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

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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

1.5 Reference to Questionnaire(s) on SLM Approaches (documented using WOCAT)

2.1 Short description of the Technology

Definition of the Technology:

A combination of fruit- and nut-trees together with seminatural trees and shrubs on one side with grass-communities on the other side provide for a diversified production system.

2.2 Detailed description of the Technology

Description:

Fruit- and nut-trees give the production system the characteristics of an orchard, whereas sour cherry trees rather provide for a jungle atmosphere. They spread very quickly once they are planted. Hayproduction substitutes other uses of the lowest vegetation layer, since grazing is forbidden. The whole territory is concipied as a research station.

Purpose of the Technology: In general trees act against erosion: By their stabilising function they prevent soil from being washed out. Especially nut-trees with their 20 to 25 m long roots preserve soil moisture and by that consolidate soil structure. Terraces contribute to this moisture-preserving and production-enhancing function. They are very important in order to make rather steep land exploitable by reducing slope. Haymaking does not damage soils, but is only allowed after the end of June so that grasses can reproduce before.

Establishment / maintenance activities and inputs: Both the establishment of terraces and the planting of trees on such a big surface are costly in terms of labour and money. Maintenance means taking care of trees, taking measures against diseases and conserving soil fertility. Fertilisers are very costly and therefore dung has been substituting them in the last years.

Natural / human environment: From the two research stations of the orchard institute - one in the upper hill-zone and one close to the village Karsang - only the second one is assessed. This area is surrounded by two rivers in the West and in the East, with its main exposition to the South. It is in direct competition for irrigation water, especially needed for the trees, with the village. The orchard is situated on a ridge that is in the haymaking area, but is accessible for animals from the village.

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 land users' innovation
• through projects/ external interventions

Comments (type of project, etc.):

1961 the national orchard institute began with developing a research area in Karsang, which should be further enlarged from 1975 onward.

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:

Livestock density (if relevant):

< 1 LU/km2

Major land use problems (compiler’s opinion): The main problems are arid conditions and the loss of fertility, mainly by processes of water erosion.

Major land use problems (land users’ perception): Gully erosion by water and wind erosion together with droughts are the main problems. Gullly erosion may also be caused by

Cut-and-carry/ zero grazing: Access for livestock forbidden.

Grazingland comments: People have goats, sheep and cows and 1-2 donkeys, if they can afford.

Type of grazing system comments: People have goats, sheep and cows and 1-2 donkeys, if they can afford.

3.4 Water supply

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

• rainfed

Comments:

Water supply: post-flooding

3.5 SLM group to which the Technology belongs

• improved ground/ vegetation cover
• improved plant varieties/ animal breeds

3.6 SLM measures comprising the Technology

Comments:

Main measures: vegetative measures, management measures

Secondary measures: structural measures

Type of vegetative measures: aligned: -linear

3.7 Main types of land degradation addressed by the Technology

Comments:

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

Secondary types of degradation addressed: Wg: gully erosion / gullying, Cn: fertility decline and reduced organic matter content, Pc: compaction, Pk: sealing and crusting, Bc: reduction of vegetation cover

Main causes of degradation: change of seasonal rainfall (According to agronomist and elderly persons steady decrease of rainfall Causing aridification..), droughts (No considerable precipitation for one and a half years. Causing compaction, crusting and aridification.), inputs and infrastructure: (roads, markets, distribution of water points, other, …) (The lack of fertilisers and other inputs is a consequence of the breakdown of URSS.)

Secondary causes of degradation: floods (Causing gully erosion and loss of topsoil by water.), war and conflicts (Many trees were chopped illegally during war to have energy (charcoal mines were occupied by armed men)), Unsuitable soils especially in the upper part (loe (Causing compaction, crusting and loss of topsoil by wind.), Steep topography with high sun inclination angle (Causing compaction.)

