Technologies

Hararghie Soil Bund [Ethiopia]

Daga Biyye (Oromigna)

technologies_1045 - Ethiopia

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Completeness: 63%

1. General information

1.2 Contact details of resource persons and institutions involved in the assessment and documentation of the Technology

Key resource person(s)

SLM specialist:

Nigusie Tshome

Natural Resources Development and Environmental Protection Authority

Ethiopia

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1.3 Conditions regarding the use of data documented through WOCAT

The compiler and key resource person(s) accept the conditions regarding the use of data documented through WOCAT:

Yes

2. Description of the SLM Technology

2.1 Short description of the Technology

Definition of the Technology:

an embankment of soil constructed along the contour to reduce runoff and maintain soil moisture.

2.2 Detailed description of the Technology

Description:

Soil bund is an earth embankment constructed along the contour inorder to avoid runoff down slope and shorten the slope length. Ditch/basin is dig at the upper side of the bund.

Purpose of the Technology: To obtain the maximum sustainable level of production from a given area of land by reducing soil loss below a thrushold level and maintaining soil moisture.

Establishment / maintenance activities and inputs: During establishment and maintenance the materials needed are graduated poles, pegs, plastic string and water level and other materials related to the work.

2.5 Country/ region/ locations where the Technology has been applied and which are covered by this assessment

Country:

Ethiopia

Region/ State/ Province:

West Hareghe/Oromia

Further specification of location:

Habro

Comments:

Total area covered by the SLM Technology is 1.68 km2.

the SWC technology area is defined by sub-watershed. It is implemented by programmee

Map preview

2.6 Date of implementation

If precise year is not known, indicate approximate date:
  • more than 50 years ago (traditional)

2.7 Introduction of the Technology

Specify how the Technology was introduced:
  • through projects/ external interventions
Comments (type of project, etc.):

through the extension programme

3. Classification of the SLM Technology

3.2 Current land use type(s) where the Technology is applied

Cropland

Cropland

  • Annual cropping
  • Tree and shrub cropping
Annual cropping - Specify crops:
  • cereals - maize
  • cereals - sorghum
  • haricot bean, teff, chickpea
Tree and shrub cropping - Specify crops:
  • coffee, open grown
  • Catha edulis
Number of growing seasons per year:
  • 1
Specify:

Longest growing period in days: 120 Longest growing period from month to month: Mar - Jul

Is intercropping practiced?

Yes

If yes, specify which crops are intercropped:

maize and haricot beans

Grazing land

Grazing land

Extensive grazing:
  • Semi-nomadic pastoralism
  • free grazing, stall feeding
Comments:

Major land use problems (compiler’s opinion): low productivity, gully formation

Major land use problems (land users’ perception): erosion, low soil fertility, high runoff, low production

Type of cropping system and major crops comments: in the case of intercropping maize is sown in rows and between the rows harcot bean is sown

3.4 Water supply

Water supply for the land on which the Technology is applied:
  • rainfed

3.5 SLM group to which the Technology belongs

  • cross-slope measure

3.6 SLM measures comprising the Technology

3.7 Main types of land degradation addressed by the Technology

soil erosion by water

soil erosion by water

  • Wt: loss of topsoil/ surface erosion
  • Wg: gully erosion/ gullying
water degradation

water degradation

  • Ha: aridification
Comments:

Main type of degradation addressed: Wt: loss of topsoil / surface erosion

Secondary types of degradation addressed: Wg: gully erosion / gullying, Ha: aridification

Main causes of degradation: other human induced causes (specify) (agricultural causes), education, access to knowledge and support services (lack of knowledge)

Secondary causes of degradation: deforestation / removal of natural vegetation (incl. forest fires), over-exploitation of vegetation for domestic use, poverty / wealth (lack of captial), land subdivision

3.8 Prevention, reduction, or restoration of land degradation

Specify the goal of the Technology with regard to land degradation:
  • prevent land degradation
  • reduce land degradation
Comments:

Main goals: mitigation / reduction of land degradation

Secondary goals: prevention of land degradation

4. Technical specifications, implementation activities, inputs, and costs

4.1 Technical drawing of the Technology

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Technical specifications (related to technical drawing):

