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)

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:

Farmers who have implemented the technology have recorded an increase in crop production. The technology has not adversely affected their farms.

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

Mucuna value-addition for female farmers [Kenya]

Promoting mucuna seed processing for food and nutrition security and income generation encourages women farmers to plant mucuna as a cover crop that improves soil productivity.

• Compiler: William Akwanyi
• 03/14/2023 4:28 a.m.

Improving farmers' access to tools for conservation agriculture [Kenya]

Improving farmers' access to minimum tillage tools is an approach to increasing the adoption of conservation agriculture (CA) through linking them to institutions that fabricate the tools.

• Compiler: William Akwanyi
• 04/27/2023 6:45 a.m.

2.1 Short description of the Technology

Definition of the Technology:

Permanent soil cover with cover crops and/or crop residues helps to control soil erosion, suppress weeds and build up soil fertility. It can also add organic matter to the soil.

2.2 Detailed description of the Technology

Description:

Permanent soil cover is having all-year-round cover on the soil. This can be either in the form of cover crops which are either planted with other crops at the same time, or relay planted later in the season after the main crops have established, or in the form of crop residues (mulch) which is naturally decomposed by microbes. Permanent soil cover provides a shield or umbrella to the soil protecting it from the heat of the sun and the impact of rain. It makes up a fundamental component of conservation agriculture where minimum tillage reduces soil disturbance.

Some of the crops used for permanent soil cover [those promoted by the ProSoil project] include Mucuna pruriens (velvet bean), Canavalia ensiformis, Dolichos lablab, and Desmodium intortum. All of these are legumes, which fix nitrogen from the atmosphere, thus improving soil fertility. In choosing a cover crop, farmers prefer those that fit into their normal cropping systems, and which have multiple purposes, including those that produce edible seeds and vegetables, those that improve soil fertility, those that can be used as animal fodder, and those that can suppress weeds. Some farmers prefer crops that can provide firewood or fencing material and those that can be used for medicinal purposes. Another important factor that farmers consider when choosing a cover crop is the amount and type of work that the cover crop will need, for example for land preparation before planting, weeding, and producing and harvesting the seeds. The crops most preferred are those that cover the soil quickly and completely, and which can also be used for food and fodder, including mucuna. Farmers also like mucuna because of its big pods and grains that are easier to deal with. Farmers can easily multiply mucuna seeds since they do not require complicated treatments; hence, do not need to continue spending money on the seeds.

In establishing a permanent soil cover using cover crops, farmers first intercrop seasonal crops (e.g., maize and beans) and later introduce a green manure cover crop (e.g., mucuna) after about 6 weeks (or at the time when the beans start to produce pods) to ensure that the green manure cover crop does not suppress the main crop(s). The maize is planted at 75 cm row spacing and 25 cm between plants in the same row. However, within each row, the third hole/ space is left for the cover crop (i.e., mucuna). Thus, mucuna is planted after every three maize plants in the same row. The bean intercrop is planted between the maize rows at the spacing of 37.5 cm from the maize row and 20 cm between bean plants in the same row. This spacing requires about 5 kg of cover crop (mucuna) seeds per acre. The crops continue to grow together and upon harvesting the main crops, the cover crop continues to grow on the farm covering the soil until the following cropping season.

Permanent soil cover is beneficial in the farm in various ways including, enhancing soil water infiltration, protecting soil from agents of erosion, increasing soil organic matter, suppressing weeds, aiding in nutrient cycling, and improving the habitat of soil micro- and macro-organisms. Maintaining permanent soil cover through mulching faces some limitations, including competing uses of crop residues e.g., as animal feeds and fuel. Similarly, drought may be a major limitation to maintaining permanent soil cover using cover crops, especially in areas that receive very low rainfall and where the farmer has not invested in irrigation.

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:

Kenya

Region/ State/ Province:

Kakamega County in western Kenya

Further specification of location:

Kisa Central Ward in Khwisero Sub-county; and Koyonzo and Khalaba wards in Matungu Sub-county

Specify the spread of the Technology:

• evenly spread over an area

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

No

Comments:

There are no protected areas in the areas covered by this assessment. The indicated area is the total for the three farms which were used in the documentation. Most of the information was collected from the farm in Khwisero Sub-county. Some photos were taken from the two farms in Matungu Sub-county.

Map

×

2.6 Date of implementation

Indicate year of implementation:

2021

2.7 Introduction of the Technology

Specify how the Technology was introduced:

• as part of a traditional system (> 50 years)
• through projects/ external interventions

Comments (type of project, etc.):

The farmers were already growing cover crops such as sweet potatoes and pumpkins. The ProSoil project introduced the farmers to other soil cover crops such as mucuna and desmodium.

3.1 Main purpose(s) of the Technology

• improve production
• reduce, prevent, restore land degradation
• conserve ecosystem
• preserve/ improve biodiversity
• adapt to climate change/ extremes and its impacts

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

Land use mixed within the same land unit:

Yes

Specify mixed land use (crops/ grazing/ trees):

• Agro-silvopastoralism

Cropland

• Annual cropping
• Perennial (non-woody) cropping
• Tree and shrub cropping

Annual cropping - Specify crops:

• fodder crops - other
• fodder crops - grasses
• cereals - maize
• vegetables - other
• vegetables - melon, pumpkin, squash or gourd
• legumes and pulses - beans

Annual cropping system:

Maize/sorghum/millet intercropped with legume

Perennial (non-woody) cropping - Specify crops:

• banana/plantain/abaca
• fodder crops - grasses
• fodder crops - legumes, clover

Tree and shrub cropping - Specify crops:

• fodder trees (Calliandra, Leucaena leucocephala, Prosopis, etc.)
• avocado
• fruits, other
• mango, mangosteen, guava
• papaya

Number of growing seasons per year:

• 2

Specify:

Crops are grown during the long and short rain seasons.

