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

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

1.4 Declaration on sustainability of the described Technology

Is the Technology described here problematic with regard to land degradation, so that it cannot be declared a sustainable land management technology?

No

2.1 Short description of the Technology

Definition of the Technology:

Small-scale biogas systems fed with cow manure and water are implemented in order to supply the household with energy for cooking and lighting, as well as to produce fertilizer.

2.2 Detailed description of the Technology

Description:

In this case-study, a small-scale biogas system was introduced in order to generate both energy for home consumption and fertilizer. Small-scale biogas systems are implemented in different parts of the world, however the layout thereof varies considerably.
The model used in this case-study consists of different components (cf. technical drawing). First, there is an inlet where the land user puts cow manure mixed with water. On the bottom of the inlet, there is a board which closes the access to the bio-digester situated beneath the inlet. The board can be opened manually by pulling a string. Once the board is open, the fluid components go through a pipe which leads to the bio-digester. In the bio-digester, bacteria transform the organic matter into biogas (mainly methane and CO2) and slurry. At the other end of the digester, there is another pipe (outlet). The outlet is lower than the inlet, and due to the difference in pressure, the slurry is pushed out of the digester. The slurry is dried and applied to the fields two to three times a year with the help of an ox cart. It has similar effects on the plant growth as chemical fertilizer as it does not build up the soil organic matter as much as compost. The biogas, however, is pushed to the pipe situated on top of the digester and can be utilized for domestic uses. The gas is used for cooking and lighting.

The use of biogas allows reducing the expenses on charging batteries for the lighting, as well as reducing the firewood use (usually from deforestation) for cooking. The slurry reduces the expenses on chemical fertilizer in the fields and has the advantage of killing the weed and rice seeds present in the manure and crop residues.

For building the biogas system, there is governmental and NGO support. These two actors finance half of the construction costs. The other half is paid by the land user. Building a biogas system is quite costly, with about 400 $, and not all of the land users in the area can afford paying 50% of its price. However, the costs borne by the land user are paid off within a few years due to reduced expenses on firewood, chemical fertilizer, and charging batteries. The construction itself was undertaken by local companies.
The costs are paid off within a few years due to the reduced expenses on firewood, chemical fertilizer and battery charging.

The analysed area is flat (slope < 2%), tropic (dry and wet season), and the soils are mostly sandy or loamy. The soils contain little organic matter (low soil fertility, acidification, small amount of cattle, area has been deforested a long time ago) and the groundwater table is rather high (1-3 m during the dry season, on the surface during wet season).
Due to climate change, the rainfalls are more erratic, temperatures rise and droughts are more recurrent. Rice is the predominant crop grown in the area, since it serves as staple food (mix subsistence and commercial activities). Rice is often grown in monocultures and harvested once a year. Once the rice is harvested (dry season), the cattle are released to the paddy fields. The cattle is often replaced by hand tractors, which effects the production of manure but allows a higher amount of crop residues on the fields.
As an addition to rice, most land users grow vegetable and fruits in small home gardens (subsistence) and complement their income by producing handicrafts or through off farm income / remittances from family members working in other places. The increasing migration rate (the young generation leaves the villages to work in the cities, garment industry or abroad) results in a decrease of available labour force in the area which has detrimental effects on the agricultural activities. Furthermore, the civil war in the 1970s (Khmer Rouge) led to the loss of agricultural knowledge which different NGOs try to re-establish.

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:

Cambodia

Region/ State/ Province:

Kampong Chhnang

Further specification of location:

Sre Ouk Samlor Sap/Taing Krasaing/Rolear Pha,er

Specify the spread of the Technology:

• evenly spread over an area

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

• 0.1-1 km2

Comments:

There are only 4 households in this village which apply the technology (lack of money and/or cattle). However, similar Technologies are introduced in other provinces – yet it is difficult to estimate the area covered. Estimation for this village.

