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)

CIAT International Center for Tropical Agriculture (CIAT International Center for Tropical Agriculture) - 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:

The technology is very friendly to SLM since it restores soil fertility and improves the chemical, physical and biological properties of the soil.

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

2.1 Short description of the Technology

Definition of the Technology:

Improved compost making using “static pile” systems transforms organic material from plants and/or animals into high-value, rich organic compost. It demands less labour, and less time to reach maturity than conventional systems as it thoroughly mixes the ingredients at the beginning which precludes the need to turn the heap later.

2.2 Detailed description of the Technology

Description:

Improved composting using static pile systems transforms organic material from plants and/or animals into high-value, rich organic compost. This compost can be prepared in a heap form, where the ingredients are thoroughly mixed and wrapped within a polyethylene sheet. Notably, white polyethylene has the role of intercepting sunlight and improving the solarization effects on weed seeds or wild species arbitrarily used as biomass for improved compost production. This technique accelerates the breakdown of the organic materials faster because it heats up the compost as part of the decomposition process. Accordingly, the compost reaches maturity in 60-70 days. Compost provides the crop with balanced nutrients and helps to increase the soil's organic matter content. It has long‐term, and short‐term effects on plant nutrition as nutrients are continuously released. It is an organic matter resource with the unique ability to improve soils' chemical, physical and biological properties. Improved compost is applied in rows for vegetables and small cereal crops but spot application (planting holes) is employed for large cereal crops such as maize. The application is on an incremental basis year and again to reach out to the large size of lands. In principle, as the nutrients are slowly released, they may not need a continuous application like chemical fertilizers.

Improved compost-making requires 12-15 wooden pegs 1m high each supported by horizontal bars/string, to form a round structure. The interior is lined with plastic sheeting, then thoroughly mixed ingredients, including coffee hulls, ash, livestock manure, crop residues, livestock urine, water, and chaff are mixed and piled before being sealed in the structure. Unlike the mainstream heaps or pits types of composting, it doesn’t need turning. Therefore, this technique reduces labour requirement, and is liked by the users who have been piloting the technology. The relatively short maturity date also enables it to be produced at least twice a year during the offseason. Compost is prepared around the homestead – which allows closer attention - using livestock urine, manure, and house refuse.

In most of Ethiopia's central and western highlands, soil degradation is a severe issue. Soil acidity has become a growing problem challenging the livelihoods of smallholders. Thus, countering the negative effect of degradation and acidity through producing and using organic fertilizers is a key strategy. However, it is essential that the resources of biomass, family labour, skills and motivation, are combined to ensure sustainable land for crop production. From end users' observations and analysis, improved compost restores soil fertility. It increases yield as well as grain quality: this has been proved by testing the grain compared with the harvest where only chemical fertilizers have been applied. Farmers prefer the simplicity of preparing improved compost to the conventional method, and appreciate its role in improving yield and grain quality as well as reducing the labour demand.

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 land users' innovation
• through projects/ external interventions

Comments (type of project, etc.):

Improved compost preparation was introduced by local NGOs known as FC Ethiopia that arranged experience exchange visits to a few farmers in the Arsi Zone of Oromia. A proactive farmer inspired by the technology outdid what he had observed during his visit. He continued inspiring the surrounding community by preparing improved compost with rich ingredients and early maturing capacity compared to conventional compost production.

3.1 Main purpose(s) of the Technology

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

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

Land use mixed within the same land unit:

No

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

Comments:

Sources of water supply for improved compost making can be steams or groundwater. However, the compost can be applied to both the rainfed or irrigated agriculture.

3.5 SLM group to which the Technology belongs

• integrated crop-livestock management
• integrated soil fertility management

3.6 SLM measures comprising the Technology

Comments:

Applying organic fertilizer to the farm stimulates the regeneration of the lost wild species on the farm.

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:

The production and use of organic fertilizer improve soil fertility, regenerates lost species, and improve plant and animal biodiversity. Compost improves the vigorous growth of the crop, plant colour, and crop production. It also improves the rooting system, extends the grain filling period by about 20 days compared to the plot with chemical fertilizers, increases the number of ears/plants and seeds per ear in maize, etc.

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 unit

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 =:

53.12

4.3 Establishment activities

	Activity	Timing (season)
1.	Select site and constructing the structure.	During the off-season particularly right after harvest when adequate biomass is available.
2.	Collecting ingredients for compost making.	During crop harvest
3.	Thoroughly combine the ingredients and seal.	After materials are ready to make the heap.
4.	Harvest/open and dry the compost on open air.	Six to seven weeks after piling the compost.

4.4 Costs and inputs needed for establishment

	Specify input	Unit	Quantity	Costs per Unit	Total costs per input	% of costs borne by land users
Labour	Labor	PDs	5.0	100.0	500.0	100.0
Equipment	Spade	number	1.0	300.0	300.0
Equipment	Reck	number	1.0	160.0	160.0	100.0
Equipment	Machete	number	1.0	1000.0	1000.0	100.0
Equipment	Sickle	number	1.0	500.0	500.0	100.0
Construction material	Posts for peg making	number	2.0	50.0	100.0	100.0
Construction material	Horizontal bars	number	5.0	10.0	50.0	100.0
Construction material	Strings	meter	12.0	10.0	120.0	100.0
Construction material	Polyethylene sheet	meter	14.0	50.0	700.0	100.0
Total costs for establishment of the Technology					3430.0
Total costs for establishment of the Technology in USD					64.57

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

So far, the district/Woreda Office of Agriculture covered the cost of the spade for participating model farmers in the training as an incentive.

