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

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

Programme d’Appui à l’agriculture Productive (GIZ / PROMAP)

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

Misereor - Germany

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

Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH (GIZ) - Germany

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:

Covering the soil with mulch protects it against wind and water erosion and provides nutrients which has a positive effect on yields and food security.

2.2 Detailed description of the Technology

Description:

Mulching involves spreading millet and sorghum stalks, etc. on cropland after harvesting. This technique can be used on any kind of cropland and is also effective for restoring infertile patches.

Purpose of the Technology: The stalks spread over the land at the very beginning of the dry season improve the infiltration of water, reduce the evaporation of moisture from the soil and act as a barrier to prevent wind erosion, retaining the thin layer of soil and trapping the rich dust carried by the harmattan wind. Covering the soil with mulch also protects it against water erosion. Through the action of termites, the stalks and branches decompose and are gradually incorporated into the soil, fertilising it and improving its structure.
Mulching has a positive effect on yields and therefore contributes to improving household food security. It mitigates the effects of climate change and increased rainfall variability.
In the area covered by the PASP project in Niger, an analysis was carried out to assess the effectiveness of contour stone bunds used on their own and stone bunds used in conjunction with mulching. It was found that plots with contour stone bunds only produce an average millet grain yield of 266 kg per hectare, while those with contour stone bunds plus mulching average 395 kg per hectare. The difference between the two − 129 kg − can be considered to be the positive effect of mulching.

Establishment / maintenance activities and inputs: Mulching has to be carried out each year. Around 2 tonnes per hectare per year is recommended, which is 2 or 3 stalks per m2.

Natural / human environment: This technique is implemented on individual plots. Livestock generally graze on the millet and sorghum stalks, or they are cut down and transported for use as fodder for animals being fattened in the dry season. This technique is therefore used in places where there is sufficient forage for livestock herds. It can be combined with any other erosion control technique, such as contour stone bunds and grass strips.

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:

• 10-50 years ago

2.7 Introduction of the Technology

Specify how the Technology was introduced:

• through projects/ external interventions

Comments (type of project, etc.):

Developed, implemented and disseminated as part of projects and programmes undertaken from the 1980s onwards to combat desertification and improve natural resource management. Implemented by German Development Cooperation (BMZ, GIZ, KfW) in several projects e.g. PDRT (Projet de développement rural de Tahoua, Niger), PASP (Projet de protection intégrée des ressources agro-sylvo-pastorales Tillabéri-Nord, Niger), PATECORE (project for land development and resource conservation in Plateau Central, Burkina Faso)

3.1 Main purpose(s) of the Technology

• improve production
• reduce, prevent, restore land degradation
• mitigate climate change and its impacts

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

Land use mixed within the same land unit:

Yes

Specify mixed land use (crops/ grazing/ trees):

• Agro-silvopastoralism

Comments:

Major land use problems (compiler’s opinion): soil fertility decline, soil erosion by wind and water, surface runoff

Nomadism: Yes

Semi-nomadism / pastoralism: Yes

Cut-and-carry/ zero grazing: Yes

Improved pasture: Yes

Other grazingland: agropastoralism

Selective felling of (semi-) natural forests: Yes

Forest products and services: timber, fuelwood, fruits and nuts, grazing / browsing, other forest products / uses (honey, medical, etc.)

Type of cropping system and major crops comments: farmers are mainly agropastoralists with some communities specialised on pure pastoralism

Constraints of common grazing land

Constraints of forested government-owned land or commons

Livestock density: 1-10 LU /km2

3.4 Water supply

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

• rainfed

Comments:

Water supply: Also mixed rainfed - irrigated and post-flooding

3.5 SLM group to which the Technology belongs

• improved ground/ vegetation cover
• cross-slope measure

3.6 SLM measures comprising the Technology

Comments:

Type of agronomic measures: mulching

3.7 Main types of land degradation addressed by the Technology

Comments:

Secondary types of degradation addressed: Ha: aridification

Main causes of degradation: soil management (Unadapted land use methods, reduced or abandoned fallow periods), crop management (annual, perennial, tree/shrub) (Neglect of fallow periods and crop rotation), droughts (due to heat waves), population pressure (rapidly growing population increasing pressure on land), poverty / wealth (poor population)

