Technologies

Fast-Growing Clonal Eucalyptus [Uganda]

Pito yen Kalituc

technologies_2870 - Uganda

Completeness: 94%

1. General information

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

Key resource person(s)

land user:

Anywar Francis

+256392962859 / +256753352572

anywarfrancis@gmail.com

Gene Ber Farmer

Lukole village, Olung parish, Agago District

Uganda

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)
Bern University of Applied Sciences, School of Agricultural, Forest and Food Sciences (HAFL) - Switzerland

1.3 Conditions regarding the use of data documented through WOCAT

When were the data compiled (in the field)?

11/05/2017

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

2. Description of the SLM Technology

2.1 Short description of the Technology

Definition of the Technology:

Clonal eucalyptus trees (originating from South Africa) grow in northern Uganda for timber production

2.2 Detailed description of the Technology

Description:

Clonal eucalyptus, commonly known as a hybrid of eucalyptus species developed by crossing various species of eucalyptus. It is fast-growing, attaining maturity for timber between 12 to15 years.

Seedlings for the eucalyptus clones are sold by various tree nursery operators in the area from where the farmers buy them. In preparation for tree planting, the land is cleared of all vegetation usually by slashing, but use of herbicides is also possible. Planting holes, measuring 30cm in diameter and depth, are dug at a spacing of 3m x 3m. Seedlings of 1-2 months age, bought from nurseries are planted in the prepared holes. Weeding is done twice a year for the first two years during which maize and beans can be intercropped with the young trees. Intercropping young trees with crops, a practice known as 'Taungya', helps to compensate for the weeding costs. Eucalyptus trees are generally self-pruning but if need arises, branches that have grown larger than 6 cm in diameter are removed using a saw. Pruning becomes necessary at the age of 3 years. At planting, the number of plants is 1,100 per hectare. Thinning is usually done at the age of 4 and 7 years, leaving about 450 plants per hactare. Protecting from animals and fire and is also done periodically by patrolling and creating fire lines in the plantation. The fire lines are created by dividing the plantation into smaller units and clearing 6-m wide strips between the units.

Farmers like the eucalyptus clones for establishing timber plantations because they grow fast and yield timber 5 to 7 years earlier than the non-hybrid species thus reducing the payback period for eucalyptus plantations. They are a source of income through the sale of poles and help in carbon sequestration which reduces the effect of climate change.

Farmers are apprehensive of this technology because the appropriate clones are difficult to locate in the tree nurseries. Secondly, some nursery operators do not tell the truth about the performance of different clones in the area. In northern Uganda, the most adaptable clone is 'GC 784', which has been observed to perform exceptionally well. The cost of the hybrid clones is 40% higher than the conventional seedlings.

2.3 Photos of the Technology

2.4 Videos of the Technology

Date:

10/5/2017

Location:

Agago District

2.5 Country/ region/ locations where the Technology has been applied and which are covered by this assessment

Country:

Uganda

Region/ State/ Province:

Northern

2.6 Date of implementation

Indicate year of implementation:

2015

2.7 Introduction of the Technology

Specify how the Technology was introduced:
  • through land users' innovation

3. Classification of the SLM Technology

3.1 Main purpose(s) of the Technology

  • reduce risk of disasters
  • create beneficial economic impact

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

Cropland

Cropland

  • Annual cropping
Main crops (cash and food crops):

Millet, Maize, Beans

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:
  • 2
Specify:

March-June and September-December

3.4 SLM group to which the Technology belongs

  • forest plantation management

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

vegetative measures

vegetative measures

  • V3: Clearing of vegetation
  • V4: Replacement or removal of alien/ invasive species
management measures

management measures

  • M3: Layout according to natural and human environment

3.7 Main types of land degradation addressed by the Technology

biological degradation

biological degradation

  • Bc: reduction of vegetation cover

3.8 Prevention, reduction, or restoration of land degradation

Specify the goal of the Technology with regard to land degradation:
  • prevent land degradation
  • adapt to land degradation

4. Technical specifications, implementation activities, inputs, and costs

4.1 Technical drawing of the Technology

Author:

Bernard Fungo

Date:

10/5/2017

4.2 Technical specifications/ explanations of technical drawing

Spacing of 3 x 3 meters between and within rows
Panting density of 1100 tree per ha
Thinning to 450 tree per ha around year 7

4.3 General information regarding the calculation of inputs and costs

Specify how costs and inputs were calculated:
  • per Technology unit
Specify unit:

Hectares

other/ national currency (specify):

Uganda Shillings

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

3500.0

Indicate average wage cost of hired labour per day:

10,000

4.4 Establishment activities

Activity Type of measure Timing
1. Land clearing Management
2. Liming-out and pitting Management
3. Planting Agronomic
4. Weeding Management
5. Thinning Management

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 Land cleaing Hactares 40.0 200003.0 8000120.0 100.0
Labour Lining-out and pitting Hactares 40.0 200000.0 8000000.0 100.0
Labour Planting Hactares 40.0 200000.0 8000000.0 100.0
Labour Weeding Hactares 40.0 200000.0 8000000.0 100.0
Equipment Thinning Hactares 40.0 400000.0 16000000.0 100.0
Plant material Seedlings Number 1100.0 500.0 550000.0 100.0
Total costs for establishment of the Technology 48550120.0

4.6 Maintenance/ recurrent activities

Activity Type of measure Timing/ frequency
1. Periodic Patrols Management Monthly

