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)

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:

Gully healing using trash lines reinforced by pegs

2.2 Detailed description of the Technology

Description:

The starting point is to form a layer of trash and soil across the bed of the gully (a typical gully here is 3-10 m wide, and 2 m or more deep), reinforced with
pegs, and to build this up gradually in layers as sediment is captured behind it. On top of the barrier a dense line of mikayeba (tree cassava: Manihot glaziovii) is planted. Trash continues to be added to the nowliving barrier until the gully is fully silted up. The barrier, 1 – 2 metres wide, then appears as a contour line
across her land, and continues to function against erosion. Mikayeba is not just a living structural support: its leaves are also a source of fresh vegetables. Where the gullies are more severe, she is testing cuttings of Commiphora africana.

Purpose of the Technology: The purpose of the technology is reclamation of land from gullies for plant production. Impact is achieved through impeding concentrated runoff and capturing sediment.

Establishment / maintenance activities and inputs: The treatment does not end with sedimentation of the gully bed. The land is left fallow for one to two seasons. Then, late in the first or second season, the farmer digs in the young volunteer vegetation as a green manure, and plants a ‘catch crop’ of maize. If it produces cobs, well and good. If not, she feeds the
plants to her stall-fed cows. The main maintenance aspect is the continuous addition of soil/trash layer upon previous layers, and tending the living barrier to maintain its density. Maintenance, as well as original establishment, requires
only common farm/household tools including hoes, spades, sacks and pangas.

Natural / human environment: Grace is in her early 50s, and though her farm of 3 hectares is not larger than normal, her homestead buildings indicate that she is rather above average in terms of wealth. This is something she has achieved through her own efforts. Grace has become the main farmer in the family. Her husband is a retired
teacher and professes no interest in developing the land further. In 1982 Grace acquired, and decided to reclaim, some badly gullied land.

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:

Tanzania, United Republic of

Further specification of location:

Dodoma/Dodoma rural

Specify the spread of the Technology:

• evenly spread over an area

If precise area is not known, indicate approximate area covered:

• < 0.1 km2 (10 ha)

Map

×

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 land users' innovation

Comments (type of project, etc.):

farmer innovation

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

• Annual cropping
• Perennial (non-woody) cropping
• Tree and shrub cropping

Annual cropping - Specify crops:

• cereals - maize
• cereals - millet
• cereals - sorghum
• legumes and pulses - peas
• oilseed crops - groundnuts

• pigeon peas

Perennial (non-woody) cropping - Specify crops:

• banana/plantain/abaca

• Manihot glaziovii

Number of growing seasons per year:

• 1

Specify:

Longest growing period in days: 120; Longest growing period from month to month: Dec - Apr

Comments:

Major land use problems (compiler’s opinion): formation of new gullies and expansion of the existing ones

Major land use problems (land users’ perception): same as above

3.5 SLM group to which the Technology belongs

• improved ground/ vegetation cover
• cross-slope measure

3.6 SLM measures comprising the Technology

agronomic measures

structural measures

management measures

Comments:

Main measures: structural measures

Secondary measures: agronomic measures, management measures

3.7 Main types of land degradation addressed by the Technology

soil erosion by water

• Wg: gully erosion/ gullying

chemical soil deterioration

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

water degradation

• Ha: aridification

Comments:

Secondary types of degradation addressed: 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:

• reduce land degradation

Comments:

Secondary goals: prevention of land degradation, mitigation / reduction of land degradation

4.1 Technical drawing of the Technology

Technical specifications (related to technical drawing):

Cross-section through a healed gully

Tanzania

Technical knowledge required for field staff / advisors: high

Technical knowledge required for land users: low

Secondary technical functions: control of concentrated runoff: retain / trap, increase in organic matter

Structural measure: other
Vertical interval between structures (m): 1
Spacing between structures (m): 20
Height of bunds/banks/others (m): 0.4
Width of bunds/banks/others (m): 2

Construction material (earth): layer of earth line 0.3m thick

Slope (which determines the spacing indicated above): 5.00%

If the original slope has changed as a result of the Technology, the slope today is: 2.00%

Lateral gradient along the structure: 2.50%

4.2 General information regarding the calculation of inputs and costs

Specify currency used for cost calculations:

• USD

4.3 Establishment activities

4.4 Costs and inputs needed for establishment

Comments:

Duration of establishment phase: 60 month(s)

4.5 Maintenance/ recurrent activities

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

Comments:

Machinery/ tools: hoes, spade, matchet and sack

labour hired

4.7 Most important factors affecting the costs

Describe the most determinate factors affecting the costs:

gully depth and slope

5.1 Climate

5.2 Topography

Comments and further specifications on topography:

Slopes on average: Also rolling and hilly

Landforms: Also mountain and footslopes and valley floors

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 depth on average: Also moderately deep

Soil fertility is low, medium and very low

Soil drainage / infiltration is medium

Soil water storage capacity is low - medium

5.6 Characteristics of land users applying the Technology

Indicate other relevant characteristics of the land users:

50% of the land users are average wealthy and own 70% of the land.
30% of the land users are poor and own 20% of the land.
20% of the land users are poor and own 10% of the land.

Off-farm income specification: local brewing making, charcoal burning, beekeeping and ornament making

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

Land ownership:

• communal/ village

6.1 On-site impacts the Technology has shown

Socio-economic impacts

Production

Income and costs

Other socio-economic impacts

Socio-cultural impacts

Ecological impacts

Water cycle/ runoff

Soil

Climate and disaster risk reduction

Other ecological impacts

6.2 Off-site impacts the Technology has shown

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

• single cases/ experimental

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

4 households covering 10 percent of stated area (1 percent of all households)

Of all those who have adopted the Technology, how many did so spontaneously, i.e. without receiving any material incentives/ payments?

• 91-100%

Comments:

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

Comments on spontaneous adoption: survey results

There is a little trend towards spontaneous adoption of the Technology

Comments on adoption trend: production of good crops by the gully attract other people

6.7 Strengths/ advantages/ opportunities of the Technology

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

7.1 Methods/ sources of information

7.2 References to available publications

Title, author, year, ISBN:

1st farmers innovation workshop report

Available from where? Costs?

INADES tanzania

Title, author, year, ISBN:

Kithinji M., Critchley W. 2001. Farmers' initiatives in land husbandry: Promising technologies for the drier areas of East Africa. RELMA Technical Report series no. 27