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)

Name of the institution(s) 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

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:

The cultivation of short duration mung bean varieties lead to higher farm-income and improved soil health in Central Asia

2.2 Detailed description of the Technology

Description:

Central Asia is known for its harsh climate, extreme temperature differences and low precipitation. Uzbekistan is no exception to this. Its temperatures vary between -20 and 40 degrees Celsius and precipitation is limited to less than 400 millimetres. This results in difficult conditions for farmers to ensure agricultural production and food security.
Winter wheat is commonly grown to achieve food security and farm income as it is suited to the environment. However, the continuous cultivation of winter wheat has led to severe soil degradation and depletion, through extraction of soil organic matter and soil nutrients. Inevitably, this makes the soil unsuitable for crop cultivation.

The International Centre of Agricultural Research in Dry Areas (ICARDA) anticipated this challenge, and introduced improved mung bean varieties in 2014. Mung bean (or "green gram": Vigna radiata) is a leguminous crop, which replenishes soil organic matter and fertility through nitrogen fixation. By including mung bean in the winter wheat production system, soil health is improved, fallow period reduced, and farmer incomes are increased. The increased farm income is due to the reduced amount of fertilizer required, increased yields and higher selling prices.
Mung bean realizes a profit of roughly 2000 USD per hectare in a period of 100 days, while winter wheat profits are approximately 600 USD per hectare in an eight month period. These numbers show the significant benefit of incorporating mung bean. Scientist have demonstrated that cultivating only mung bean would lead to even higher profit margins, but concluded that adoption is unrealistic as wheat is pre-dominantly grown for food security.
The incorporation of mung bean in the agricultural production system has one downside and that is increased irrigation demand, because mung bean requires additional water.

The mung bean-winter wheat-system follows the following crop rotation. The field for mung bean is tilled and harrowed, prior to seeding. Mung bean is mechanically seeded and manually harvested in June-July and September-October respectively. In this growing period, the field is weeded either manually or by a cultivator, irrigated, fertilizer mechanically applied or hand broadcast and mechanically weeded.
Winter wheat is mechanically planted in October, after the field is harrowed. In March-April, the wheat crops are treated with chemicals and fertilizers. In June-July, the winter wheat is mechanically harvested. Winter wheat also receives irrigation through a canal.

To conclude, this documentation shows that smart ICARDA crop choice with improved varieties extremely benefits local farmers incomes and adds resilience. It also reduces land degradation within a commonly used production system.

Data presented in this work is partly made available through CGIAR Research Program on Dryland Systems; Collaborative Research Project on Sustainable Soil Management to Enhance Agricultural Productivity in Central Asia funded by IFPRI within the framework of Russian Federation funding to CGIAR (2018-2019); CGIAR Collaborative Research & Capacity Building Program for the Development of Sustainable and Resilient Agricultural Production in Central Asia within the framework of Russian Federation Funding (2013-2016).

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:

Uzbekistan

Specify the spread of the Technology:

• evenly spread over an area

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

• 10-100 km2

Is/are the technology site(s) located in a permanently protected area?

No

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:

• during experiments/ research
• through projects/ external interventions

3.1 Main purpose(s) of the Technology

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

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

Land use mixed within the same land unit:

No

Cropland

• Annual cropping

Annual cropping - Specify crops:

• cereals - wheat (winter)
• legumes and pulses - beans

Number of growing seasons per year:

• 2

Is intercropping practiced?

No

Is crop rotation practiced?

Yes

3.3 Has land use changed due to the implementation of the Technology?

Has land use changed due to the implementation of the Technology?

• No (Continue with question 3.4)

3.4 Water supply

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

• mixed rainfed-irrigated

3.5 SLM group to which the Technology belongs

• improved ground/ vegetation cover
• improved plant varieties/ animal breeds

3.6 SLM measures comprising the Technology

agronomic measures

• A1: Vegetation/ soil cover
• A2: Organic matter/ soil fertility

management measures

• M2: Change of management/ intensity level

3.7 Main types of land degradation addressed by the Technology

soil erosion by water

• Wt: loss of topsoil/ surface erosion
• Wg: gully erosion/ gullying

soil erosion by wind

• Et: loss of topsoil

chemical soil deterioration

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

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

Technical specifications (related to technical drawing):

The following dimensions relate to mung bean cultivation:
A = Plant spacing within row = 8 to 10 centimetres
B = Spacing between rows = 45 to 60 centimetres
The plant density is 200,000 to 250,000 plants per hectare.

Author:

Joren Verbist

Date:

28/11/2021

Technical specifications (related to technical drawing):

The following dimensions relate to Winter Wheat cultivation:
A = Plant spacing within row = 2 to 4 centimetres
B = Spacing between rows = 15 centimetres
The plant density is 4.5 million to 5 million plants per hectare.

Author:

Joren Verbist

Date:

28/11/2021

4.2 General information regarding the calculation of inputs and costs

Specify how costs and inputs were calculated:

• per Technology area

Specify currency used for cost calculations:

• USD

4.3 Establishment activities

4.4 Costs and inputs needed for establishment

Comments:

MB relates to Mung bean and WW to Winter Wheat

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?

Yes

Is flooding of the area occurring?

No

5.5 Biodiversity

5.6 Characteristics of land users applying the Technology

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

Water use rights:

• individual

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

Soil

Biodiversity: vegetation, animals

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

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%

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

• 91-100%

6.6 Adaptation

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

No

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