Short description of the best practice

High human and livestock population in the desert are leading to mismanagement of the sandy terrain causing reactivation and land degradation resulting of sand movement. This moving sand encroach productive agricultural fields, human habitation, canal, road and railway tracks. The most effective method was the control through a careful plantation of trees, shrubs and grasses. Calligonum polygonoides was the most suitable species, which provided better microenvironment and helpful in developing effective surface vegetation to control sand drift. Combination of C. polygonoides with Cassia angustifolia was best to control sand drift. These adult neighbours are also helpful to improve biodiversity and ecology of the arid areas. |

Location

Shifting dune,semistabilised dune and the inter-dune plane in Gadwala Forest Block, near Kotri in Bikaner Division, Rajsthan|

If the location has well defined boundaries, specify its extension in hectares:

3.0

Brief description of the natural environment within the specified location.

Undulating shifting dunes
Arid, rainfall ranging from 150 to 400 mm, and high wind velocity|
Aridisol with low water holding capacity, low nutrients|

Prevailing socio-economic conditions of those living in the location and/or nearby

Agriculture, animal husbandry|
Highly variable depending on source of income, varies between Rs. 4045.00 and Rs. 12294.00. People with both agriculture and animal husbandry practices have higher income.|

On the basis of which criteria and/or indicator(s) (not related to The Strategy) the proposed practice and corresponding technology has been considered as 'best'?

Introduction of under shrubs and grasses along with the tree species could provide beneficial effects in controlling sand reactivation and drift, particularly, at the time when planted seedlings attain the size of a tree facilitating free air movement under the canopy resulting in reactivation of sand drift. Further, dunes are also deficient in soil organic matter and nutrients, particularly nitrogen. Therefore nutrient management practices can be adopted and sowing of leguminous and / or non-leguminous under shrubs or grasses to increase nitrogen and organic matter may be the important options. They not only increase the soil nutrient status but also provide fodder for livestock in addition to sand drift control |

Main problems addressed by the best practice

Sand movement|Reactivation and degradation of land|Fodder and fuelwood scarcity|Low soil productivity

Outline specific land degradation problems addressed by the best practice

Control of wind erosion and water erosion, improvement in land productivity and conservation of soil and water resources|

Specify the objectives of the best practice

Find out suitable combination of tree species and surface vegetation for sand dune stabilization

Brief description of main activities, by objective

Fuel wood production|Biomass from surface vegetation|Leaf of C. angustifolia for medicinal uses
Sand drift control|Soil seed bank and regeneration|Increased fodder supply
Increase in carbon stock |Improved soil nutrients

Short description and technical specifications of the technology

The experiment was laid out in a split plot design with three replications. Three plant species viz. Acacia tortilis, Prosopis juliflora and Calligonum polygonoides of about 20 cm, 40 cm and 15 cm in height respectively, were planted in September 1996 at a spacing of 5 m x 5 m and in a pit size of 45 x 45 x 45 cm3. Species were considered as the main plot with 75 trees per species. 9.0 g of DAP (di-ammonium hydrogen phosphate) was spread in each pit as basal dose|

Name and address of the institution developing the technology

ARID FOREST RESEARCH INSTITUTE|Arid Forest Research Institute,

Was the technology developed in partnership?

Yes

List the partners:

State forest department, Rajasthan|Ministry of Rural Development, Government of India

Specify the framework within which the technology was promoted

• National initiative – government-led
• Programme/project-based initiative

Was the participation of local stakeholders, including CSOs, fostered in the development of the technology?

Yes

List local stakeholders involved:

State forest department, Rajasthan|

Was the population living in the location and/or nearby involved in the development of the technology?

Yes

Specify:

In form of labour

Describe on-site impacts (the major two impacts by category)

Increase in carbon stock
Increase in Fuel wood production
Increased income by harvesting grasses and leaves of C. angustifolia for medicinal uses.
Increase in diversity and land productivity
Increase in surface biomass production

Impact on biodiversity and climate change

Explain the reasons:

Adult neighbours are helpful in developing effective surface vegetation to control sand drift. They are also helpful to improve biodiversity and ecology of the arid areas by enhanced soil fertility
Adult neighbours can sequester the carbon in the form of biomass and also add the soil organic matter to the adjacent soil. These positive benefits will play a important role in climate change mitigation
Increased fodder and fuelwood and income sources

Has a cost-benefit analysis been carried out?

Has a cost-benefit analysis been carried out?

No

Was the technology disseminated/introduced to other locations?

Was the technology disseminated/introduced to other locations?

Yes

Where?

Suggested for adoption and sowing of C. angustifolia for sand drift control. Forest department of Rajasthan has adopted this in many places in dune area of western Rajasthan.

Replicability

In your opinion, the best practice/technology you have proposed can be replicated, although with some level of adaptation, elsewhere?

Yes

At which level?

• Local
• Sub-national
• Subregional
• International

Related to human resources

Increased income through harvesting of leaves of Cassia angustifolia and fodder from Cenchrus ciliaris grass

Related to technical aspects

This technology may be adopted in similar areas to control sand drift, control land degradation and improve fodder and fuel wood supply|