Technologies

Soil improvement in orchards through use of bokashi (fermented clippings) [Netherlands]

Creation: 07/06/2023 4:52 p.m.
Update: 10/03/2023 3:20 p.m.
Compiler: Alan Radbourne
Editor: –
Reviewers: Rima Mekdaschi Studer, William Critchley

Bodemverbetering in fruitteelt met behulp van bokashi

technologies_6820 - Netherlands

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Completeness: 82%

1. General information

1.2 Contact details of resource persons and institutions involved in the assessment and documentation of the Technology

Key resource person(s)

SLM specialist:

Hoogendijk Tijmen

Southern Agriculture and Horticulture Organization (ZLTO)

Netherlands

land user:

Rijk Richard

Maatschap P.M. Rijk en Y.A.J. Rijk-Helmstrijd

Netherlands

SLM specialist:

Dieleman Wico

ZLTO

Netherlands

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

European Interreg project FABulous Farmers

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

Zuidelijke Land en Tuinbouw Organisatie (ZLTO) - Netherlands

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?

2. Description of the SLM Technology

2.1 Short description of the Technology

Definition of the Technology:

Bokashi is a soil amendment formed by fermenting clippings of vegetation. It helps to increase soil organic matter content in fruit orchards.

2.2 Detailed description of the Technology

Description:

Bokashi is a soil amendment formed from fermentation of vegetative clippings. It has a high organic matter content. Furthermore, due to the fermentation process, bokashi is practically free of weed seeds. The high organic matter content feeds soil organisms and results in the increase of soil organic matter, and in turn this supports the growth of micro-organisms, improves water holding capacity and increases soil fertility. Bokashi is applied once a year underneath the fruit trees in autumn after the harvest by a mechanical spreader. Here 16 tonnes of bokashi was applied on 1ha. Results have shown that fruit trees grow better in the resulting healthier soil, but spreading the bokashi is labour intensive. This technology has been applied on a parcel of land in Zeeland in the south of the Netherlands.

2.3 Photos of the Technology

Media Gallery

2.5 Country/ region/ locations where the Technology has been applied and which are covered by this assessment

Country:

Netherlands

Region/ State/ Province:

Zeeland

Further specification of location:

Kamperland

Specify the spread of the Technology:

evenly spread over an area

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

< 0.1 km2 (10 ha)

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

2.6 Date of implementation

Indicate year of implementation:

2020

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.):

Introduced by a soil expert

3. Classification of the SLM Technology

3.1 Main purpose(s) of the Technology

reduce, prevent, restore land degradation
preserve/ improve biodiversity
adapt to climate change/ extremes and its impacts
mitigate climate change and its impacts

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

Land use mixed within the same land unit:

Forest/ woodlands

Orchard

Are the trees specified above deciduous or evergreen?

deciduous

Products and services:

Fruits and nuts

Comments:

Fruit orchards (apples, pears etc) in a temperate region

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
integrated soil fertility management
integrated pest and disease management (incl. organic agriculture)

3.6 SLM measures comprising the Technology

agronomic measures

A2: Organic matter/ soil fertility

3.7 Main types of land degradation addressed by the Technology

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

4. Technical specifications, implementation activities, inputs, and costs

4.1 Technical drawing of the Technology

Author:

Tijmen Hoogendijk

Date:

29/09/2023

4.2 General information regarding the calculation of inputs and costs

Specify how costs and inputs were calculated:

per Technology area

Indicate size and area unit:

1ha

If using a local area unit, indicate conversion factor to one hectare (e.g. 1 ha = 2.47 acres): 1 ha =:

1ha = 2.47 acres

other/ national currency (specify):

EUR

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

0.95

Indicate average wage cost of hired labour per day:

250

4.3 Establishment activities

	Activity	Timing (season)
1.	Spreading compost	August
2.	Cultivating the land	August
3.	Sowing catch crop	August

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	Labour	ha	6.0	35.0	210.0	100.0
Equipment	Machinery	ha	1.0	50.0	50.0	100.0
Fertilizers and biocides	Bokashi purchase	ha	25.0	12.5	312.5	100.0
Total costs for establishment of the Technology					572.5
Total costs for establishment of the Technology in USD					602.63

4.7 Most important factors affecting the costs

Describe the most determinate factors affecting the costs:

Access to suitable machinery to reduce the labour costs.

5. Natural and human environment

5.1 Climate

Annual rainfall

< 250 mm
251-500 mm
501-750 mm
751-1,000 mm
1,001-1,500 mm
1,501-2,000 mm
2,001-3,000 mm
3,001-4,000 mm
> 4,000 mm

Specify average annual rainfall (if known), in mm:

800.00

Agro-climatic zone

sub-humid

5.2 Topography

Slopes on average:

flat (0-2%)
gentle (3-5%)
moderate (6-10%)
rolling (11-15%)
hilly (16-30%)
steep (31-60%)
very steep (>60%)

Landforms:

plateau/plains
ridges
mountain slopes
hill slopes
footslopes
valley floors

Altitudinal zone:

0-100 m a.s.l.
101-500 m a.s.l.
501-1,000 m a.s.l.
1,001-1,500 m a.s.l.
1,501-2,000 m a.s.l.
2,001-2,500 m a.s.l.
2,501-3,000 m a.s.l.
3,001-4,000 m a.s.l.
> 4,000 m a.s.l.

