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)

Soil protection and rehabilitation for food security (ProSo(i)l)

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

Alliance Bioversity and International Center for Tropical Agriculture (Alliance Bioversity-CIAT) - Kenya

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

Comments:

With good management, a legume known as desmodium is a very good cover crop that can be integrated into perennial and annual crops. It improves soil fertility, repels insects and caters feed to the livestock.

1.5 Reference to Questionnaire(s) on SLM Approaches (documented using WOCAT)

2.1 Short description of the Technology

Definition of the Technology:

Cover crops are crops grown on bare, fallow farmland or under a main crop to cover and conserve the soil by protecting it from exposure to the sun, wind, and direct impact of rain. It fixes nitrogen (if a legume), improves soil fertility, supplies livestock fodder, and helps manage both pests and weeds.

2.2 Detailed description of the Technology

Description:

Cover crops are planted to conserve the soil on bare, fallow farmland or under a main crop. They can be grown on their own or between rows of annual and perennial crops such as maize, coffee, and fruits. The main purposes of growing cover crops are to cover the soil with low-growing vegetation, protect the soil from exposure to sun and rain, suppress weeds, improve soil fertility, supply livestock feed, and manage insect pests. Cover crops may be nitrogen fixing (if legumes), and they make productive use of spaces between crop rows, as well as controlling wind and water erosion. They also have the potential to restore soil fertility and help in climate change adaptation, as well as sequestration of atmospheric carbon above and below soil surface. Furthermore, cover crops can be fed to livestock, helping to bridge periods of shortage of feed when grazing lands are not available – which is an increasing problem because of growing population pressure and expansion of croplands. Land users give huge credit for its role as a pesticide by deterring armyworm and stalk borer when used as a border, and stopping their advance into the maize crop.
Desmodium is an example of a leguminous cover crop, improving soil fertility via fixing atmospheric nitrogen, increasing infiltration and productive use of soil moisture, and catering for livestock via a “cut-and-carry” fodder system. Desmodium is planted between rows of maize crops as well as between grass hedgerows around the farm. For its establishment, access to desmodium seed is essential. Once established, it remains to serve as a permanent source of planting material. Nevertheless, there are some disadvantages of desmodium: seed collection is difficult, it may trap honey bees and it can compete with the crop for light and space if allowed to grow too tall. Thus, efficient management of desmodium is essential. Nevertheless, as part of an agro-ecological intervention, cover crops like desmodium deliver multiple benefits to resource-poor farmers and can be viewed as an investment in improving soil fertility as well as soil health. Overall, cover crops improve productivity, and help ensure yield stability and contribute to a healthier ecosystem.

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:

2022

2.7 Introduction of the Technology

Specify how the Technology was introduced:

• through projects/ external interventions

Comments (type of project, etc.):

The cover cropping practice has introduced via ISFM+ farmers group.

3.1 Main purpose(s) of the Technology

• improve production
• reduce, prevent, restore land degradation
• conserve ecosystem
• 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:

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:

• rainfed

3.5 SLM group to which the Technology belongs

• integrated crop-livestock management
• integrated soil fertility management
• integrated pest and disease management (incl. organic agriculture)

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

4.1 Technical drawing of the Technology

4.2 General information regarding the calculation of inputs and costs

Specify how costs and inputs were calculated:

• per Technology area

other/ national currency (specify):

ETB

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

53.6283

4.3 Establishment activities

Comments:

We believed to address only the maintenance costs of desmodium as it demands only seeds, skills, and knowledge as compared to the other SLM technologies.

4.4 Costs and inputs needed for establishment

Comments:

We jumped to the following session as maintenance cost is rather decisive for the cover crops.

4.5 Maintenance/ recurrent activities

	Activity	Timing/ frequency
1.	Land preparation and planting	Before and at planting
2.	Cutting desmodium to use as feed for cattle	During the growing season
3.	Harvesting desmodium biomass and /or seed	At harvest maturity
4.	Access to planting materials, if newly started	Anytime in the offseason

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	Land preparation	PDs	4.0	500.0	2000.0	100.0
Labour	Cutting for use as feed	PDs	8.0	250.0	2000.0	100.0
Labour	Harvesting total biomass and /or seed	PDs	5.0	250.0	1250.0	100.0
Plant material	Desmodium seed	kg	3.0	120.0	360.0
Total costs for maintenance of the Technology					5610.0
Total costs for maintenance of the Technology in USD					104.61

If land user bore less than 100% of costs, indicate who covered the remaining costs:

Agroecology/ Integrated Soil Fertility Management Project (ISFM+)

Comments:

Prices of agricultural inputs are frequently changing in Ethiopia.

