Technologies

Grass strips [South Africa]

technologies_1380 - South Africa

Completeness: 67%

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:

Mashatola M.B. (Boy)

UNIN

South Africa

Name of the institution(s) which facilitated the documentation/ evaluation of the Technology (if relevant)
United Nations Institute for Namibia (UNIN) - Namibia
Name of the institution(s) which facilitated the documentation/ evaluation of the Technology (if relevant)
University of Stellenbosch (University of Stellenbosch) - South Africa

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:

Combination of field demarcation and erosion protection by grass strips

2.2 Detailed description of the Technology

Description:

Grass strips are left uncultivated to demarcate field boundaries. The width of the grass strips varies widely depending on the availability of land (distance from the village). No establishment is required. The group of fields is fenced off with wire fences (in close vicinity to town) or natural fencing using aloes and dead branches from thorn trees (for gap filling). The fence protects the crops and grass strip during summer. In winter the fields and grass strips are grazed.

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

Country:

South Africa

Region/ State/ Province:

Limpopo Province

Further specification of location:

Nebo and Central district

Specify the spread of the Technology:
  • evenly spread over an area
If the Technology is evenly spread over an area, specify area covered (in km2):

0.3

Comments:

Total area covered by the SLM Technology is 0.3 km2.

Widely use in the former Lebowa homeland. 1 ha plot per family is allocated b the chief-technology is only applied on these arable plots. Main purpose (LUT) - cropland

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:
  • as part of a traditional system (> 50 years)

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
Annual cropping - Specify crops:
  • cereals - maize
  • cereals - sorghum
  • fodder crops - grasses
Number of growing seasons per year:
  • 1
Specify:

Longest growing period in days: 210; Longest growing period from month to month: Nov - May

Comments:

Major cash crop: Soghum
Major food crop: Maize

Major land use problems (compiler’s opinion): Low productivity due to lack of investment into fertiliser & pest control. (No credit system in place).
Size of plots is too small for economic production.

Major land use problems (land users’ perception): Insufficient funds, distance from markets

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

  • area closure (stop use, support restoration)
  • improved ground/ vegetation cover

3.6 SLM measures comprising the Technology

agronomic measures

agronomic measures

vegetative measures

vegetative measures

  • V2: Grasses and perennial herbaceous plants
management measures

management measures

  • M2: Change of management/ intensity level
Comments:

Secondary measures: agronomic measures, management measures

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)
water degradation

water degradation

  • Ha: aridification
Comments:

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

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:

Secondary goals: mitigation / reduction of land degradation

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

4.1 Technical drawing of the Technology

Technical specifications (related to technical drawing):

Technical knowledge required for field staff / advisors: low

Technical knowledge required for land users: low

Main technical functions: control of dispersed runoff: impede / retard, control of concentrated runoff: impede / retard, reduction of slope length, increase of surface roughness

Secondary technical functions: control of dispersed runoff: retain / trap, control of concentrated runoff: retain / trap, improvement of ground cover, increase of infiltration, increase in soil fertility

Vegetative measure: grass strips
Vegetative material: G : grass
Spacing between rows / strips / blocks (m): 1-2 m

Vegetative measure: Vegetative material: G : grass

Grass species: Indigenous grasses (not sown)

Change of land use type: Fencing

Other type of management: Winter grazing/post-harvest

4.2 General information regarding the calculation of inputs and costs

Specify currency used for cost calculations:
  • USD
Indicate average wage cost of hired labour per day:

6.00

4.3 Establishment activities

Activity Timing (season)
1. Not required
2. Fencing At establishment
3. Cultivation between grass strips Before planting (after first rains)

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 Fencing persons/day/ha 8.33333 6.0 50.0 100.0
Equipment Tools ha 1.0 10.0 10.0 100.0
Construction material Wire ha 1.0 200.0 200.0 100.0
Total costs for establishment of the Technology 260.0
Total costs for establishment of the Technology in USD 260.0
Comments:

Duration of establishment phase: 36 month(s)

4.5 Maintenance/ recurrent activities

Activity Timing/ frequency
1. grazing /mainly cattle Winter /Once a year
2. close the fence
3. plant maize
4. Winter grazing After harvest / Once a year
5. Cultivation First rains / Once a year
6. Weeding / As 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 Cultivation and weeding persons/day/ha 1.666666 6.0 10.0 100.0
Construction material Wire ha 1.0 10.0 10.0 100.0
Total costs for maintenance of the Technology 20.0
Total costs for maintenance of the Technology in USD 20.0
Comments:

Fencing 1 ha with 5 strings of wire

4.7 Most important factors affecting the costs

Describe the most determinate factors affecting the costs:

Materials
Land preparation

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
  • semi-arid

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:

Slopes on average: Also rolling and hilly

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)
Topsoil organic matter:
  • 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 fertility is very low - low, N and P are the limiting factors

Soil drainage / infiltration is good

Soil water storage capacity is high, low and also very low

5.6 Characteristics of land users applying the Technology

Market orientation of production system:
  • subsistence (self-supply)
  • mixed (subsistence/ commercial)
Off-farm income:
  • > 50% of all income
Relative level of wealth:
  • poor
  • average
Level of mechanization:
  • manual work
  • mechanized/ motorized
Indicate other relevant characteristics of the land users:

(R 400-600 per household).
(R 200 per household).

Off-farm income specification: Government pensions; money earned by family members on mines & in urban areas

Market orientation of production system: Mixed when sorghum is planted for beer

Level of mechanization: Mechanized is limited: Average to rich can hire a tractor from contractor

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:

1 ha plots

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

Land ownership:
  • communal/ village
Land use rights:
  • communal (organized)

6. Impacts and concluding statements

6.1 On-site impacts the Technology has shown

Socio-economic impacts

Production

crop production

decreased
increased
Comments/ specify:

Reduce erosion, manner for grazing

fodder production

decreased
increased
Comments/ specify:

Winter grazing with maize staple supplement

fodder quality

decreased
increased
Comments/ specify:

Winter grazing with maize staple supplement

production area

decreased
increased
Comments/ specify:

Loss of arable land in fenced–off-area

Income and costs

workload

increased
decreased
Comments/ specify:

More labour for fencing

Other socio-economic impacts

input constraints

increased
decreased
Comments/ specify:

Higher fencing costs

Socio-cultural impacts

community institutions

weakened
strengthened
Comments/ specify:

Relationships between neighbours in the fenced off area

Ecological impacts

Soil

soil moisture

decreased
increased

soil cover

reduced
improved

soil loss

increased
decreased
Other ecological impacts

soil fertility

decreased
icreased

6.2 Off-site impacts the Technology has shown

downstream siltation

increased
decreased

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:

slightly negative

Long-term returns:

positive

6.5 Adoption of the Technology

  • > 50%
If available, quantify (no. of households and/ or area covered):

60 percent of stated area

Of all those who have adopted the Technology, how many did so spontaneously, i.e. without receiving any material incentives/ payments?
  • 51-90%
Comments:

30% of land user families have adopted the Technology with external material support

Comments on acceptance with external material support: estimates

30% of land user families have adopted the Technology without any external material support

Comments on spontaneous adoption: estimates

There is no trend towards spontaneous adoption of the Technology

6.7 Strengths/ advantages/ opportunities of the Technology

Strengths/ advantages/ opportunities in the land user’s view
Land demarcation
Crop protection from grazing in summer
Additional grazing in winter
Manure input during grazing
Strengths/ advantages/ opportunities in the compiler’s or other key resource person’s view
Decrease run-off
Increased water harvesting on grass strips

7. References and links

7.1 Methods/ sources of information

Links and modules

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