Technologies

Stone Faced Soil Bund of South Gonder [Ethiopia]

Irken (Amharic)

technologies_1062 - Ethiopia

Completeness: 71%

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:

Ato Moges Anbaw

Ethiopia

SLM specialist:

Ato Chelie Beyene

Ethiopia

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:

Stone faced soil bund is an embankemt constructed along the contour by the use of stone and soil as a construction material.

2.2 Detailed description of the Technology

Description:

The technology is used in areas where there is no sufficient amount of stone and when the soil depth is shallow. It is established by digging soil and form the embankment. The stone is used at the downslope side for reinforcing the structure. Vegetation is planted on the upper part where there is soil. The purpose is to reduce runoff, decrease slope length, increase infiltration rate and then minimize soil erosion. The structure requires maintenance regularly. Since the stone walls are offten made of small stones, which are not stable. In order to properly stablize the structure livestock should not be allowed to graze on where the structure are placed. Checking for breaks after heavy storms and repair the breaks if any enhances the formation of bench terraces fast.

2.3 Photos of the Technology

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

Country:

Ethiopia

Region/ State/ Province:

Amhara, South Gonder Zone

Further specification of location:

Mukur, Shelo, Gomit

Comments:

Total area covered by the SLM Technology is 12.51 km2.

hand tools and seedling transportation support is from GTZ and IFSP

2.6 Date of implementation

If precise year is not known, indicate approximate date:
  • less than 10 years ago (recently)

2.7 Introduction of the Technology

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

from other regions, which started it first.

3. Classification of the SLM Technology

3.1 Main purpose(s) of the Technology

  • reduce, prevent, restore land degradation

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

Cropland

Cropland

  • Annual cropping
  • Perennial (non-woody) cropping
Annual cropping - Specify crops:
  • cereals - sorghum
  • cereals - wheat (spring)
  • legumes and pulses - other
  • teff
  • Grasses, sesbenia, vetiver, bana, grass green gold
Number of growing seasons per year:
  • 1
Specify:

Longest growing period in days: 180 Longest growing period from month to month: Jun - Dec

Grazing land

Grazing land

Extensive grazing:
  • Semi-nomadic pastoralism
Comments:

Major land use problems (compiler’s opinion): overgrazing, land degradation, population pressure

Major land use problems (land users’ perception): low productivity, erosion

Semi-nomadism / pastoralism: free grazing

Grazingland comments: The size of livestock is decreasing because of shortage of land and poor fodder availablity.

Type of cropping system and major crops comments: legumes, teff, wheat, sorghum

3.4 Water supply

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

Water supply: Also mixed rainfed-irrigated

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
chemical soil deterioration

chemical soil deterioration

  • Cn: fertility decline and reduced organic matter content (not caused by erosion)
Comments:

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

Secondary types of degradation addressed: Wg: gully erosion / gullying, Cn: fertility decline and reduced organic matter content

Main causes of degradation: deforestation / removal of natural vegetation (incl. forest fires), overgrazing, other human induced causes (specify) (agricultural causes), labour availability (lack of labour), land subdivision

Secondary causes of degradation: over-exploitation of vegetation for domestic use, other natural causes (avalanches, volcanic eruptions, mud flows, highly susceptible natural resources, extreme topography, etc.) specify, poverty / wealth (lack of captial), education, access to knowledge and support services (lack of knowledge), lack of enforcement of legislat./authority

3.8 Prevention, reduction, or restoration of land degradation

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

Secondary goals: prevention of land degradation, rehabilitation / reclamation of denuded land

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

4.1 Technical drawing of the Technology

Technical specifications (related to technical drawing):

mhara

Technical knowledge required for field staff / advisors: high

Technical knowledge required for land users: moderate

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

Secondary technical functions: control of dispersed runoff: retain / trap, reduction of slope length

Agronomic measure: Planting on bunds
Material/ species: Grasses, sesbenia, vetiver

Manure / compost / residues
Material/ species: from cow dung & green materials

Contour tillage
Remarks: Traditional farm tools

Aligned: -contour
Vegetative material: T : trees / shrubs, G : grass
Number of plants per (ha): 4500
Vertical interval between rows / strips / blocks (m): 1
Spacing between rows / strips / blocks (m): 0.05
Vertical interval within rows / strips / blocks (m): 0.2
Width within rows / strips / blocks (m): 0.7

Trees/ shrubs species: sesbania treclucern

Grass species: vetiver, bana, grass green gold

Bund/ bank: level
Vertical interval between structures (m): 2
Spacing between structures (m): 20
Depth of ditches/pits/dams (m): 0.3-0.4
Width of ditches/pits/dams (m): 0.6-1
Length of ditches/pits/dams (m): 110
Height of bunds/banks/others (m): 0.5-0.6
Width of bunds/banks/others (m): 0.6-1
Length of bunds/banks/others (m): 110

Slope (which determines the spacing indicated above): 15%

If the original slope has changed as a result of the Technology, the slope today is: 5%

Lateral gradient along the structure: 0%

Vegetation is used for stabilisation of structures.