Oromia

Technical knowledge required for field staff / advisors: high

Technical knowledge required for land users: high

Main technical functions: control of dispersed runoff: retain / trap

Secondary technical functions: reduction of slope angle, reduction of slope length, increase / maintain water stored in soil

Relay cropping
Material/ species: maize, teff and chick pea

Mixed cropping / intercropping
Material/ species: haricot bean and maize

Bund/ bank: level
Vertical interval between structures (m): 1m
Spacing between structures (m): 10m
Depth of ditches/pits/dams (m): 0.5m
Width of ditches/pits/dams (m): 0.5m
Height of bunds/banks/others (m): 0.5m
Width of bunds/banks/others (m): 0.5m

Slope (which determines the spacing indicated above): 12%

Lateral gradient along the structure: 0%

4.2 General information regarding the calculation of inputs and costs

other/ national currency (specify):

Birr

If relevant, indicate exchange rate from USD to local currency (e.g. 1 USD = 79.9 Brazilian Real): 1 USD =:

8.5

Indicate average wage cost of hired labour per day:

0.94

4.3 Establishment activities

Activity Timing (season)
1. surveying and layout dry season
2. excavation work onset of rain

4.4 Costs and inputs needed for establishment

Specify input Unit Quantity Costs per Unit Total costs per input % of costs borne by land users
Labour Labour ha 1.0 89.0 89.0 100.0
Equipment Animal traction ha 1.0 67.0 67.0
Equipment Tools ha 1.0 23.5 23.5 100.0
Plant material Seeds ha 1.0 18.8 18.8
Fertilizers and biocides Fertilizer Ha 1.0 35.3 35.3
Other cultivation cost ha 1.0 36.5 36.5
Total costs for establishment of the Technology 270.1
Total costs for establishment of the Technology in USD 31.78
Comments:

Duration of establishment phase: 12 month(s)

4.5 Maintenance/ recurrent activities

Activity Timing/ frequency
1. ploughing along the contour dry season / 4 times
2. Sowing onset of rain / each cropping season
3. Digging the ditch/basin dry season/two times
4. maintain the height of the bund dry season/two times

4.6 Costs and inputs needed for maintenance/ recurrent activities (per year)

Specify input Unit Quantity Costs per Unit Total costs per input % of costs borne by land users
Labour Labour ha 1.0 11.75 11.75 100.0
Equipment Animal traction ha 1.0 56.0 56.0 100.0
Equipment Tools ha 1.0 2.3 2.3 100.0
Other cultivation cost ha 1.0 109.4 109.4
Total costs for maintenance of the Technology 179.45
Total costs for maintenance of the Technology in USD 21.11
Comments:

Machinery/ tools: 5 shovel, 5 hoe

the cost is culculated based on the spesification of structures (length, width and height), tools required. For the cost given above we assumed 1 km of soil bund per hectar of cultivated land

4.7 Most important factors affecting the costs

Describe the most determinate factors affecting the costs:

excavation work requires more labour and it affects the cost of construction and maintenance

5. Natural and human environment

5.1 Climate

Annual rainfall
  • < 250 mm
  • 251-500 mm
  • 501-750 mm
  • 751-1,000 mm
  • 1,001-1,500 mm
  • 1,501-2,000 mm
  • 2,001-3,000 mm
  • 3,001-4,000 mm
  • > 4,000 mm
Agro-climatic zone
  • sub-humid

5.2 Topography

Slopes on average:
  • flat (0-2%)
  • gentle (3-5%)
  • moderate (6-10%)
  • rolling (11-15%)
  • hilly (16-30%)
  • steep (31-60%)
  • very steep (>60%)
Landforms:
  • plateau/plains
  • ridges
  • mountain slopes
  • hill slopes
  • footslopes
  • valley floors
Altitudinal zone:
  • 0-100 m a.s.l.
  • 101-500 m a.s.l.
  • 501-1,000 m a.s.l.
  • 1,001-1,500 m a.s.l.
  • 1,501-2,000 m a.s.l.
  • 2,001-2,500 m a.s.l.
  • 2,501-3,000 m a.s.l.
  • 3,001-4,000 m a.s.l.
  • > 4,000 m a.s.l.