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 projects/ external interventions

Comments (type of project, etc.):

LWS (a Dutch NGO) in joint efforts with specialists from the National Biodigester Program NBP. Implementation in 2012

3.1 Main purpose(s) of the Technology

• improve production
• create beneficial economic impact

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

Cropland

• Annual cropping

Number of growing seasons per year:

• 1

Specify:

Longest growing period in days: 210, Longest growing period from month to month: June-December

Settlements, infrastructure

• Settlements, buildings

• biogas system

Comments:

Major land use problems (compiler’s opinion): Lack of organic matter, lack of water retention in soil, irregularity of rainfall, low soil fertility (sandy soil), monocultures, bare soil during dry season, ploughing.
Major land use problems (land users’ perception): Low soil fertility, lack of water.
Livestock is grazing on crop residues
Constraints of settlement / urban
Constraints of infrastructure network (roads, railways, pipe lines, power lines)

3.5 SLM group to which the Technology belongs

• energy efficiency technologies

3.6 SLM measures comprising the Technology

structural measures

• S11: Others

management measures

• M6: Waste management (recycling, re-use or reduce)

Comments:

Main measures: management measures
Secondary measures: structural measures

3.7 Main types of land degradation addressed by the Technology

chemical soil deterioration

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

biological degradation

• Bs: quality and species composition/ diversity decline

Comments:

Main causes of degradation: soil management (Ploughing, soil is left bare for several weeks), crop management (annual, perennial, tree/shrub) (Rice monoculture (rice as staple crop)), change of seasonal rainfall (More erratic beginning of wet season), droughts (On dry soil, rice cannot be planted and if already planted, rice cannot grow), labour availability (High migration rates from the villages to garment industry, cities or abroad, influence agricultural activities (e.g. broadcasting instead of transplanting of rice seedlings)), education, access to knowledge and support services (Khmer Rouge regime in the 1970s, a lot of knowledge got lost)
Secondary causes of degradation: over-exploitation of vegetation for domestic use (Rice straw is removed for different domestic uses (cattle, mushroom cultivation, etc.)), overgrazing (Cattle eats rice straw left after harvest, less organic matter on the field, grazing is not managed), change in temperature (More hot days), Heavy / extreme rainfall (intensity/amounts), land tenure (Some incidents of land grabbing, land use rights not clear, corruption), poverty / wealth

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

4.1 Technical drawing of the Technology

4.2 General information regarding the calculation of inputs and costs

other/ national currency (specify):

Riel

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

4000.0

4.3 Establishment activities

4.4 Costs and inputs needed for establishment

4.5 Maintenance/ recurrent activities

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

Comments:

Machinery/ tools: Cart to bring residues from the biodigester onto the fields.

The costs were calculated for 1 biodigester with a capacity of 4 m3.

4.7 Most important factors affecting the costs

Describe the most determinate factors affecting the costs:

The most costly part of this Technology is the construction of the biodigester. Once the system is installed, the costs borne by the land user are low. Also, the land user can save money since he doesn’t need to buy firewood any more.

5.1 Climate

5.2 Topography

5.3 Soils

5.4 Water availability and quality

Comments and further specifications on water quality and quantity:

Ground water tabel and availability of surface water data during dry seasons. People use water for drinking after filtering or boiling.

5.5 Biodiversity

Comments and further specifications on biodiversity:

Only degraded forests are 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 Leaders / privileged
Population density: 10-50 persons/km2
Annual population growth: 0.5% - 1%
Off-farm income specification: Handicraft, remittances and factory work.

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:

• communal/ village
• individual, not titled

Land use rights:

• communal (organized)
• individual

Water use rights:

• open access (unorganized)

Comments:

Land ownership is very complex. Most of the land belongs officially to the government, yet many land users hold a paper confirming they applied for a land title – but de iure, this paper is worthless.

5.9 Access to services and infrastructure

6.1 On-site impacts the Technology has shown

Socio-economic impacts

Production

Income and costs

Socio-cultural impacts

Ecological impacts

Water cycle/ runoff

Soil

Other ecological impacts

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

Climate-related extremes (disasters)

Meteorological disasters

Climatological disasters

Hydrological disasters

Other climate-related consequences

Other climate-related consequences

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

• > 50%

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

100% or 4 land user families

Comments:

100% of land user families have adopted the Technology with external material support
4 land user families have adopted the Technology with external material support
The farmers can ask the National Biodigester Program for subsidies, but need to pay half of it on their own. As the farmers often lack money and need at least 3 - 4 heads of cattle to produce enough manure while they switch more and more to hand tractors, not many farmers are building new biogas digesters.

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:

NBP National Biodigester Program

Available from where? Costs?

www.nbp.org.kh

Title, author, year, ISBN:

Lam et al. 2009. Domestic Biogas Compact Course. University of Oldenburg.

Available from where? Costs?

http://www.nbp.org.kh/publication/study_report/2_domestic_biogas%20.pdf

Title, author, year, ISBN:

Gurung. 2009. Review of Literature on Effects of Slurry Use on Crop production. The Biogas Support Program