Is intercropping practiced?

Yes

If yes, specify which crops are intercropped:

Maize and legumes (beans)

Is crop rotation practiced?

Yes

If yes, specify:

Mucuna is left to continue covering the soil after the main crop(s) has/ have been harvested.

Grazing land

Intensive grazing/ fodder production:

• Cut-and-carry/ zero grazing
• Improved pastures

Animal type:

• cattle - dairy
• cattle - dairy and beef (e.g. zebu)
• poultry

Is integrated crop-livestock management practiced?

Yes

If yes, specify:

Manure from livestock is applied to the crop fields.

Products and services:

• economic security, investment prestige
• milk
• manure as fertilizer/ energy production
• eggs
• meat

Species:

cattle - dairy

Count:

1

Species:

cattle - dairy and beef (e.g. zebu)

Count:

2

Species:

poultry

Count:

20

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:

Crop establishment is dependent on availability of rainfall.

3.5 SLM group to which the Technology belongs

• improved ground/ vegetation cover
• minimal soil disturbance
• integrated soil fertility management

3.6 SLM measures comprising the Technology

agronomic measures

• A1: Vegetation/ soil cover
• A2: Organic matter/ soil fertility
• A3: Soil surface treatment
• A6: Residue management

A3: Differentiate tillage systems:

A 3.1: No tillage

A6: Specify residue management:

A 6.4: retained

Comments:

Permanent soil cover is normally associated with reduced or zero tillage.

3.7 Main types of land degradation addressed by the Technology

soil erosion by water

• Wt: loss of topsoil/ surface erosion

soil erosion by wind

• Et: loss of topsoil

chemical soil deterioration

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

physical soil deterioration

• Pc: compaction

biological degradation

• Bc: reduction of vegetation cover
• Bs: quality and species composition/ diversity decline

water degradation

• Ha: aridification

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

4.1 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):

KES

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

124.21

4.3 Establishment activities

Comments:

Land preparation in a conservation agriculture situation will only involve mowing and sub-soiling that are less costly than plouging.

4.5 Maintenance/ recurrent activities

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

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

ProSoil through GFA

Comments:

The farmer does not need fertilizer and manure for planting mucuna. The ProSoil project through Gesellschaft für Agrarprojekte in Übersee (GFA) provided slashers, hand-held sub-soilers, and jab planters to the farmers through their groups. The costs of these implements are KES 350/- for a slasher, KES 350/- for a hand-held sub-soiler, KES 400/- for a shallow weeder, and KES 5,000/- for a jab planter. It is assumed that the farmer will be able to use these implements over a period of 5 years before these implements will have depreciated to a point where they will not be useable. The cost is thus spread over the years when the farmer will be able to use the implement. The total time required for uncoiling is about 5 man-days for the entire duration of the growth of the main crop(s) in a season and the total time required for shallow weeding is about 4 man-days.

4.7 Most important factors affecting the costs

Describe the most determinate factors affecting the costs:

Rate of man-days vary from one place to another, farmer to farmer, and with type of work.

Exchange rate for February 2023, source: European Commission/ InfoEuro online at https://commission.europa.eu/funding-tenders/procedures-guidelines-tenders/information-contractors-and-beneficiaries/exchange-rate-inforeuro_en

5.1 Climate

5.2 Topography

Indicate if the Technology is specifically applied in:

• not relevant

Comments and further specifications on topography:

The farm is located at an area that is higher in altitude compared to other areas in the larger area. The altitude at the farm is 1,416 m above sea level.

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.

Soil pH of most farms in the area ranges from moderately acid (5.50) to moderately alkaline (7.80).

5.4 Water availability and quality

Is water salinity a problem?

No

Is flooding of the area occurring?

No

Comments and further specifications on water quality and quantity:

There are several boreholes in the area and according to interviews with some borehole owners, the depts are not more than 50 metres.

5.5 Biodiversity

Comments and further specifications on biodiversity:

The area has high agrobiodiversity since most farms are under crops and trees.

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, not titled
• individual, titled

Land use rights:

• leased
• individual

Water use rights:

• open access (unorganized)

Are land use rights based on a traditional legal system?

No

Comments:

The farmer has an official title deed for his piece of land. He also leases other people's pieces of land for farming. Water in the streams and springs is freely accessed without restrictions.

5.9 Access to services and infrastructure

Comments:

The above rating varies from one village to the other.

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

Specify assessment of on-site impacts (measurements):

No recorded data is available for reference. All are estimates based on the farmer's explanation or as given by him.

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

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%

Comments:

Most farmers are adopting cover crops, especially mucuna because of the increasing knowledge about its benefits and demand for its value-added products. These cover crops are becoming popular among farmers.

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

7.4 General comments

1. Provide a function to be able to link the documented SLM to similar work that has been documented in other databases e.g., LandPortal, UNCCD, etc.
2. Some of the impacts (section 6) cannot be quantified.