Indicate if the Technology is specifically applied in:

not relevant

5.3 Soils

Soil depth on average:

very shallow (0-20 cm)
shallow (21-50 cm)
moderately deep (51-80 cm)
deep (81-120 cm)
very deep (> 120 cm)

Soil texture (topsoil):

medium (loamy, silty)

Soil texture (> 20 cm below surface):

coarse/ light (sandy)

Topsoil organic matter:

medium (1-3%)

If available, attach full soil description or specify the available information, e.g. soil type, soil PH/ acidity, Cation Exchange Capacity, nitrogen, salinity etc.

Lutum %13
Org matter % 1,2
pH 7,5
Soil type Sabulous clay (zavel)
CEC (mmol/kg)19

5.4 Water availability and quality

Ground water table:

< 5 m

Availability of surface water:

good

Water quality (untreated):

for agricultural use only (irrigation)

Water quality refers to:

both ground and surface water

Is water salinity a problem?

Yes

Specify:

There is a shallow salt water bubble in the subsoil that increases the salinity level of ground and surface water

Is flooding of the area occurring?

5.5 Biodiversity

Species diversity:

medium

Habitat diversity:

5.6 Characteristics of land users applying the Technology

Sedentary or nomadic:

Sedentary

Market orientation of production system:

commercial/ market

Off-farm income:

less than 10% of all income

Relative level of wealth:

average

Individuals or groups:

cooperative

Level of mechanization:

mechanized/ motorized

Gender:

Age of land users:

middle-aged

5.7 Average area of land used by land users applying the Technology

< 0.5 ha
0.5-1 ha
1-2 ha
2-5 ha
5-15 ha
15-50 ha
50-100 ha
100-500 ha
500-1,000 ha
1,000-10,000 ha
> 10,000 ha

Is this considered small-, medium- or large-scale (referring to local context)?

medium-scale

5.8 Land ownership, land use rights, and water use rights

Land ownership:

company

Land use rights:

individual

Partnership

Are land use rights based on a traditional legal system?

Specify:

Land use rights are based on ownership or lease agreement

5.9 Access to services and infrastructure

health:

poor
moderate
good

education:

poor
moderate
good

technical assistance:

poor
moderate
good

employment (e.g. off-farm):

poor
moderate
good

markets:

poor
moderate
good

energy:

poor
moderate
good

roads and transport:

poor
moderate
good

drinking water and sanitation:

poor
moderate
good

financial services:

poor
moderate
good

6. Impacts and concluding statements

6.1 On-site impacts the Technology has shown

Socio-economic impacts

Production

crop production

decreased

increased

Comments/ specify:

Mulch effect improved crop growth

Ecological impacts

Soil

soil moisture

decreased

increased

Comments/ specify:

Mulch keeps better soil moisture

soil loss

increased

decreased

Comments/ specify:

More material reduced soil loss

nutrient cycling/ recharge

decreased

increased

Comments/ specify:

Mulch provides more organic matter for nutrient cycling activity

soil organic matter/ below ground C

decreased

increased

Comments/ specify:

Mulch provides soil organic matter to soil profile

Specify assessment of on-site impacts (measurements):

Subjective assessments, no direct measures were taken.

6.2 Off-site impacts the Technology has shown

Specify assessment of off-site impacts (measurements):

No direct measures were taken

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

	Season	increase or decrease	How does the Technology cope with it?
seasonal rainfall	summer	decrease	well

Comments:

Mulch help keeps soil moisture in during increasingly frequent dry spells.

6.4 Cost-benefit analysis

How do the benefits compare with the establishment costs (from land users’ perspective)?

Short-term returns:

slightly positive

Long-term returns:

slightly positive

How do the benefits compare with the maintenance/ recurrent costs (from land users' perspective)?

Short-term returns:

slightly positive

Long-term returns:

slightly positive

6.5 Adoption of the Technology

single cases/ experimental

6.6 Adaptation

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

6.7 Strengths/ advantages/ opportunities of the Technology

Strengths/ advantages/ opportunities in the land user’s view
Soil moisture retention improvements
Soil organic matter improvements
Soil life increased significantly after applying bokashi to the soil. There was no eutrophication

Strengths/ advantages/ opportunities in the compiler’s or other key resource person’s view
Reduced weed burden in compost with fermentation

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?
Time intensive to spread compost	NA
Limited availability of bokashi currently	Knowledge exchange to support more uptake of bokashi production

7. References and links

Links and modules

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