Vallerani Plough (transport & fuel)	Day	0,2	200,0	40,0
Equipo	Field equipment	Day	1,0	20,0	20,0
Material para plantas	Atriplex Halimus	Seedling	100,0	0,5	50,0
Material para plantas	Retama	Seedling	100,0	0,5	50,0
Material para plantas	Salsola	Seedling	100,0	0,5	50,0
Otros	Transportation and storage (e.g. seedlings)	Lumpsum per hectare	1,0	20,0	20,0
Costos totales para establecer la Tecnología					345,0
Costos totales para establecer la Tecnología en USD					345,0

Comentarios:

The shrub seedlings used were of high quality. A local community was used for labour. These two items increase costs per hectare – costs per hectare can be significantly reduced using ‘cheap’ seedlings or professional agricultural labour. However, the purpose of the project was local community inclusion and their benefit.

4.5 Actividades de establecimiento/ recurrentes

	Actividad	Momento/ frequencia
1.	Sustainable grazing (take half / leave half concept)	1-2 times per season
2.	Cut and carry	locally
3.	Resting for shrub-seed production and new recruitment	Some selected resting seasons

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

Comentarios:

The technology aims at re-establishing a sustainable nature-based ecosystem. Once properly implemented and managed, no further maintenance is needed. Certainly, ‘costs’ during biomass facilitation accrue through, e.g., herding and watering of livestock; however, these costs are not considered to occur because of the landscape improvement.

4.7 Factores más determinantes que afectan los costos:

Describa los factores más determinantes que afectan los costos:

The most important cost is the high-quality seedlings and the local labor costs. Both can be reduced.

5.1 Clima

5.2 Topografía

Indique si la Tecnología se aplica específicamente en:

• no relevante

Comentarios y especificaciones adicionales sobre topografía :

Site topography ranges from 853 to 910 m above sea level (ASL), with an average slope steepness of 7.4 %.

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. :

The soil texture ranges from silty clay to silty clay loam.
Soil pH ranges from 8 – 8.5.
The soil is not saline.

5.4 Disponibilidad y calidad de agua

¿La salinidad del agua es un problema?

No

¿Se está llevando a cabo la inundación del área? :

Sí

Frecuencia:

frecuentemente

5.5 Biodiversidad

Comentarios y especificaciones adicionales sobre biodiversidad:

Atriplex, Ratameh and Salsola were actively out-planted (native species). This is not very biodiverse, but the evolving micro-habitat within the water harvesting pit allows emergence of collected seeds and consequential development of biodiverse vegetation patches

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

Indique otras características relevantes de los usuarios de las tierras:

The actual landowners and users are often poor Jordanians. However, the owners of the large livestock flocks (potential facilitators of the rehabilitated lands) are comparatively rich.

5.7 Área promedio de la tierra usada 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

• NA

¿Los derechos del uso de la tierra se basan en un sistema legal tradicional?

Sí

5.9 Acceso a servicios e infraestructura

6.1 Impactos in situ demostrados por la Tecnología

Impactos socioeconómicos

Producción

Ingreso y costos

Impactos socioculturales

Impactos ecológicos

Ciclo de agua/ escurrimiento de sedimento

Suelo

Biodiversidad: vegetación, animales

Reducción de riesgos de desastres y riesgos climáticos

6.2 Impactos fuera del sitio demostrados por la Tecnología

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	Incremento o reducción	¿Cómo es que la tecnología soporta esto?
temperatura anual		incrementó	muy bien
lluvia anual		disminuyó	muy bien

Extremos (desastres) relacionados al clima

Desastres climatológicos:

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

Desastres climatológicos

	¿Cómo es que la tecnología soporta esto?
condiciones extremas de invierno	muy bien

Desastres hidrológicos

	¿Cómo es que la tecnología soporta esto?
inundación repentina	muy 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)?

6.5 Adopción de la Tecnología

• 1-10%

De todos quienes adoptaron la Tecnología, ¿cuántos lo hicieron espontáneamente, por ej. sin recibir nada de incentivos/ materiales:

• 11-50%

6.6 Adaptación

¿La tecnología fue modificada recientemente para adaptarse a las condiciones cambiantes?

Sí

otros (especifique):

watershed approach and transition status of the structures

Especifique la adaptación de la Tecnología (diseño, material/ especies, etc.):

Implementation efficiency increase through adding contour laser technique and using the reversible blade (2 directions plowing)

6.7 Fuerzas/ ventajas/ oportunidades de la Tecnología

Fuerzas/ ventajas/ oportunidades desde la perspectiva del usuario de la tierra
Opportunity for agro-pastoralism (grazing up to twice a year)
Improved livestock health, milk quantity, and quality.
No input costs needed (compared with e.g. barley agriculture)
Flexibility in timing: grazing of healthy rangelands can be done ‘at any time’(certainly spring season is most beneficial for livestock) – which differs from barley agriculture approach.