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 Patrols Years 10.0 500000.0 5000000.0 100.0
Total costs for maintenance of the Technology 5000000.0

4.8 Most important factors affecting the costs

Describe the most determinate factors affecting the costs:

Buying seedlings

5. Natural and human environment

5.1 Climate

Annual rainfall
  • < 250 mm
  • 251-500 mm
  • 501-750 mm
  • 751-1,000 mm
  • 1,001-1,500 mm
  • 1,501-2,000 mm
  • 2,001-3,000 mm
  • 3,001-4,000 mm
  • > 4,000 mm
Agro-climatic zone
  • sub-humid

5.2 Topography

Slopes on average:
  • flat (0-2%)
  • gentle (3-5%)
  • moderate (6-10%)
  • rolling (11-15%)
  • hilly (16-30%)
  • steep (31-60%)
  • very steep (>60%)
Landforms:
  • plateau/plains
  • ridges
  • mountain slopes
  • hill slopes
  • footslopes
  • valley floors
Altitudinal zone:
  • 0-100 m a.s.l.
  • 101-500 m a.s.l.
  • 501-1,000 m a.s.l.
  • 1,001-1,500 m a.s.l.
  • 1,501-2,000 m a.s.l.
  • 2,001-2,500 m a.s.l.
  • 2,501-3,000 m a.s.l.
  • 3,001-4,000 m a.s.l.
  • > 4,000 m a.s.l.
Indicate if the Technology is specifically applied in:
  • not relevant

5.3 Soils

Soil depth on average:
  • very shallow (0-20 cm)
  • shallow (21-50 cm)
  • moderately deep (51-80 cm)
  • deep (81-120 cm)
  • very deep (> 120 cm)
Soil texture (topsoil):
  • medium (loamy, silty)
Soil texture (> 20 cm below surface):
  • medium (loamy, silty)
Topsoil organic matter:
  • medium (1-3%)

5.4 Water availability and quality

Ground water table:

5-50 m

Availability of surface water:

medium

Water quality (untreated):

for agricultural use only (irrigation)

Is water salinity a problem?

No

Is flooding of the area occurring?

No

5.5 Biodiversity

Species diversity:
  • medium
Habitat diversity:
  • medium

5.6 Characteristics of land users applying the Technology

Sedentary or nomadic:
  • Sedentary
Market orientation of production system:
  • commercial/ market
Off-farm income:
  • 10-50% of all income
Relative level of wealth:
  • average
Individuals or groups:
  • individual/ household
Level of mechanization:
  • manual work
Gender:
  • men
Age of land users:
  • middle-aged

5.7 Average area of land owned or leased by land users applying the Technology

  • < 0.5 ha
  • 0.5-1 ha
  • 1-2 ha
  • 2-5 ha
  • 5-15 ha
  • 15-50 ha
  • 50-100 ha
  • 100-500 ha
  • 500-1,000 ha
  • 1,000-10,000 ha
  • > 10,000 ha
Is this considered small-, medium- or large-scale (referring to local context)?
  • medium-scale

5.8 Land ownership, land use rights, and water use rights

Land ownership:
  • individual, not titled
Land use rights:
  • individual
Water use rights:
  • individual

5.9 Access to services and infrastructure

health:
  • poor
  • moderate
  • good
education:
  • poor
  • moderate
  • good
technical assistance:
  • poor
  • moderate
  • good
employment (e.g. off-farm):
  • poor
  • moderate
  • good
markets:
  • poor
  • moderate
  • good
energy:
  • poor
  • moderate
  • good
roads and transport:
  • poor
  • moderate
  • good
drinking water and sanitation:
  • poor
  • moderate
  • good
financial services:
  • poor
  • moderate
  • good

6. Impacts and concluding statements

6.1 On-site impacts the Technology has shown

Socio-economic impacts

Production

wood production

decreased
increased

energy generation

decreased
increased

Ecological impacts

Biodiversity: vegetation, animals

Vegetation cover

decreased
increased

biomass/ above ground C

decreased
increased

6.2 Off-site impacts the Technology has shown

wind transported sediments

increased
reduced

6.3 Exposure and sensitivity of the Technology to gradual climate change and climate-related extremes/ disasters (as perceived by land users)

Climate-related extremes (disasters)

Climatological disasters
How does the Technology cope with it?
heatwave well

6.4 Cost-benefit analysis

How do the benefits compare with the establishment costs (from land users’ perspective)?
Short-term returns:

slightly positive

Long-term returns:

very positive

How do the benefits compare with the maintenance/ recurrent costs (from land users' perspective)?
Short-term returns:

positive

Long-term returns:

very positive

6.5 Adoption of the Technology

  • 1-10%
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
Income
Timber
Strengths/ advantages/ opportunities in the compiler’s or other key resource person’s view
Eucalyptus clones have a shorter pay-back period compared to native species

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?
The timber from eucalyptus clones has yet to be adequately tested for strength Research
Risk of fire is very high in the area. Clones are highly susceptible. Ensure the plantation is protected from fire by use of fire lines and frequent patrols
Weaknesses/ disadvantages/ risks in the compiler’s or other key resource person’s view How can they be overcome?
Establishment cost
Weeding

7. References and links

7.1 Methods/ sources of information

  • field visits, field surveys

1

  • interviews with land users

1

  • interviews with SLM specialists/ experts

2

7.2 References to available publications

Title, author, year, ISBN:

N/a

7.3 Links to relevant information which is available online

Title/ description:

N/a

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