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)

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:

The use of sheep's wool placed below the roots of fruit trees, to retain the water fed from a surface pipe.

2.2 Detailed description of the Technology

Description:

A bed of wool is placed within the hole before a fruit sapling is planted. The wool is fed water via a plastic pipe, which is used to saturate the wool with irrigated water. This provides a prolonged source of moisture for the trees which subsequently helps the tree survive intense dry periods and improves fruit yields.
This technology could also be applied using hay or pressed sawdust as an alternative to the wool to store the water.

Purpose of the Technology: The purpose was to implement a sustainable cost effective and easy irrigation process that will help increase fruit production in the Pejikant region of Tajikistan during the long hot dry summer periods. The process utilises readily locally available natural materials that are environmentally friendly.

Establishment / maintenance activities and inputs: A 1m deep hole is prepared to plant the tree inside. Placed at the foot of the hole is layer of natural wool, approximately 10kg, and a plastic pipe is installed running from the wool layer to the above the surface. On top of the wool a bed of organic compost and/or high quality soil is placed to assist the growth and the sapling is planted in this. The sapling is then watered through the pipe. It is estimated that 10kg of wool will retain around 8 litres of water.

Natural / human environment: This region has low levels of annual precipitation and poor soil quality. Therefore, the land users are reliant on devising ways to improve the soil quality and irrigation practices to increase the amount of land that can be cultivated. With an increasing population and a heavy relaince on the land to support the people, there is a strong desire to bring into production land that in its current state is unproductive.

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:

Tajikistan

Region/ State/ Province:

Tajikistan, Sughd

Further specification of location:

Penjakent, Toshmunor

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.):

The land users developed this technology.

3.1 Main purpose(s) of the Technology

• improve production

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

Cropland

• Tree and shrub cropping

Number of growing seasons per year:

• 2

Specify:

Longest growing period in days: 270Longest growing period from month to month: October-JuneSecond longest growing period in days: 90Second longest growing period from month to month: July-Septeber

Forest/ woodlands

Tree plantation, afforestation: Specify origin and composition of species:

• Mixed varieties

Products and services:

• Fruits and nuts

Comments:

Major land use problems (compiler’s opinion): The soil structure is very poor, with low density vegetation cover.

Major land use problems (land users’ perception): There is a lack of irrigation water for the vegetation.

Plantation forestry: Fruit orchards

Forest products and services: fruits and nuts

3.5 SLM group to which the Technology belongs

• irrigation management (incl. water supply, drainage)

3.6 SLM measures comprising the Technology

agronomic measures

• A2: Organic matter/ soil fertility

vegetative measures

• V1: Tree and shrub cover

Comments:

Main measures: structural measures

3.7 Main types of land degradation addressed by the Technology

soil erosion by water

• Wt: loss of topsoil/ surface erosion

soil erosion by wind

• Et: loss of topsoil

biological degradation

• Bc: reduction of vegetation cover
• Bq: quantity/ biomass decline

water degradation

• Ha: aridification

Comments:

Main type of degradation addressed: Wt: loss of topsoil / surface erosion, Bc: reduction of vegetation cover

Secondary types of degradation addressed: Et: loss of topsoil, Bq: quantity / biomass decline, Ha: aridification

Main causes of degradation: overgrazing (Increasing numbers of livestock), other human induced causes (specify) (Disintegration of the irrigation system), change in temperature, war and conflicts (After the collapse of Sovet Union the irrigation pipes were stolen)

Secondary causes of degradation: change of seasonal rainfall, droughts

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

4.1 Technical drawing of the Technology

Author:

Sa'dy Odinashoev, Muminabad, Tajikistan

4.2 General information regarding the calculation of inputs and costs

other/ national currency (specify):

Somoni

If relevant, indicate exchange rate from USD to local currency (e.g. 1 USD = 79.9 Brazilian Real): 1 USD =:

4.7

4.3 Establishment activities

4.4 Costs and inputs needed for establishment

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

Comments:

The costs previously are based on the cost for providing enough pipe for one tree.

4.7 Most important factors affecting the costs

Describe the most determinate factors affecting the costs:

In this situation, the wool is free to the farmers as they obtain it from their own sheep.
The labour is provided free of charge by the farmers themselves.

5.1 Climate

5.2 Topography

Comments and further specifications on topography:

Slopes on average: Also hilly

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 very low

Soil drainage / infiltration is good

Soil water storage capacity is low

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:

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

Population density: 10-50 persons/km2

Annual population growth: 2% - 3%

100% of the land users are poor.

Market orientation of production system: Self consumption of fruits

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:

• leased

Water use rights:

• leased

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

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

Climate-related extremes (disasters)

Meteorological disasters

Climatological disasters

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)?

Comments:

The impacts can be seen within the first growing season.

6.5 Adoption of the Technology

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

NA

Comments:

There is a little trend towards spontaneous adoption of the Technology

Comments on adoption trend: Some other people and projects expressed an interest.

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