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)

International Center for Agricultural Research in the Dry Areas (ICARDA) - Lebanon

Name of the institution(s) which facilitated the documentation/ evaluation of the Technology (if relevant)

Japan international research center for agricultural science (JIRCAS) - Japan

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:

Semi-circle stone bunds are used as soil conservation and water harvesting structures to reduce soil erosion and improve productivity of olive trees.

2.2 Detailed description of the Technology

Description:

Semi-circle stone bunds are used as soil and water harvesting structures to improve productivity of trees, especially olive trees, on steep slopes. These are small-scale stone structures, with diameters between 3-5 m, established to catch rainfall and runoff from small micro-catchments covering relatively short slopes. This type of freestanding system (not contour system) is suitable for fields where trees are distributed in a staggered array. The slope steepness ranges from 15-40 degrees. Stones are mined from wasteland and transported to the slopes using tractors. Then the stones are set out in a semi circle (crescent) manually from a down side of the tree. The stone bunds are about 40 cm high with a base width of 30-40 cm. Most of the farmers add soil around the tree trunk and some of them add manure to improve the soil fertility. The technology makes the mechanized tillage difficult because of the layout of the structures. This reduces number of tillage operations and hence reduces erosion since tillage is one of the main causes of soil erosion under these conditions. The structures also reduce runoff velocity, which increases water availability for the plant roots (water harvesting) and also allows for more sedimentation around the trees and less transportation of soil particles and nutrients outside the field (soil conservation).

Purpose of the Technology: Semi-circle stone bunds are used to reduce losses of soil and nutrients and capture runoff water which helps to rehabilitate degraded land and improves the yield.

Establishment / maintenance activities and inputs: For one hectare of land with 100 bunds approximately 50 persons are needed to establish the bunds. The stones are set out in a semi-circle manually. A shovel is needed to prepare and level the stones bed. The costs are about $1950, which includes the price of the stones, transportation, equipment and labours. Then the bunds need maintenance every year, this will cost $54 per hectare. The perennial olive trees are mainly planted in January.

Natural / human environment: The area is dominated by steep slopes in a mountainous area in the north west of Syria. Small holdings are typical for this area with small plot sizes, narrow fields and shallow soil. Annual rainfall is between 400-600 mm. The technology was introduced to the community few years ago. Farmers were trained on how to layout, implement and maintain the structures by ICARDA and local extension services. Individual farmers are applying the technology on their own fields.

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:

• less than 10 years ago (recently)

2.7 Introduction of the Technology

Specify how the Technology was introduced:

• during experiments/ research

3.1 Main purpose(s) of the Technology

• improve production
• reduce, prevent, restore land degradation
• create beneficial economic impact

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

Comments:

Major land use problems (compiler’s opinion): soil erosion, low soil fertility and water shortage

Major land use problems (land users’ perception): decreasing productivity and high soil erosion

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

• cross-slope measure
• water harvesting
• irrigation management (incl. water supply, drainage)

3.6 SLM measures comprising the Technology

3.7 Main types of land degradation addressed by the Technology

Comments:

Main type of degradation addressed: Wt: loss of topsoil / surface erosion, Wo: offsite degradation effects

Main causes of degradation: soil management (Tillage equipment (tractor instead of mule), direction (with slope), number of operations per year), deforestation / removal of natural vegetation (incl. forest fires), Heavy / extreme rainfall (intensity/amounts), poverty / wealth (need cash money for conservation measures)

Secondary causes of degradation: change of seasonal rainfall, population pressure, inputs and infrastructure: (roads, markets, distribution of water points, other, …) (difficult to access target fields, no roads), governance / institutional (poor extension services)

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: mitigation / reduction of land degradation

Secondary goals: prevention of land degradation

4.1 Technical drawing of the Technology

4.2 General information regarding the calculation of inputs and costs

other/ national currency (specify):

Syrian pound (SYP)