5.3 Soils

Soil depth on average:
  • very shallow (0-20 cm)
  • shallow (21-50 cm)
  • moderately deep (51-80 cm)
  • deep (81-120 cm)
  • very deep (> 120 cm)
Soil texture (topsoil):
  • coarse/ light (sandy)
  • medium (loamy, silty)
Topsoil organic matter:
  • medium (1-3%)
If available, attach full soil description or specify the available information, e.g. soil type, soil PH/ acidity, Cation Exchange Capacity, nitrogen, salinity etc.

Soil fertility is medium-low
Soil drainage/infiltration is good
Soil water storage capacity is low-medium

5.6 Characteristics of land users applying the Technology

Market orientation of production system:
  • subsistence (self-supply)
  • mixed (subsistence/ commercial)
Relative level of wealth:
  • poor
  • average
Level of mechanization:
  • manual work
  • animal traction
Indicate other relevant characteristics of the land users:

Population density: 100-200 persons/km2

Annual population growth: 2% - 3%

1% of the land users are very rich and own 5% of the land.
60% of the land users are average wealthy and own 70% of the land.
30% of the land users are poor and own 20% of the land.
9% of the land users are poor and own 5% of the land.

Off-farm income specification: no other forms of income generating means

5.7 Average area of land used by land users applying the Technology

  • < 0.5 ha
  • 0.5-1 ha
  • 1-2 ha
  • 2-5 ha
  • 5-15 ha
  • 15-50 ha
  • 50-100 ha
  • 100-500 ha
  • 500-1,000 ha
  • 1,000-10,000 ha
  • > 10,000 ha

6. Impacts and concluding statements

6.1 On-site impacts the Technology has shown

Socio-economic impacts

Production

crop production

decreased
increased

production area

decreased
increased

land management

hindered
simplified
Income and costs

farm income

decreased
increased

workload

increased
decreased

Ecological impacts

Water cycle/ runoff

surface runoff

increased
decreased
Quantity before SLM:

20

Quantity after SLM:

10

excess water drainage

reduced
improved
Soil

soil moisture

decreased
increased

soil loss

increased
decreased
Quantity before SLM:

42

Quantity after SLM:

20

Other ecological impacts

Soil fertility

decreased
increased

Waterlogging

increased
decreased

6.2 Off-site impacts the Technology has shown

reliable and stable stream flows in dry season

reduced
increased

downstream flooding

increased
reduced

downstream siltation

increased
decreased

groundwater/ river pollution

increased
reduced

6.4 Cost-benefit analysis

How do the benefits compare with the establishment costs (from land users’ perspective)?
Short-term returns:

slightly negative

Long-term returns:

positive

How do the benefits compare with the maintenance/ recurrent costs (from land users' perspective)?
Short-term returns:

neutral/ balanced

Long-term returns:

positive

6.5 Adoption of the Technology

Of all those who have adopted the Technology, how many did so spontaneously, i.e. without receiving any material incentives/ payments?
  • 91-100%
Comments:

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

Comments on spontaneous adoption: survey results

There is a little trend towards spontaneous adoption of the Technology

Comments on adoption trend: the majority of the farming communities are poor and they are not able to pay for SWC activities and incentive is required in some cases

6.7 Strengths/ advantages/ opportunities of the Technology

Strengths/ advantages/ opportunities in the land user’s view
reduce soil erosion

How can they be sustained / enhanced? frequent maintenance of the structure
maintain soil moisture

How can they be sustained / enhanced? upgrading of ditches and embankment
increase production

How can they be sustained / enhanced? increasing the productivity of land per unit area
Strengths/ advantages/ opportunities in the compiler’s or other key resource person’s view
erosion control

How can they be sustained / enhanced? frequent maintenance of the structure
moisture maintenance

How can they be sustained / enhanced? frequent maintenance of the ditches
reduction of slope length
increasing of infltration rate

7. References and links

7.1 Methods/ sources of information

Links and modules

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