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)

Direction Générale de l’Amenagement et de Conservation des Terres Agricoles (DG/ACTA) - Tunisia

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

GIZ Tunisia (GIZ Tunisia) - Tunisia

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

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

2.1 Short description of the Technology

Definition of the Technology:

Contour ploughing is an agricultural technique involving the cultivation of sloping land along contour lines. This technique creates a succession of closely spaced ridges and furrows which help to retain water and soil.

2.2 Detailed description of the Technology

Description:

Contour ploughing, as a conservation technique, helps prevent soil erosion by slowing the flow of water across the field, which in turn helps retain soil moisture, prevent nutrient runoff and preserve soil quality. This technique is effective on slopes of less than 8% and in all agroclimatic zones. The first step in contour ploughing is to survey contour lines. "Master contour lines" are established at a distance of 7 to 15 m from each other, depending on the slope, and ploughing is executed parallel to these lines. The direction of ploughing is changed each year to avoid the formation of deep dead furrows and overly raised ridges. Land users appreciate contour ploughing for its effectiveness in preventing soil erosion and improving crop yields. However, some farmers find it difficult to establish and maintain the technology, especially in areas characterized by steep slopes or uneven terrain.

2.3 Photos 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

If precise year is not known, indicate approximate date:

• more than 50 years ago (traditional)

2.7 Introduction of the Technology

Specify how the Technology was introduced:

• as part of a traditional system (> 50 years)

Comments (type of project, etc.):

Contour ploughing is a longstanding tradition in Tunisia, where it has been employed for centuries as a method to counteract soil erosion and enhance crop yields. In recent years, there has been renewed interest in the use of contour ploughing as a sustainable agricultural practice that can help conserve soil and water resources.

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

3.5 SLM group to which the Technology belongs

• improved ground/ vegetation cover
• cross-slope measure

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

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):

Tunisian dinars

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

3.1

4.3 Establishment activities

	Activity	Timing (season)
1.	Surveying contour lines	This activity takes place during the dry season.
2.	Plowing furrows along contour lines using a moldboard or disc plow.	Before the start of the rainy season

Comments:

The timing of implementation activities may vary according to local conditions, such as climate, soil type and rainfall patterns.

4.4 Costs and inputs needed for establishment

If you are unable to break down the costs in the table above, give an estimation of the total costs of establishing the Technology:

150.0

4.5 Maintenance/ recurrent activities

	Activity	Timing/ frequency
1.	Plowing furrows along contour lines using a moldboard or disc plow	Before the beginning of the rainy season

Comments:

The timing of implementation activities may vary according to local conditions, such as climate, soil type and rainfall patterns.

4.6 Costs and inputs needed for maintenance/ recurrent activities (per year)

If you are unable to break down the costs in the table above, give an estimation of the total costs of maintaining the Technology:

150.0

4.7 Most important factors affecting the costs

Describe the most determinate factors affecting the costs:

Equipment and fuel costs

5.1 Climate

5.2 Topography

Indicate if the Technology is specifically applied in:

• not relevant

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.

Organic carbon in topsoil (wt.%): 0.65
Topsoil pH (H2O): 6.9
Topsoil calcium carbonate (wt.%): 0.4
Topsoil sodicity (ESP) (%): 2
Topsoil salinity (ECe) (dS/m): 2.7
Subsoil organic carbon (wt.%): 0.27
Subsoil pH (H2O): 7.3
Subsoil calcium carbonate (wt.%): 1.7
Subsoil sodicity (ESP) (%): 2
Subsoil salinity (ECe) (dS/m): 1.7

5.4 Water availability and quality

Is water salinity a problem?

No

Is flooding of the area occurring?

Yes

Regularity:

episodically

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

Are land use rights based on a traditional legal system?

No

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

Water cycle/ runoff

Soil

Biodiversity: vegetation, animals

Climate and disaster risk reduction

Specify assessment of on-site impacts (measurements):

On-site impact assessment is based on estimates and observations made by the farmer.

6.2 Off-site impacts the Technology has shown

Specify assessment of off-site impacts (measurements):

The assessment of external impacts is based on experts' observations.

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 rainfall		decrease	very well

Climate-related extremes (disasters)

Meteorological disasters

	How does the Technology cope with it?
local rainstorm	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)?

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?

• 51-90%

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
Increase crop yields
Improve soil fertility
Reduce erosion

Strengths/ advantages/ opportunities in the compiler’s or other key resource person’s view
Enhance biodiversity

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?
Contour plowing requires more time than conventional plowing, which may discourage some farmers from adopting the technique.	Raising farmers' awareness of the advantages of this technique

Weaknesses/ disadvantages/ risks in the compiler’s or other key resource person’s view	How can they be overcome?
Parceling out of lands	Land reform through land consolidation

7.1 Methods/ sources of information

7.2 References to available publications

Title, author, year, ISBN:

Guide de conservation des eaux et du Sol, Ministère de l’agriculture, Direction Générale de l'Aménagement et de la Conservations des Terres Agricoles, 1995: Ministère de l’agriculture, Direction Générale de l'Aménagement et de la Conservations des Terres Agricoles

Available from where? Costs?

Ministry of Agriculture, Directorate-General for the Development and Conservation of Agricultural Lands

Title, author, year, ISBN:

Carte agricole de la Tunisie, Ministère de l’agriculture, 2005

Available from where? Costs?

Ministry of Agriculture, Directorate-General for the Development and Conservation of Agricultural Lands

7.3 Links to relevant online information

Title/ description:

Guide technique pour la lutte contre la désertification, Abdessalem Kallala, OSS, 2017

URL:

http://projet.oss-online.org/LCD/images/BP/Techniques_LCD.pdf

Title/ description:

Guide des bonnes pratiques d'utilisation durable de l'eau et des terres, WWF, 2019

URL:

https://www.wwf.ma/nos_nouvelles/nospublications/?33164/Guide-des-bonnes-pratiques-dutilisation-durable-de-leau-et-des-terres

Title/ description:

Harmonized World Soil Database, FAO, 2009

URL:

https://www.fao.org/soils-portal/data-hub/soil-maps-and-databases/harmonized-world-soil-database-v12/en/