Fuerzas/ ventajas/ oportunidades desde la perspectiva del compilador o de otra persona de referencia clave
Besides out-planting of native shrub seedlings, native biodiversity evolves through the emergence of dormant seed material.
Out-planted shrub seedlings withstand extreme weather conditions (droughts) through water harvesting. The survival rate and eventual success of the rehabilitation approach are high.
Micro water harvesting structures and upcoming vegetation patches reduce erosion and increase trapping of sediments, including organic carbon and seed materials.
Water harvesting reduces the peak of surface runoff and thus mitigates downstream flooding

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?
Costs of implementation and availability of high-quality seedlings and the Vallerani plow.	Develop large-scale procedure/initiative that allows farmers to request and restore vulnerable areas using the Vallerani micro-water harvesting technique. Include incentives for implementation (ex. free seedlings, free of charge using of Vallerani machine, subsidies on arley as fodder for the first two years in order for farmers to maintain the site)
Change: Not all farmers are willing to forgo barley agriculture	Demonstrating the effects this technology through pilot projects. Local communities on the forefront of communication.
Vegetation growth may attract herders from different areas.	Clear rules and legislation on land facilitation in terms of grazing.
Requires higher understanding of the environment and long-term planning	Introduce knowledge sharing events to teach local farmers on the effects of land degradation and the benefits of healthy ecosystems

Debilidades/ desventajas/ riesgos desde la perspectiva del compilador o de otra persona de referencia clave	¿Cómo sobreponerse a ellas?
Land ownership: current land tenure system in Jordan slows the adoption of the intervention. A landowner can reside in a city (no much value for the land), and the land user may be a herder. A large flock owner can rent huge areas for barley cultivation (actual cost of 1 donum of barley plantation ranges between 1.5-3 USD; possible to prepare up to 10 ha per day). Cheap labor/herders will move flocks and graze until all cover is gone (usually for 1-3 months maximum per year (March-May)). Rehabilitated areas will be of less interest for such users.	Develop and apply strict land management plans and policies. Create a strong monitoring system. Apply penalties for actions that increase land degradation with various on-site and off-sites impacts
Lack of institutional collaboration for rangeland management and rehabilitation. Land management in the Badia is the responsibility of several ministries in Jordan. The lack of institutional collaboration and the absence of the rangeland areas' valuation create a difficult environment for sustainability measures.	Increase the collaboration between ministries and stakeholders. Evaluate the impact of restoration solutions on the site and off site.
Lack of clear government policy for restoration, incentives for farmers, and funding availability.	Develop a clear action plan among the responsible government institutions of restoration activities.
Complex social context. The majority of land users and/or landowners don’t value the restoration. The bare cultivation practices have more (quick) value without resting time.	Capacity development for local communities for the value of soil, water, and biodiversity

7.1 Métodos/ fuentes de información

7.2 Vínculos a las publicaciones disponibles

Título, autor, año, ISBN:

Akroush, S., & All, E. (2016). Factors Affecting the Adoption of Water Harvesting Technologies: A Case Study of Jordanian Arid Area. Sustainable Agriculture Research.

Título, autor, año, ISBN:

Akroush, S., & Boubaker, D. (2015). Predicted Willingness of Farmers to Adopt Water Harvesting Technologies: A Case Study from the Jordanian Badia (Jordan). American-Eurasian J. Agricultural & Environmental science , 1502-1513.

Título, autor, año, ISBN:

Gammoh, & Oweis. (2011). Performance and Adaptation of the Vallerani Mechanized Water Harvesting System in Degraded Badia Rangelands . Journal of Environmental Science and Engineering, 1370-1380.

Título, autor, año, ISBN:

Haddad, M. (2019). Exploring Jordan's Rangeland Transition: Merging Restoration Eperiment with Modeling - A Case study from Al Majdiyya Village. Amman: The University of Jordan.

Título, autor, año, ISBN:

Vallerani. (n.d.). Vallerani system. Retrieved from Vallerani: http://www.vallerani.com/wp/

7.3 Vínculos a la información relevante disponible en línea

Título/ descripción:

VALLERANI MICRO WATER HARVESTING

URL:

https://www.icarda.org/impact/impact-stories/vallerani-micro-water-harvesting

Título/ descripción:

CONTOUR LASER GUIDING FOR THE MECHANIZED “VALLERANI” MICRO-CATCHMENT WATER HARVESTING SYSTEMS

URL:

https://www.icarda.org/publications/10291/contour-laser-guiding-mechanized-vallerani-micro-catchment-water-harvesting

7.4 Comentarios generales

The Marab is a local downstream water harvesting measure in an integrated watershed context, where up/midstream users and applied land management practices affect the Marab.
The technology diverts and spreads excess runoff over deep-soil flood plains. The technology comprises local gully-filling, grading/leveling of seedbed, and construction of a bund-and-spillway system creating several compartments for flood-irrigated agriculture.
For more information please visit: https://qcat.wocat.net/en/wocat/technologies/view/technologies_5770/