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)

Universidad de Valencia (Universidad de Valencia) - Spain

1.3 Conditions regarding the use of data documented through WOCAT

When were the data compiled (in the field)?

10/04/2015

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

Yes

1.4 Declaration on sustainability of the described Technology

Is the Technology described here problematic with regard to land degradation, so that it cannot be declared a sustainable land management technology?

No

2.1 Short description of the Technology

Definition of the Technology:

Catch crops application on bare soil in order to prevent soil erosion, reduces overland flow, and increase soil organic matter.

2.2 Detailed description of the Technology

Description:

In a Persimmon crop area near Valencia (south-east Spain), the research team of the University of Valencia set up an experiment in order to test the effect of the catch crop technique to avoid soil water erosion and improve soil properties.

Purpose of the Technology: The increase in ground cover will decrease soil erosion by reducing raindrop impact on the bare soil. Amount of runoff also decrease by increasing water surface storage, decrease of runoff velocity, and increase of infiltration. Its application must be done after cropping and before high-storm events in the Mediterranean; namely end summer to early autumn, in order to protect raindrop impact and detachment of bare soil.

Establishment / maintenance activities and inputs: Catch crops will be obtained after harvesting.

Natural / human environment: The persimmon production in the area has been implemented in recent time due to the market prices. There has been a quick land use change from citrus orchards to persimmon orchards.
The landscape reflects the long history of management where several constructions related with wine production depicted its importance on this region. Since the late 1960´s, chemical agriculture by use of fertilizers and herbicides, and new orchards plantations as Persimmon, led seasonally the soil surface bare, triggering huge erosion rates.

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

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

Comments:

Major land use problems (compiler’s opinion): Increased runoff and soil erosion, resulting in a decrease of on-site fertility, water reservoir, and weakness of hydrological soil properties.

Major land use problems (land users’ perception): Loss of water-soil resources and productivity.

3.3 Further information about land use

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

• mixed rainfed-irrigated

Specify:

Longest growing period in days: 180 Longest growing period from month to month: february to july

3.4 SLM group to which the Technology belongs

• improved ground/ vegetation cover

3.6 SLM measures comprising the Technology

Comments:

Main measures: agronomic measures, management measures

Secondary measures: vegetative measures, structural measures

Type of agronomic measures: better crop cover, cover cropping, mulching, manure / compost / residues

3.7 Main types of land degradation addressed by the Technology

Comments:

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

Secondary types of degradation addressed: Pc: compaction

Main causes of degradation: soil management, Heavy / extreme rainfall (intensity/amounts)

Secondary causes of degradation: crop management (annual, perennial, tree/shrub), deforestation / removal of natural vegetation (incl. forest fires), over-exploitation of vegetation for domestic use, overgrazing, industrial activities and mining, urbanisation and infrastructure development, discharges (point contamination of water), release of airborne pollutants (urban/industry…), disturbance of water cycle (infiltration / runoff), over abstraction / excessive withdrawal of water (for irrigation, industry, etc.), other human induced causes (specify), change in temperature, change of seasonal rainfall, wind storms / dust storms, floods, droughts, population pressure, land tenure, poverty / wealth, labour availability, inputs and infrastructure: (roads, markets, distribution of water points, other, …), education, access to knowledge and support services, war and conflicts, governance / institutional

3.8 Prevention, reduction, or restoration of land degradation

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

• prevent land degradation

Comments:

Main goals: prevention of land degradation

Secondary goals: mitigation / reduction of land degradation, rehabilitation / reclamation of denuded land

4.1 Technical drawing of the Technology

4.2 Technical specifications/ explanations of technical drawing

Catch crop cover must be spread homogeneously in bare soil areas between trees lines in order to keep as much as possible the soil covered.

Location: Valencia. Spain

Date: 13-03-2015

Main technical functions: control of raindrop splash, control of dispersed runoff: retain / trap, improvement of ground cover, increase of surface roughness, improvement of topsoil structure (compaction), increase in organic matter, increase of infiltration, sediment retention / trapping, sediment harvesting

Secondary technical functions: control of dispersed runoff: impede / retard, control of concentrated runoff: retain / trap, control of concentrated runoff: impede / retard, control of concentrated runoff: drain / divert, reduction of slope angle, reduction of slope length, improvement of surface structure (crusting, sealing), improvement of subsoil structure (hardpan), stabilisation of soil (eg by tree roots against land slides), increase in nutrient availability (supply, recycling,…), increase / maintain water stored in soil, increase of groundwater level / recharge of groundwater, water harvesting / increase water supply, water spreading, improvement of water quality, buffering / filtering water, reduction in wind speed, increase of biomass (quantity), promotion of vegetation species and varieties (quality, eg palatable fodder), control of fires, reduction of dry material (fuel for wildfires), spatial arrangement and diversification of land use

Better crop cover
Material/ species: Catch crop

Cover cropping
Material/ species: Catch crop

Mulching
Material/ species: Catch crop

Manure / compost / residues
Material/ species: Catch crop residues lying on soil surface

Change of land use practices / intensity level: Land use practices changes in order to implement soil cover on bare soil through catch crops

4.4 Establishment activities

	Activity	Type of measure	Timing
1.	Harvesting	Management
2.	Adding catch crops	Management

4.8 Most important factors affecting the costs

Describe the most determinate factors affecting the costs:

Catch crops disponibility when the right application period and man/machine power costs.

5.1 Climate

5.2 Topography

Comments and further specifications on topography:

Altitudinal zone: 101-500 m a.s.l. (300 meters above sea level)

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 medium
Soil drainage/infiltration is medium
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:

Level of mechanization is: Manual labour and mechanised (Specialized machinery)

5.7 Average area of land owned or leased by land users applying the Technology

5.9 Access to services and infrastructure

6.1 On-site impacts the Technology has shown

Socio-economic impacts

Water availability and quality

Income and costs

Socio-cultural impacts

Ecological impacts

Water cycle/ runoff

Soil

Biodiversity: vegetation, animals

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	Type of climatic change/ extreme	How does the Technology cope with it?
annual temperature		increase	not known

Climate-related extremes (disasters)

Meteorological disasters

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

Climatological disasters

	How does the Technology cope with it?
drought	not well

Hydrological disasters

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

Other climate-related consequences

Other climate-related consequences

	How does the Technology cope with it?
reduced growing period	not known

6.7 Strengths/ advantages/ opportunities of the Technology

Strengths/ advantages/ opportunities in the land user’s view
Use of the catch crop residues as a treatment to cover soil and decrease erosion. It also keep higher soil moiusre levels.

Strengths/ advantages/ opportunities in the compiler’s or other key resource person’s view
It is a technology very easy to apply, with low failure possibilities and a strong soil erosion control and local soil properties improvement How can they be sustained / enhanced? Some researchers found better performance by applying the catch crops in strips along the orchard.

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?
When applying high-density catch crops, the application labours will be higher. Try to reduce the application rate.	Testing different application rates to decrease soil-water erosion