Other type of management: change of management / intensity level - area closuer on small size

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 =:

8.6

Indicate average wage cost of hired labour per day:

0.80

4.3 Establishment activities

Activity Timing (season)
1. production of planting materials dry season
2. transporting planting materials onset of rain
3. planting rainy season
4. stone collection dry
5. digging foundation dry
6. construction of the bund dry
7. area clouser the whole year

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 1.0 183.0 183.0 100.0
Labour Harvest ha 1.0 24.0 24.0 100.0
Equipment Animal traction ha 1.0 34.0 34.0 100.0
Equipment Tools ha 1.0 18.0 18.0
Plant material Seeds ha 1.0 11.0 11.0 100.0
Plant material Seedlings ha 1.0 3.0 3.0
Total costs for establishment of the Technology 273.0
Total costs for establishment of the Technology in USD 31.74
Comments:

Duration of establishment phase: 12 month(s)

4.5 Maintenance/ recurrent activities

Activity Timing/ frequency
1. recycling crop residue dry season / annual
2. seed bad preparation dry season / annual
3. ploughing dry season / annual
4. manure/fertilizer beginning of rains / annual
5. weeding end of rain / annual
6. harvesting dry season / annual
7. replanting rainy season /as required
8. pruning/pollarding after rain /when there is enough biomass
9. collecting of stone dry season/as required
10. repair the broken part dry season/as required
11. stone facet soil fund dry season (when needed) /

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 25.0 25.0 100.0
Total costs for maintenance of the Technology 25.0
Total costs for maintenance of the Technology in USD 2.91
Comments:

it is for stone faced soil bund construction

4.7 Most important factors affecting the costs

Describe the most determinate factors affecting the costs:

availability of stone, slope, soil depth

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
Specifications/ comments on rainfall:

950-1400

Agro-climatic zone
  • sub-humid
  • semi-arid

80-85% of the areas is subhumid
15-20% of the area

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.
Comments and further specifications on topography:

Altitudinal zone: 1501-2000 m a.s.l. (mid altitudes, ranked 1) and 2,001-2,500 m a.s.l. (better rainfall, ranked 2)
Landforms: Footslopes (big and deep gullies exist, ranked 1) and hill slopes (small gullies, ranked 2)
Slopes on average: Rolling (medium soil depth, ranked 1), moderate (deep soil, ranked 2) and hilly (shallow soil, ranked 3)

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%)
  • low (<1%)
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 depth on average: Shallow (gentle slopes, ranked 1) and very shallow (highly steep slopes, ranked 2)
Soil texture: Medium (rolling, ranked 1) and coarse/light (helly, ranked 2)
Soil fertility: Medium (ranked 1) and low (ranked 2)
Topsoil organic matter: Medium (ranked 1, flat terrain) and low (on all land, ranked 2)
Soil drainage/infiltration: Medium

5.6 Characteristics of land users applying the Technology

Market orientation of production system:
  • subsistence (self-supply)
  • mixed (subsistence/ commercial)
Off-farm income:
  • less than 10% of all income
Relative level of wealth:
  • poor
  • average
Level of mechanization:
  • animal traction
Indicate other relevant characteristics of the land users:

Population density: 100-200 persons/km2
Annual population growth: 2% - 3%
and own 11% of the land.
and own 72% of the land.
and own 27% of the land.

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
Comments:

The size is shrinking every year/more and more since grazing land is converted to cultivated lands

5.8 Land ownership, land use rights, and water use rights

Land ownership:
  • state
  • individual, not titled
Land use rights:
  • individual

6. Impacts and concluding statements

6.1 On-site impacts the Technology has shown

Socio-economic impacts

Production

crop production

decreased
increased
Comments/ specify:

field crop

fodder production

decreased
increased
Comments/ specify:

legumes & grass

fodder quality

decreased
increased
Comments/ specify:

legumes & grass

Socio-cultural impacts

conflict mitigation

worsened
improved

Ecological impacts

Soil

soil cover

reduced
improved
Comments/ specify:

due to SWC measure

soil loss

increased
decreased
Comments/ specify:

due to constructed stone faced soil bund

6.2 Off-site impacts the Technology has shown

reliable and stable stream flows in dry season

reduced
increased

downstream flooding

increased
reduced

6.4 Cost-benefit analysis

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

positive

Long-term returns:

positive

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

positive

Long-term returns:

positive

6.5 Adoption of the Technology

Comments:

75% of land user families have adopted the Technology with external material support

4 land user families have adopted the Technology with external material support

Comments on acceptance with external material support: estimates

75% of land user families have adopted the Technology without any external material support

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

Comments on spontaneous adoption: estimates

There is a moderate trend towards spontaneous adoption of the Technology

Comments on adoption trend: moderate

6.7 Strengths/ advantages/ opportunities of the Technology

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

How can they be sustained / enhanced? continous maintenance and limit livestock movment
increase soil depth
increase production
Strengths/ advantages/ opportunities in the compiler’s or other key resource person’s view
decrease slope length

How can they be sustained / enhanced? continuous maintenance
increase infiltration

6.8 Weaknesses/ disadvantages/ risks of the Technology and ways of overcoming them

Weaknesses/ disadvantages/ risks in the land user’s view How can they be overcome?
loss of land increase the productivity per unit area of land
pest use of pesticide

7. References and links

7.1 Methods/ sources of information

Links and modules

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