1.3 Condiciones referidas al uso de datos documentados mediante WOCAT

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

03/09/1999

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:

Contour lines of vetiver grass planted within fields of sugar cane, on stream banks and roadsides, to act as ‘hedges against erosion’.

2.2 Descripción detallada de la Tecnología

Descripción:

This example of vetiver grass barriers comes from a commercial farm in Kwa-Zulu Natal, South Africa, where sugar cane is grown on a large scale under a rainfall regime of around 1,000 mm per year. Vetiver grass (Vetiveria zizanioides), which had been growing naturally on the farm for years in isolated clumps, began to be used in 1989 to form vegetative hedges along the contour.
The purpose of these hedges is to protect the land from surface erosion by creating semi-permeable barriers, allowing excess runoff to filter through but holding back sediment. Infiltration is thus increased and moisture conserved in-situ. Although sugar cane in itself protects the soil quite well when the canopy is closed, after harvest on the moderate to steep slopes (10% to >30%) and erodible soils of the north coast of Kwa-Zulu Natal, extra protection is required. The vetiver system is supplemented by other soil conservation measures such as strip cropping, terraces, mulching and minimum tillage – all of which are used to some extent on this farm. Vetiver also helps by permanently marking the contour line, which then guides land preparation. In common with other vegetative barriers, vetiver lines lead to the formation of terraces over time, through the effect of tillage and water erosion between the strips.
Vetiver clumps are dug up and separated into slips (tillers), cut to a length of 10 cm and then planted 10–15 cm apart along the contour, also by stream banks, and by roadsides, just before the rains. This ensures good establishment. Single lines are used in this farm, though double lines are more effective at creating a hedge, and are the normal recommendation. Work starts at the top of the slope, and continues downwards. The cross-slope grass hedges are sited at 5 m vertical intervals on slopes of more than 10%, in lines about 200 m long. The cost of vetiver grass planting depends very much on slope (and thus the number of lines to be planted), availability of materials and labour.
Maintenance is very important, as vetiver often requires ‘gapping-up’ to keep the barrier dense, and it needs also to be cut back before the dry season to prevent it burning. The cut material can be used for mulching. Vetiver is poorly palatable, and therefore not useful as fodder. The maximum height of a vetiver hedge is kept down to approximately 50 cm. This minimises shading and competition, keeps the fire risk low, increases tillering (for production of vegetative splits) and ensures adequate density.

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

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:

• durante experimentos/ investigación

Comentarios (tipo de proyecto, etc.):

The grass originally came to this country from Mauritius.

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

Comentarios:

Major land use problems (compiler’s opinion): The steep topography and shallow soils limit the types of land use possible e.g.. perennial grass cover (sugarcane or grazing) or commercial timber production. Annual cropping is not possible without major alteration to the landscape e.g. terracing.

3.3 Información adicional sobre el uso de tierras

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

• de secano

Número de temporadas de cultivo por año:

• 1

Especifique:

Longest growing period in days: 200

Longest growing period from month to month: Oct - April

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:

Total area covered by the SLM Technology is 8 m2.

The vetiver system has been applied on my own properties. Neighbouring farms have adopted other methods of conserving the soil. i.e. vegetative, agronomic and structural in various combinations (= farm)

3.6 Medidas MST que componen la Tecnología

Comentarios:

Main measures: vegetative measures

Secondary measures: agronomic measures, structural measures, management measures

Specification of other vegetative measures: grass strip as hedges

Type of agronomic measures: mulching, minimum tillage, contour ridging

3.7 Principales tipos de degradación del suelo encarados con la Tecnología

Comentarios:

Main type of degradation addressed: Wt: loss of topsoil / surface erosion, Wg: gully erosion / gullying, Et: loss of topsoil, Hg: change in groundwater / aquifer level

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

Comentarios:

Main goals: mitigation / reduction of land degradation

Secondary goals: rehabilitation / reclamation of denuded land

4.1 Dibujo técnico de la Tecnología

4.2 Especificaciones técnicas/ explicaciones del dibujo técnico

Vetiver grass is planted as a vegetative barrier (hedge), on the contour at 5 metre vertical intervals within fields of sugarcane.

Location: Lower Tugela district. KwaZulu/Natal

Technical knowledge required for field staff / advisors: low

Technical knowledge required for land users: low

Main technical functions: control of dispersed runoff: impede / retard

Secondary technical functions: control of concentrated runoff: impede / retard, increase / maintain water stored in soil

Mulching
Material/ species: Sugarcane
Remarks: Full ground cover

Minimum tillage
Material/ species: Chemical crop eradication

Contour ridging
Material/ species: Planting lines ridged on contour

Vegetative measure: contour
Vegetative material: G : grass
Vertical interval between rows / strips / blocks (m): 5
Spacing between rows / strips / blocks (m): 2
Vertical interval within rows / strips / blocks (m): 0
Width within rows / strips / blocks (m): 0.5