Secondary causes of degradation: over-exploitation of vegetation for domestic use (use of straw for fodder and roof thatching), change in temperature (Climate change: heat waves), change of seasonal rainfall (more variable onset of rain), Heavy / extreme rainfall (intensity/amounts) (more variable and intensive rains), wind storms / dust storms (frequent storms), floods (due to intensive rain storms)

3.8 Prevention, reduction, or restoration of land degradation

Specify the goal of the Technology with regard to land degradation:

• reduce land degradation
• restore/ rehabilitate severely degraded land

Comments:

Secondary goals: mitigation / reduction of land degradation

4.1 Technical drawing of the Technology

4.5 Maintenance/ recurrent activities

	Activity	Timing/ frequency
1.	The stalks are spread over the land at the beginning of the dry season. Mulching has to be carried out each year.

4.7 Most important factors affecting the costs

Describe the most determinate factors affecting the costs:

• Labour for mulching: 1.5 man-days per ha.
• Straw for mulching: (2 t per ha per year)

5.1 Climate

5.2 Topography

Comments and further specifications on topography:

Landforms: Also footslopes and valley floors

Altitudinal zone: 200 m a.s.l.

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 texture: Fine to medium (sandy to clayey loams)

Soil fertility is very low - medium

Soil drainage / infiltration is poor - medium

Soil water storage capacity is low - medium

5.4 Water availability and quality

Comments and further specifications on water quality and quantity:

Ground water table: > 10 m

Availability of surface water: Surface runoff generated by limited but intense rainfalls

5.5 Biodiversity

5.6 Characteristics of land users applying the Technology

Indicate other relevant characteristics of the land users:

Population density: 10-50 persons/km2

Annual population growth: 3% - 4%

(mostly poor households below poverty line).

Off-farm income specification: men migrate temporarily or permanently to cities for off-farm income, women and men seasonally carry out paid farm work

Market orientation of production system: Most households crop for subsistence ( mainly for small agropastoralists) and surplus is sold on market (medium agropastoralists). Commercial markets: some vegetable growing and pastoralists.

Level of mechanization: Ox and donkey used for animal traction

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:

• state
• communal/ village

• not titled

Land use rights:

• communal (organized)
• individual

Comments:

traditional land use rights prevail. On fields individual land use rights, communal rights on pasture and forest land (collection of wood and other products (fruits, medicinal plants))

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

Biodiversity: vegetation, animals

Climate and disaster risk reduction

6.2 Off-site impacts the Technology has shown

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	well

Climate-related extremes (disasters)

Meteorological disasters

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

Climatological disasters

	How does the Technology cope with it?
drought	well

Hydrological disasters

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

Other climate-related consequences

Other climate-related consequences

	How does the Technology cope with it?
reduced growing period	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)?

6.5 Adoption of the Technology

Comments:

Comments on acceptance with external material support: Technology is very simple.

Comments on spontaneous adoption: Technology can be applied without any external input.

There is a moderate trend towards spontaneous adoption of the Technology

Comments on adoption trend: There are competing uses for straw. Straw can be used as forage, as a construction material and for mulching. It is now becoming increasingly common for straw to be collected and stored systematically to serve as forage reserves in the dry season. It is then not available anymore for mulching.

6.7 Strengths/ advantages/ opportunities of the Technology

Strengths/ advantages/ opportunities in the compiler’s or other key resource person’s view
This technique is useful for restoring infertile patches of cropland. It also improves the soil’s physical and chemical properties and reactivates biological activity
Covering the soil with mulch protects it against wind and water erosion and provides nutrients.
Mulching has a positive effect on yields and therefore contributes to improving household food security.
It mitigates the effects of climate change and increased rainfall variability.

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

Weaknesses/ disadvantages/ risks in the compiler’s or other key resource person’s view

How can they be overcome?

Harvest waste is often a source of conflict between livestock keepers and farmers. In Niger, the date when crop fields are opened to livestock keepers is set in each region by representatives of different user groups and the government. Increasingly, there are competing uses for harvest waste. Straw can be used as forage, as a construction material and for mulching. It is now becoming increasingly common for straw to be collected and stored systematically to serve as forage reserves in the dry season.

7.1 Methods/ sources of information

7.3 Links to relevant online information

Title/ description:

Good Practices in Soil and Water Conservation. A contribution to adaptation and farmers resilience towards climate change in the Sahel. Published by GIZ in 2012.

URL:

http://agriwaterpedia.info/wiki/Main_Page