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

50.0

4.3 Establishment activities

	Activity	Timing (season)
1.	Stone mining	Dry season
2.	Distributing stones and building	Dry season
3.	Equipment	Dry season

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	Distributing stones and building	ha	1.0	753.0	753.0
Equipment	Machine use	ha	1.0	184.0	184.0
Construction material	Stone	ha	1.0	1029.0	1029.0
Total costs for establishment of the Technology					1966.0
Total costs for establishment of the Technology in USD					39.32

Comments:

Duration of establishment phase: 1 month(s)

4.5 Maintenance/ recurrent activities

	Activity	Timing/ frequency
1.	Reforming the stone bunds	Dry season
2.	Reforming the stone bunds	Dry season

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	Reforming the stone bunds	ha	1.0	54.0	54.0
Total costs for maintenance of the Technology					54.0
Total costs for maintenance of the Technology in USD					1.08

Comments:

Machinery/ tools: The farmers pay the whole amount. However, farmers are using a special micro-credit system, where the farmers take the money as a loan and pay it back in two consecutive seasons.

The costs was calculated based on stones availability in the area and the distance from the target field, also the accessibility to the field can increase the cost because it need more labors for transfer and to distribute the stones on the field.
Number of trees: 100/ha,
Radius=1.5m–2 m,
length=4.71m–6.28 m,
height=5 cm–35 cm,
width=40cm–50cm

4.7 Most important factors affecting the costs

Describe the most determinate factors affecting the costs:

stone availability
field accessibility

5.1 Climate

5.2 Topography

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: Low
Soil drainage/infiltration: Medium (ranked 1) and poor (ranked 2)
Soil water storage capacity: High (ranked 1) and medium (ranked 2)

5.4 Water availability and quality

Comments and further specifications on water quality and quantity:

Availability of surface water: Also medium (ranked 2)

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
Annual population growth: negative
20% of the land users are average wealthy and own 40% of the land.
80% of the land users are poor and own 60% of the land.
Level of mechanization: Animal traction (mule tillage, ranked 1) and mechnaised (tractor tillage, ranked 2)

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:

• individual, titled

Land use rights:

• individual

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

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	not well
local windstorm	well

Climatological disasters

	How does the Technology cope with it?
drought	well

Hydrological disasters

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

Other climate-related consequences

Other climate-related consequences

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

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

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

52

Comments:

50 land user families have adopted the Technology with external material support

Comments on acceptance with external material support: Farmers get loans through micro-credit system and not as payment

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

There is a little trend towards spontaneous adoption of the Technology

6.7 Strengths/ advantages/ opportunities of the Technology

Strengths/ advantages/ opportunities in the land user’s view
Reducing soil erosion
Iincreasing soil moisture
Increasing yield

Strengths/ advantages/ opportunities in the compiler’s or other key resource person’s view
Reducing soil erosion How can they be sustained / enhanced? Starting implementation at fields located at top of mountains and then down the slopes (need cooperation among farmers)
Increasing soil depth and moisture around the tree How can they be sustained / enhanced? Provide enabling environment (such as micro credit system, proper extension and technical back stopping)

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

Weaknesses/ disadvantages/ risks in the land user’s view	How can they be overcome?
High cost (stone mining)
High knowledge (extension service, training, guidance)
Retard traditional tillage operation and harvesting

Weaknesses/ disadvantages/ risks in the compiler’s or other key resource person’s view	How can they be overcome?
High cost (stone mining)	consider the long-term benefit, it is feasible
	Look for closer/ cheaper source of stones

7.1 Methods/ sources of information

7.2 References to available publications

Title, author, year, ISBN:

Brochure, ICARDA, 2011

Title, author, year, ISBN:

Movie, ICARDA, 2011

7.3 Links to relevant online information

Title/ description:

Poster

URL:

http://meetingorganizer.copernicus.org/EGU2010/poster_programme/2499 file number EGU2010-9237