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

Name of the institution(s) which facilitated the documentation/ evaluation of the Technology (if relevant)

Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) - Italy

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

2.1 Short description of the Technology

Definition of the Technology:

Mulch and drip irrigated banana commercial farm.

2.2 Detailed description of the Technology

Description:

Banana is planted for commercial purposes on a medium sized farm in Elbatinah, Oman It is planted in a well prepared land, where ridges and furrows are made by machinery and manual labour. Seedlings are raised from tissue cultures that are imported. Before the seedlings are planted in the field the land is pulverized and watered. It is fertilized by combination of organic and inorganic fertilizers before seedlings are planted. After planting the seedlings get water through babblers from the pipes network. Water is delivered from a center, where soil nutrients are injected. Harvest takes place twice a year. Old banana plants are removed and chopped to be incorporated in the soils

The harvested banana is sold both in domestic market and mostly exported to neighboring countries. The most dominant variety cultivated is Cavendish. Hired labor coming from other countries are involved in most of the farm activities. Some are permanent workers, while most are temporary laborers who come and go depending on availability of seasonal jobs.

Purpose of the Technology: Managing land to control salinity of soils that impede normal growth and affect productivity of banana plants which produce banana for market.

Establishment / maintenance activities and inputs: The land is cleared first from weeds and dead plants using machinery. Mostly scrapers and cleaning machinery are used to remove dead banana plants and weeds. Following this the scraped material is incorporated into the soil or removed away. Then the land is harrowed and pulverized well before banana seedlings are planted. Tissue culture is imported from other countries and transplanted in plastic houses before planted out in the field. While planting the young seedlings are spaced at a given interval between plants and rows.

Natural / human environment: The farm is situated in one of the agricultural potential areas in the country. The land is nearly level to level. Some leveling is required wherever there is need to level. Land users in the surroundings include small holders, some with medium size farms and also there are large scale farms. The current farm where the documentation has been undertaken is among the top medium sized farms.

2.3 Photos of the Technology

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

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

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

Comments:

Major land use problems (compiler’s opinion): bacterial wilt diseases, shortage of water, fertility decline

Major land use problems (land users’ perception): diseases, shortage of water, fertility decline

Future (final) land use (after implementation of SLM Technology): Cropland: Cp: Perennial (non-woody) cropping

3.3 Has land use changed due to the implementation of the Technology?

Has land use changed due to the implementation of the Technology?

• Yes (Please fill out the questions below with regard to the land use before implementation of the Technology)

3.4 Water supply

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

• full irrigation

3.5 SLM group to which the Technology belongs

• improved ground/ vegetation cover
• irrigation management (incl. water supply, drainage)

3.6 SLM measures comprising the Technology

Comments:

Type of agronomic measures: better crop cover, early planting, manure / compost / residues, mineral (inorganic) fertilizers, soil conditioners (lime, gypsum), rotations / fallows, breaking compacted topsoil, furrows (drainage, irrigation), deep tillage / double digging

Type of vegetative measures: aligned: -contour, aligned: -linear, scattered / dispersed

3.7 Main types of land degradation addressed by the Technology

Comments:

Main causes of degradation: soil management, droughts, land tenure

Secondary causes of degradation: crop management (annual, perennial, tree/shrub), change in temperature, change of seasonal rainfall, population pressure, labour availability, inputs and infrastructure: (roads, markets, distribution of water points, other, …)

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

4.1 Technical drawing of the Technology

4.2 General information regarding the calculation of inputs and costs

Specify currency used for cost calculations:

• USD

4.3 Establishment activities

	Activity	Timing (season)
1.	planting banana suckers	October-November
2.	weeding and cultivation, mulching	November-February

4.5 Maintenance/ recurrent activities

	Activity	Timing/ frequency
1.	irrigation
2.	mulching
3.	soil amendments / applying gypsum
4.	replanting banana suckers
5.	thinning and replanting	Nov-Jan

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

Comments:

Machinery/ tools: tractors, scarpers, pumps,

4.7 Most important factors affecting the costs

Describe the most determinate factors affecting the costs:

Soil and the residue to be removed from the ground during

5.1 Climate

5.2 Topography

Comments and further specifications on topography:

Altitudinal zone: Coastal plains

Slopes on average: Nearly level to level slopes

5.3 Soils

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 very high

Soil drainage / infiltration is good

Soil water storage capacity is medium

5.4 Water availability and quality

5.5 Biodiversity

5.6 Characteristics of land users applying the Technology

Indicate other relevant characteristics of the land users:

Difference in the involvement of women and men: mostly men are farm laborers

Population density: 50-100 persons/km2

Annual population growth: 0.5% - 1%

30% of the land users are rich.
45% of the land users are average wealthy.
25% of the land users are poor.

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

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

Land ownership:

• company
• individual, not titled

Land use rights:

• individual

Water use rights:

• individual

5.9 Access to services and infrastructure

6.1 On-site impacts the Technology has shown

Socio-economic impacts

Production

Water availability and quality

Income and costs

Socio-cultural impacts

Ecological impacts

Water cycle/ runoff

Soil

6.3 Exposure and sensitivity of the Technology to gradual climate change and climate-related extremes/ disasters (as perceived by land users)

Gradual climate change

Gradual climate change

	Season	increase or decrease	How does the Technology cope with it?
annual temperature		increase	not well

Climate-related extremes (disasters)

Meteorological disasters

	How does the Technology cope with it?
local rainstorm	not well
local windstorm	not known

Hydrological disasters

	How does the Technology cope with it?
general (river) flood	not known

6.4 Cost-benefit analysis

How do the benefits compare with the establishment costs (from land users’ perspective)?

How do the benefits compare with the maintenance/ recurrent costs (from land users' perspective)?

6.7 Strengths/ advantages/ opportunities of the Technology

Strengths/ advantages/ opportunities in the compiler’s or other key resource person’s view
use of modern techniques of soil salinity control such as use of gypsum How can they be sustained / enhanced? mixing of various salinity level water from wells and making it moderate to e distributed through central pumping network
use of high yielding variety of bananna How can they be sustained / enhanced? start to develop own tissue culture
seedling / saplings preparation from tissue culture How can they be sustained / enhanced? producing quality saplings for transplanting out in the field
use of organic fertilizers in combination with inorganic fertilizers, soil moisture conservation techniques and management of soil nutrient recycling How can they be sustained / enhanced? monitor salinity level of organic fertilizers

7.1 Methods/ sources of information