Vegetative measure: Vegetative material: G : grass

Vegetative measure: Vegetative material: G : grass

Vegetative measure: Vegetative material: G : grass

Grass species: Vetiver grass

Slope (which determines the spacing indicated above): 20.00%

If the original slope has changed as a result of the Technology, the slope today is (see figure below): 20.00%

Gradient along the rows / strips: 0.00%

Other type of management: Cane is planted on suitability (slope, soil depth)

4.3 Información general sobre el cálculo de insumos y costos

otra / moneda nacional (especifique):

rand

Indique la tasa de cambio de USD a la moneda local (si fuese relevante): 1 USD =:

6.00

4.4 Actividades de establecimiento

	Actividad	Tipo de medida	Momento
1.	Plant with fertilizer & water	Vegetativas	Rainy season (Sept - Mrch)
2.	Weed & gap plant	Vegetativas
3.	Cut back to promote tillering	Vegetativas
4.	Crop gradication	Manejo	Nov-Jan
5.	Ridging of planting furrows	Manejo	+- 1-2 months before
6.	Planting of sugarcane - fertiliser in furrow	Manejo
7.	Top dress fertiliser	Manejo	9 week after planting
8.	Herbicide application	Manejo	Anytime necessary after planting

4.5 Costos e insumos necesarios para el establecimiento

Comentarios:

Duration of establishment phase: 24 month(s)

4.6 Actividades de establecimiento/ recurrentes

	Actividad	Tipo de medida	Momento/ frequencia
1.	minimum tillage	Agronómicas	mulching at harvest
2.	minimum tillage	Agronómicas
3.	mulching at harvest	Agronómicas	April-Dec / Every year
4.	Weed	Vegetativas	/3 times
5.	Gap plant	Vegetativas	/Once
6.	Weed	Vegetativas	/When required
7.	Spray for creeper grasses	Vegetativas	/When required
8.	Plaint unwanted trees etc.	Vegetativas	/When required
9.	Harvest sugarcane	Manejo	/ Annual
10.	Trash management (mulch spreading)	Manejo	After harvest completed / Annual
11.	Fertiliser application	Manejo	1-2 months after harvest / Annual
12.	Herbicide application	Manejo	Required / Annual
13.	Hand weeding	Manejo	/ Annual & when required

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

Comentarios:

Machinery/ tools: 1 hoe

1) Labour,
2) Transport,
3) Price of grass,
4) Fertiliser,
5) Equipment

4.8 Factores más determinantes que afectan los costos:

Describa los factores más determinantes que afectan los costos:

1) Labour,
2) Transport from nursery to field,
3) The steeper the gradient the more contour lines of vetiver grass will be used,
4) Fertiliser

5.1 Clima

5.2 Topografía

5.3 Suelos

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

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, sin 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

Ciclo de agua/ escurrimiento de sedimento

Suelo

Reducción de riesgos de desastres y riesgos climáticos

6.2 Impactos fuera del sitio demostrados por la Tecnología

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

Comentarios:

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

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

Comments on spontaneous adoption: estimates

There is a little trend towards spontaneous adoption of the Technology

Comments on adoption trend: Some local growers are experimenting with the vetiver system or with vetiver grass used in other applications (gullies, road embankments, etc.)

6.7 Fuerzas/ ventajas/ oportunidades de la Tecnología

Fuerzas/ ventajas/ oportunidades desde la perspectiva del usuario de la tierra
The author is the land user

Fuerzas/ ventajas/ oportunidades desde la perspectiva del compilador o de otra persona de referencia clave
When planted correctly, vetiver forms a dense, permanent hedge which retains soil and water so increases crop yield How can they be sustained / enhanced? Make sure there are no gaps between slips in order to maintain a dense vegetative barrier.
It has a strong fibrous root system that penetrates and binds the soil to a depth of up to 3 meters and can withstand the effects of tunnelling and cracking. Its many uses e.g.. Thatching, mulching etc.
Vetiver grass seed is sterile so it doesn’t spread.
Not very competitive to crops growing alongside.
The cut material can be used for mulching and has multiple secondary uses (thatching, basket making, etc). Once established it can withstand periods of drought and waterlogging. It is also resistant to grazing and to most pests and diseases. Adaptability: can be planted in various environments and grows well in most soil types. Depending on the availability of planting materials and the spacing adopted, can be relatively cheap and easy to establish and – once well established – vetiver requires minimal maintenance.

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?
The author is the land user

Debilidades/ desventajas/ riesgos desde la perspectiva del compilador o de otra persona de referencia clave	¿Cómo sobreponerse a ellas?
Sugarcane residue is often blown against the hedges & this can form a thick blanket thus preventing ratooning of crop	Strategic/controlled burning at end of growing season or trimming back
The grass burns very easily when mature, due to its density	Keep chemicals off vetiver.
Susceptible to certain chemicals used in sugar cane	Establish own nursery.
Planting material expensive to buy: therefore costs increase considerably unless farmer has own nursery
Takes time to plant a large area (in this case 2.5 ha per year).