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:

Main goals: prevention of land degradation

Secondary goals: mitigation / reduction of land degradation

4.1 Technical drawing of the Technology

4.2 General information regarding the calculation of inputs and costs

Specify how costs and inputs were calculated:

• per Technology area

Specify currency used for cost calculations:

• USD

4.3 Establishment activities

	Activity	Timing (season)
1.	Planting of trees with provenance from Russia and Ukraine	Tree plants
2.	Tree-planting, grafting, giving dung	20 persons for 3 years
3.	Terrace establishment	2 tractor drivers for 1 year

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	Tree planting	ha	1.0	714.0	714.0
Plant material	seedlings	ha	1.0	100.0	100.0
Other	Terrace establishment	ha	1.0	614.0	614.0
Total costs for establishment of the Technology					1428.0
Total costs for establishment of the Technology in USD					1428.0

If land user bore less than 100% of costs, indicate who covered the remaining costs:

research stations of the orchard institute

Comments:

Duration of establishment phase: 36 month(s)

4.5 Maintenance/ recurrent activities

	Activity	Timing/ frequency
1.	Yearly replacement of fruit-trees (10-15% per year)	10 persons plus brigadier, always employed
2.	Aerating soils around trees, each spring	10 workers, fix employment
3.	Applying animal dung and / or fertilisers	10 workers, fix employment
4.	Seasonal workers for harvesting	10 workers, additionally
5.	Planning of activities	1 director
6.	Haymaking	1 month

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	Maintenance	ha	1.0	93.0	93.0
Fertilizers and biocides	Fertilizer	ha	1.0	28.0	28.0	100.0
Total costs for maintenance of the Technology					121.0
Total costs for maintenance of the Technology in USD					121.0

Comments:

The data on the establishment of the orchard are an estimation of the director. The recurrent costs are based on the director's and other person's declarations and are rather a rough estimation than a precise list of the costs.

4.7 Most important factors affecting the costs

Describe the most determinate factors affecting the costs:

The costs today are strongly determinated by labour input, whereas during establishment and till the end of USSR costs for pesticides, fertilisers, new trees and equipment were very high.

5.1 Climate

5.2 Topography

Comments and further specifications on topography:

Altitudinal zonation: The orchard is located between 1300-1500 m.

Landforms ridges: A part of the area surrounds a ridge

Landforms hill slopes: Generally slopes are of moderate steepness.

Slopes on average gentle: The terraces themselves are quite flat.

Slopes on average hilly: A great share of the area are slopes, either natural ones or from terraces.

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 shallow: In the higher part stony soils prevail.

Soil fertility low: When gypsum and loess soils.

Soil fertility medium: In the lower part soils with little humus.

Soil drainage / infiltration good: 3-4 m infiltration capacity.

Soil water storage capacity medium: Thanks to trees not low.

5.4 Water availability and quality

Comments and further specifications on water quality and quantity:

Availability of surface water: Insufficient: only permitting to irrigate 5 ha of totally 30 ha classified as "irrigated cropland"

Water quality (untreated): According to expert, water contains iodine, but is otherwise "light" and clean, without calcium carbonate

5.5 Biodiversity

Comments and further specifications on biodiversity:

Typical plants of the foothills can be found in the area.

5.6 Characteristics of land users applying the Technology

Indicate other relevant characteristics of the land users:

Land users applying the Technology are mainly common / average land users

Population density: 50-100 persons/km2

Annual population growth: 1% - 2%

100% of the land users are average wealthy and own 100% of the land (all smallholders owning additional income by the work for the institute).

Off-farm income specification: Nearly all people have family members (mostly sons) in Russia, who send remittances.

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

Land use rights:

• communal (organized)

Water use rights:

• communal (organized)

Comments:

Whereas land use rights are restricted to those employed by the research institute, water use is negotiated between the research institute and the village authorities.

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	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	well

Other climate-related consequences

Other climate-related consequences

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

Comments:

No damages by heavy rainfall in the orchard, whereas next to it there is damage. Especially winds cause damages by covering vegetation with dust and impeding them from making fotothynthesis. Plants can die therefore.

6.5 Adoption of the Technology

• single cases/ experimental

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

• 0-10%

Comments:

There is a moderate trend towards spontaneous adoption of the Technology

Comments on adoption trend: The government wants more people to adopt the technology and their has effectively been an increase of such initiatives over the last years.

7.1 Methods/ sources of information