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)

Scaling-up SLM practices by smallholder farmers (IFAD)

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

CDE Centre for Development and Environment (CDE Centre for Development and Environment) - Switzerland

1.3 Conditions regarding the use of data documented through WOCAT

When were the data compiled (in the field)?

27/04/2017

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

Comments:

The Technology generates manure which is applied in the gardens to improve soil fertility.

2.1 Short description of the Technology

Definition of the Technology:

Collected poultry wastes are applied on a planted fruit garden growing mangoes, oranges, jack-fruits, pawpaw, lemon and vegetables such as green peas, tomatoes, cabbages and plantations of pine and eucalyptus for soil fertility improvement and increased production.

2.2 Detailed description of the Technology

Description:

Poultry waste for soil fertility improvement is a common and widely used practice by small scale farmers in Northern Uganda. Manure is collected form the chicken units which are located within a compound. Chicken manure is collected from the compost pit and applied on 1 acre of land or more with the aim of improving soil fertility and increasing production. The method also increases the nitrogen, potassium and phosphorus content of the soil.

The high nitrogen content and balanced nutrients produced by the chicken provide rich manure compost that the land users apply on the farm garden. The garden grows mangoes, oranges, jack-fruits, pawpaw, lemons, vegetables such as green peas, tomatoes and cabbages. The garden also grows pine and eucalyptus trees. Usually chicken manure is kept for decomposting in a hole (decomposting pit), dug into the ground. The manure has the most effective nutrients among all animal wastes and is used as a highly effective measure to improve soil fertility.

To establish and implement this practice, chicken waste is collected from the poultry units using a wheelbarrow and deposited into a decomposting pit dug at a depth of 1 meter. The pit is square in size and its side are 1x1 meter.

The farmer gives the manure three months to break down some of the more powerful nutrients so that they are more usable by the crops before. Thereafter, it is applied using a shovel, a hoe, labour and wheelbarrows. To maintain this technology, the decomposing manure has to be turned after every two weeks for proper breakdown, and clearing around the decomposing pit. Most land users like the technology because it provides manure which improves soil fertility and increases crop production. Surplus manure may be sold and the income so obtained may be used for purchase of other necessary items such as seed, agro-chemicals or other such inputs.

2.3 Photos of the Technology

2.4 Videos 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

Indicate year of implementation:

2012

2.7 Introduction of the Technology

Specify how the Technology was introduced:

• through land users' innovation

Comments (type of project, etc.):

There was need to generate income and also provide manures to the gardens.

3.1 Main purpose(s) of the Technology

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

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

3.3 Further information about land use

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

• rainfed

Number of growing seasons per year:

• 1

3.4 SLM group to which the Technology belongs

• integrated crop-livestock management
• improved plant varieties/ animal breeds
• home gardens

3.5 Spread of the Technology

Specify the spread of the Technology:

• evenly spread over an area

If the Technology is evenly spread over an area, indicate approximate area covered:

• < 0.1 km2 (10 ha)

3.6 SLM measures comprising the Technology

3.7 Main types of land degradation addressed by the Technology

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

Comments:

Degraded landscape is reclaimed with the help of manure application.

4.1 Technical drawing of the Technology

4.2 Technical specifications/ explanations of technical drawing

Chicken waste is deposited into a decomposting pit. The land user integrates fruit trees, vegatables and trees into a garden. A shovel and a hoe is used to mix the manure into the garden.

