Short description of the best practice

In the tested area one of the main problems in terms of LDD is soil erosion, which is accelerated with hymnal activities (cultivation, irrigation, fertilizing with mineral fertilizers etc.). As a result an intensive degradation of land is occurring. Most prone areas to the land degradation (soil erosion and depletion of organic matter) are locations where the perennial crops (vineyards, orchards) are established, with plant rows oriented down slope. In order to mitigate this types of land degradation, cultivation of cover crops between the rows is implemented in order to change the cultivation practices (no tillage), to mulch the organic mater from cover crops in order to increase the SOM and to conservate soil moisture and to protect the soil surface from the distortion of soil practices from rain drops.  |

Location

Central part of the country (Veles, Negotino, Gevgelija|

Brief description of the natural environment within the specified location.

The topography of the central part of the country is heterogeneous with smaller heights of the surrounding mountains, unlike the other parts of the country. The inclinations are mild, and the vertical diversification is not strong. In terms of geology the prevailing geological formations are alluvial, colluvial and clastic sediments.|
Climate is sub-mediterranean or modified continental, with hot and dry summers (up to 420C), and wet and mild winters. Annual precipitation is between 350-500 mm. Rainfall regime is unfavorable with long dry periods and intensive rainfalls which cause torrential flow and intense soil erosion. Evapotranspiration is high due to what intensive irrigation is needed during the vegetative period|
Soils are typical for this geological and climatic conditions. Soils are mainly formed on alluvial and colluvial sediments, or silicate and carbonate flish in the upper hills. Predominant soil types are: coluvial soils, alluvial soils, rendzinic soils and vertic soils. Soils are deep, with good chemical and physical properties. The only limiting factor in some cases is lack of organic matter, phosphorus and trace elements.|

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

Main source of income is from agriculture and food and metal industry.
Land is predominantly private. In the past decade, the Ministry of Agrciculture, Forestry and Water economy is giving the state owned agricultural land to private farmers on a concession for a period of 30-50 years.|
The income level of the population in the tested areas is on a national average (250 euro).

Main problems addressed by the best practice

1. accelerated soil erosion in vineyards and orchards
2. accelerated mineralization of soil organic matter
3. intensive evapotranspiration and loss of soil moisture

Outline specific land degradation problems addressed by the best practice

In the area of implementation of best practices, an intensive agricultural activities are taking place, which lead to appearance of some types of LD, e.g. soil erosion and loss of most fertile top layer, depletion of organic matter which is directly connected with distortion of soil particles and worsening of soil water and physical properties, intensive surface water flow (run-off), intensive evaporation and intense water deficiency which have to be compensated with intensive irrigation.|

Specify the objectives of the best practice

1. to change the traditional way of land management
2. to increase the awareness of the primary producers on LDD

Brief description of main activities, by objective

1. introducing of no-tillage system, with growing of cover crops. Several types of annual or perennial crops will be grown, or mixtures of grasses, depending of the cultivar and soil and climatic conditions.  |
1. organic matter from cover crops will be mulched and introduced into the soil every year, in order to increase soil organic matter.
2. new technologies of irrigations scheduling and improvement of water use efficiency will be intordised (e.g. FWC determination, soil moisture monitoring with tensiometers etc.).|

Short description and technical specifications of the technology

In the tested area one of the main problems in terms of LDD is soil erosion, which is accelerated with hymnal activities (cultivation, irrigation, fertilizing with mineral fertilizers etc.). As a result an intensive degradation of land is occurring. Most prone areas to the land degradation (soil erosion and depletion of organic matter) are locations where the perennial crops (vineyards, orchards) are established, with plant rows oriented down slope. In order to mitigate this types of land degradation, cultivation of cover crops between the rows is implemented in order to change the cultivation practices (no tillage), to mulch the organic mater from cover crops in order to increase the SOM and to conservate soil moisture and to protect the soil surface from the distortion of soil practices from rain drops.  |

Name and address of the institution developing the technology

Faculty of Agricultural Sciencies and Food, Ss Cyril and Methodius University, Skopje|bul. ALeksadar Makedonski b.b., 1000, Skopje, Macedonia|Institute of Agriculture, Ss Cyril and Methodius University, Skopje|bul. ALeksadar Makedonski b.b., 1000, Skopje, Macedonia|Non Governmetal ORganisation - Riral Development Netvork of Macedonia|ul. Orce Nikolov 186 1/8, Skopje, Macedonia

Was the technology developed in partnership?

No

Specify the framework within which the technology was promoted

• Programme/project-based initiative

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

No

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

Yes

By means of what?

• Participatory approaches

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

Preservation of soil properties affected by accelerated soil erosion and depletion of organic matter, as well as irrigation water saving|
Increased production will have an direct impact on the total income of the farmers and improvement of their economical situation and social status.
With introducing of cover crops into the regular system of soil management of perennial agricultural crops, major impact on productivity will be in terms of preservation of soil fertility and optimisation of soil water availability to the plants, which on the other side have an significant impact on|

Describe the major two off-site (i.e. not occurring in the location but in the surrounding areas) impacts

Water saving with depletion of evapotranspiration and optimization of irrigation will contribute to saving of quality water on a national scale.
Introduction of cover crops will decrease the accelerating soil erosion and surface run-off. Sediment delivery ratio to the surface water bodies will decrease, due to what eutrification of lakes and rivers will decrease as well.

Impact on biodiversity and climate change

Explain the reasons:

In R. of Macedonia CC have serious impact on agricultural production, in terms of high average air temperature and decreased rain fall with disturbed regime. Due to that several types of land degradation are accelerating e.g. soil erosion, soil organic matter depletion, and soil compaction. It is expected that introduction of cover crops can contribute to the mitigation of the negative impacts of CC in agriculture.
Explain the reasons: Introducing of cover crops is expected to have an major impact on vineyards and orchards on sloppy terrains with rows oriented down slope. Having in mind that reestablishing of plantations is costly and time consuming process, introduction of such measure can be considered as an excellent adaptation measure towards mitigation of the negative impacts of CC and the inappropriate soil management on agricultural soils (e.g. soil erosion, depletion of SOM, soil water loss etc.).|

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?

Prespa region

Were incentives to facilitate the take up of the technology provided?

Were incentives to facilitate the take up of the technology provided?

Yes

Specify which type of incentives:

• Financial incentives (for example, preferential rates, State aid, subsidies, cash grants, loan guarantees, etc)

Can you identify the three main conditions that led to the success of the presented best practice/technology?

It is possible to replicate this practice due to a several reasons: the implementation of the measure is easy, its implementation does not need special know how and technology, and its implementation is cheap|

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
• National

Related to human resources

The implementation of this practice is still an ongoing activity in our country, so to this moment no cost-benefit analysis, sup ups and lessons learned, have been performed yet.|