Comments:

Cost of making or producing the technology is largely covered by the land users themselves. District SLM experts provide technical support and monitoring the land users activities on irregular basis. It is only the labor cost and some expendable supplies that are demanded every other time. Otherwise, materials are reused for the perpetuation of compost production.

4.5 Maintenance/ recurrent activities

Comments:

Essentially, improved compost making does not need visible maintenance work. Rather it aspires collection of inputs or materials to perpetuate production of compost. Such activities can be considered as recurrent activities that ensure compost production on sustainable basis.

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	Labor	PDs	5.0	100.0	500.0	100.0
Construction material	Plastic sheet	meter	14.0	50.0	700.0	100.0
Construction material	Posts	number	2.0	50.0	100.0	100.0
Total costs for maintenance of the Technology					1300.0
Total costs for maintenance of the Technology in USD					24.47

Comments:

The estimated cost is only to construct one structure that allows the preparation of about 6-7 m3 of compost. If a farmer wants to produce as much compost as possible simultaneously, the material and labor demand can be doubled or quadrupled.

4.7 Most important factors affecting the costs

Describe the most determinate factors affecting the costs:

Material prices are also variable because of economic instability and price fluctuation. In general, the cost is inconsistent because of inflation.

5.1 Climate

5.2 Topography

Comments and further specifications on topography:

Topography (5.2) does not define improved compost as a practice/technology. The above questions are addressed merely to describe the site where the technology was applied. The technology can be applied in diverse landforms or slopes as long as necessary ingredients and issues that call for mitigation are experienced.

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.

The soil types is Nitosol and soil pH is about 5 on average.

5.4 Water availability and quality

Is water salinity a problem?

No

5.5 Biodiversity

Comments and further specifications on biodiversity:

There is declining biodiversity because of the increasing degradation of the soil.

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:

• state
• individual, titled

Land use rights:

• individual

Water use rights:

• open access (unorganized)

Are land use rights based on a traditional legal system?

No

Specify:

He accessed land redistribution through the local government.

5.9 Access to services and infrastructure

Comments:

As the farmland is closer to all-weather roads and the district town, the farmer can easily access almost all of the facilities in the area.

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

Biodiversity: vegetation, animals

Climate and disaster risk reduction

Specify assessment of on-site impacts (measurements):

Quantifying the positive or negative effects of technology demands the documentation of different facets of the technology which is virtually lacking. In most cases, farmer's responses and expert's opinions were used to addressing the comprehensive questions in the questionnaire.

6.2 Off-site impacts the Technology has shown

Specify assessment of off-site impacts (measurements):

Improving soil fertility increases biodiversity and reduces multiple adverse effects of degradation on the environment.

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?
annual temperature		increase	moderately
seasonal temperature	dry season	increase	very well

Other climate-related consequences

Other climate-related consequences

	How does the Technology cope with it?
extended growing period	very 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 benefits accrued from the application of technology (improved compost) increases overtime as the rate of nutrient adsorption or release of the elements is on a gradual basis as compared to chemical fertilizers. The return remains positive despite variations in temporal and the degrees.

6.5 Adoption of the Technology

• 1-10%

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

About five farmers were adopted in one village. It is spreading in a similar manner over the other areas.

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

• 91-100%

Comments:

So far, the farmer is adopting through advisory services and familiarization with the technology via exchange visits. However, the visited farmer increased the number of ingredients used as feedstock for compost production compared to what he had seen during his visit to the Arsi zone of Oromia.

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
Improve soil fertility and reduce acidity on gradual basis.
Increase grain and biomass yield and quality of the crop.
Generate income from the sale of compost.

Strengths/ advantages/ opportunities in the compiler’s or other key resource person’s view
It reduces the investment cost on chemical fertilizers.
Shortly mature compared to conventional compost making, enabling more composts to be produced.
It reduces labor costs as an overturning operation is exempted.

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?
Intensive labour during planting (transport to the farm and implement row or spot application) depending on the crop types.	Promote labour-sharing arrangements with neighboring peers, engage family labor, and use necessary farm tools such as wheelbarrows to transport to the nearby farms.

Weaknesses/ disadvantages/ risks in the compiler’s or other key resource person’s view	How can they be overcome?
Introduction of the technology is steered by soil fertility improvement department of the district office on piecemeal basis.	Need popularization via the extension system. This demands institutionalizing the technology as the best technology/practice.

7.1 Methods/ sources of information

7.2 References to available publications

Title, author, year, ISBN:

Soil Fertility Management: An introductory Fact-Sheet for Farmers and Projects.Organic Exchange. 2009

Available from where? Costs?

free online

7.3 Links to relevant online information

Title/ description:

Making and Using Compost for Organic Farming

URL:

https://eorganic.org/node/2880

7.4 General comments

The questionnaire is broad and often goes beyond the general feature of a technology. Of course, strict documentation of the different features of the technology are desirable.