4.3 General information regarding the calculation of inputs and costs

Specify how costs and inputs were calculated:

• per Technology unit

other/ national currency (specify):

UGX

Indicate exchange rate from USD to local currency (if relevant): 1 USD =:

3500.0

4.4 Establishment activities

	Activity	Type of measure	Timing
1.	Composting pit	Management	During dry season, at the time of establishment
2.	Putting the waste into the composting pit	Management	After decomposition

4.5 Costs and inputs needed for establishment

	Specify input	Unit	Quantity	Costs per Unit	Total costs per input	% of costs borne by land users
Labour	Digging decomposting pit	Manday	1.0	5000.0	5000.0	100.0
Labour	Labour for collecting chicken waste	Manday	5.0	5000.0	25000.0	100.0
Equipment	Wheelbarrow	Piece	1.0	90000.0	90000.0	100.0
Equipment	Shovel	Piece	1.0	10000.0	10000.0	100.0
Equipment	Hoe	Piece	5.0	12000.0	60000.0	100.0
Fertilizers and biocides						100.0
Total costs for establishment of the Technology					190000.0

4.6 Maintenance/ recurrent activities

	Activity	Type of measure	Timing/ frequency
1.	Turning the manure during decomposting process	Management	Every after two weeks

Comments:

The technology is easy to manage and it requires less labor force.

4.7 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	Hired labour for turning the compost	day	14.0	5000.0	70000.0	100.0
Total costs for maintenance of the Technology					70000.0

5.1 Climate

5.2 Topography

Indicate if the Technology is specifically applied in:

• not relevant

5.3 Soils

5.4 Water availability and quality

Is water salinity a problem?

No

Is flooding of the area occurring?

No

5.5 Biodiversity

5.6 Characteristics of land users applying the Technology

Indicate other relevant characteristics of the land users:

The land user is a businessman.

5.7 Average area of land owned or leased 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

Water use rights:

• communal (organized)
• 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

Soil

Biodiversity: vegetation, animals

Climate and disaster risk reduction

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	Type of climatic change/ extreme	How does the Technology cope with it?
annual temperature		decrease	moderately
seasonal temperature	wet/ rainy season	decrease	moderately
annual rainfall		increase	moderately

Climate-related extremes (disasters)

Biological disasters

	How does the Technology cope with it?
epidemic diseases	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

• single cases/ experimental

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

• 90-100%

6.6 Adaptation

Has the Technology been modified recently to adapt to changing conditions?

No

6.7 Strengths/ advantages/ opportunities of the Technology

Strengths/ advantages/ opportunities in the land user’s view
Good at improving soil fertility and increasing production due to application of manure.
Very rewarding and can easily be replicated due to its economic benefits.

Strengths/ advantages/ opportunities in the compiler’s or other key resource person’s view
Provides positive returns (improvement of soil fertility and increase of production) when applied on farm.
Can be promoted by both small, medium and large scale farmers due its benefits.
Suitable and appropriate for hired labour which is locally obtained.

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?
Manure may affect the crops in the garden if not composted well.	Ensure that only well composted manure is applied on the farm.
Takes time to compost resulting into delay in application on farm.	Start the process early enough before planned application of manure on land.

Weaknesses/ disadvantages/ risks in the compiler’s or other key resource person’s view	How can they be overcome?
Composition of manure if not done well may affect the crop production.	Ensure manure composting process is manged well (collection, putting into the pit, turning and taking to the garden)
Requires transport for manure which may result in high costs in cases the garden is far.	Use hired labour which might be cheap.
The technology may provide insufficient manure if the planted garden is big.	Integrate other options such as having cows, goats and sheep that can also provide manure but also integrate agroforestry trees for soil fertility improvement.

7.1 Methods/ sources of information

7.2 References to available publications

Title, author, year, ISBN:

https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/composting/manures/chicken-manure-fertilizer.htm

Available from where? Costs?

Open access

7.3 Links to relevant information which is available online

Title/ description:

Recycling Improves Soil Fertility Management in Smallholdings in Tanzania February 2018 Agriculture 8(3):31 DOI:10.3390/agriculture8030031 Project: Integrating untapped resources from cooking and sanitation into peasants’ farm-scale nutrient management: a system analysis from the micro perspectiv

URL:

https://www.researchgate.net/publication/323421475_Recycling_Improves_Soil_Fertility_Management_in_Smallholdings_in_Tanzania