4.7 Most important factors affecting the costs

Describe the most determinate factors affecting the costs:

The prevailing economic crisis and rising of inflation in the country contributes to inputs and other services price uncertainty.

5.1 Climate

5.2 Topography

Indicate if the Technology is specifically applied in:

• not relevant

Comments and further specifications on topography:

The visited farmland lay on gentle slope and less vulnerable to the effects of erosion.

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.

Not available.

5.4 Water availability and quality

Is water salinity a problem?

No

Is flooding of the area occurring?

Yes

Regularity:

episodically

Comments and further specifications on water quality and quantity:

Seldom, when heavy rainfall is intercepted, there is a flood event.

5.5 Biodiversity

Comments and further specifications on biodiversity:

The farming system in the area features the best agroecology practices with diverse agrobiodiversity. The type of crops grown in the area ranges from root crops (such as sweet potato, cassava, and yam), cereals (teff and maize), to perennial crops: coffee, fruits and enset.

5.6 Characteristics of land users applying the Technology

Indicate other relevant characteristics of the land users:

In addition to crop production, the land user engaged in off-farm activities such as making local liquor to support her family's livelihoods. Furthermore, the land user adopted diverse ISFM technologies such as biogas/bio slurry and vermicomposting.

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:

• state
• individual, not titled

Land use rights:

• individual

Water use rights:

• open access (unorganized)
• individual

Are land use rights based on a traditional legal system?

Yes

Specify:

The farmland was inherited from the predecessors.

Comments:

Parts of the land used by the user are leased in from the other land owners.

5.9 Access to services and infrastructure

Comments:

The land user accessed electricity in rural areas. She also used biogas for energy production.

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

Climate and disaster risk reduction

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?
seasonal temperature	dry season	increase	not known

Climate-related extremes (disasters)

Climatological disasters

	How does the Technology cope with it?
heatwave	not known

Other climate-related consequences

Other climate-related consequences

	How does the Technology cope with it?
extended growing period	very well
reduced growing period	not well

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)?

Comments:

The benefit from desmodium can be made in the short term. Its high biomass production to enrich grass fodder and suppression of weeds and pests are promptly seen as compared to some other SLM technologies.

6.5 Adoption of the Technology

• 1-10%

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

• 0-10%

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
The technology improves soil fertility.
It manages insect pests and stops their advance and negative consequence they might causes on the main crops.
Supply protein-rich feed to the animals.

Strengths/ advantages/ opportunities in the compiler’s or other key resource person’s view
Cover crops provide multiple benefits to the family farmers such as the best uses of land between the rows of maize crops.
It smothers weeds and improves soil fertility and crop productivity which have a positive contribution to the livelihoods of family farmers.
Cover crops and the practice itself have a beneficial role in agroecology intervention and improvement of the ecosystem functioning.

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?
Fast growing and overwhelming the main crops (competition for space).	Applying intensive management such as cutting and feeding to the animals.
Feeding the animals with fresh harvest is not friendly to the livestock.	As it is a protein-rich fodder crop the harvest must be slightly dry and mixed with grass fodder that reduces the adverse effects of either bloating or diarrhea.

Weaknesses/ disadvantages/ risks in the compiler’s or other key resource person’s view	How can they be overcome?
Difficulty to manage and harvesting desmodium seeds.	1. Intensify the management of desmodium and reduce harvesting inconvenience on main crop. 2. Replace desmodium with other farmer's friendly legume species such as Dolichos lablab...as cover crops.
Hooky nature of the seed that sticks to the clothes.	-Wear nylon wears/clothes that reduces the effects of hooky seeds. - Produce seeds on separate plots.
Quick growth and climbing traits that dominate the main crops.	- Apply intensive management and use the above-ground parts as fodder for the livestock by adopting cut-and-carry feeding system. Also, needs to keep the green parts under frequent management practices.

7.1 Methods/ sources of information

7.2 References to available publications

Title, author, year, ISBN:

Cover Crops for Sustainable Crop Rotations. Clark, Andy. 2015

Available from where? Costs?

https://www.sare.org/resources/cover-crops/

7.3 Links to relevant online information

Title/ description:

Greenleaf desmodium. A Fact sheet index describing about the cover crop

URL:

https://keys.lucidcentral.org/keys/v3/pastures/Html/Greenleaf_desmodium.htm

7.4 General comments

The questionnaire is wide. Also, it requires many data sources including the sketching of the technical application of the technology, video graphic description, etc., which seems ambitious to be addressed by an expert.