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

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

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

Tithonia diversifolia as green manure, on-farm trial [Cameroon]

No description available.

• Compiler: Unknown User
• 12/31/2008 midnight

2.1 Short description of the Technology

Definition of the Technology:

Application of Tithonia diversifolia (Mexican sunflower) as green manure

2.2 Detailed description of the Technology

Description:

Tithonia diversifolia hedges grow along roadsides or farm boundaries. The green leaf biomass is very suitable as green manure for annual crops, since the plant has a high content of nitrogen and phosphurus, and decomposes quickly after application to the soil: its nutrients are released within one growing season.

Purpose of the Technology: Tithonia biomass enhances soil organic matter and soil fertility, resulting in higher crop yields. The treatment supplies the crop with nutrients at the early stage of the growing process, and thus improves the establishment of the crops through the early development of a good rooting system. The technology is especially beneficial for maize: yields in the study area increased by over 50%.

Establishment / maintenance activities and inputs: At an early stage of plant growth, fresh green leaves and stems are cut, chopped and applied on the cropland as green manure after the first pass of ridging. The fresh material is spread over the half-made ridges at a ate of 2 kg per m2 and then covered with about 5-10 cm of soil to finish the ridges. Sowing of crop seeds is done only after a week or more, because of heat generation during the decomposition process of the leaves (which could damage the seeds).

Natural / human environment: Tithonia can also be applied as mulch 6 to 8 weeks after planting the crop. Covering the mulch with a little soil facilitates nutrient release. Tithonia green manuring - before planting - and mulching can be combined, which is especially applicable to maize, beans and cabbage cultivation. Tithonia hedgerows have to be cut back regularly; otherwise it can spread fast and become a weed. Interplanting Tithonia in the field is not recommended due to root competition with crops.

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:

Cameroon

Region/ State/ Province:

Akiri

Further specification of location:

North-West Province

Specify the spread of the Technology:

• evenly spread over an area

If the Technology is evenly spread over an area, specify area covered (in km2):

0.3

Comments:

Total area covered by the SLM Technology is 0.3 km2.

Another 9 sites in the North-West Province of Cameroon are places where the SWC technology Tithonia diversifolia as green manure was applied

Map

×

2.6 Date of implementation

If precise year is not known, indicate approximate date:

• less than 10 years ago (recently)

2.7 Introduction of the Technology

Specify how the Technology was introduced:

• through projects/ external interventions

Comments (type of project, etc.):

Tithonia was used in Kenya as green manure. In 1997 a PRTC/Forta/SCA joint research team started to try it in the North-West Province of Cameroon too.

3.1 Main purpose(s) of the Technology

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

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):

• Agroforestry

Cropland

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

Annual cropping - Specify crops:

• oilseed crops - groundnuts
• cereals - maize
• vegetables - leafy vegetables (salads, cabbage, spinach, other)
• legumes and pulses - beans
• root/tuber crops - cassava
• root/tuber crops - sweet potatoes, yams, taro/cocoyam, other

• tomato

Perennial (non-woody) cropping - Specify crops:

• banana/plantain/abaca

Tree and shrub cropping - Specify crops:

• mango, mangosteen, guava
• papaya

• coffee

Number of growing seasons per year:

• 1

Specify:

Longest growing period in days: 200 Longest growing period from month to month: March - Mid-October

Comments:

Major land use problems (compiler’s opinion): Soil fertility decline and reduced organic matter content.

Major land use problems (land users’ perception): Soil fertility decline

Type of cropping system and major crops comments: very heterogeneous sometimes.
E.g.: Maize/Beans/Yams: Planted in March, harvest in September (Maize), August (Beans), january of the following year (Yams)

Major cash crop: Tomato, cabbage, plantain, banana and mango
Major food crop: Yams, corn, beans, cassava. plantain, banana and mango
Main products/ services: Mango, papaya, coffee/groundnuts, beans

3.4 Water supply

Water supply for the land on which the Technology is applied:

• rainfed

Comments:

Water supply: Also mixed rainfed - irrigated

3.5 SLM group to which the Technology belongs

• agroforestry
• improved ground/ vegetation cover
• integrated soil fertility management

3.6 SLM measures comprising the Technology

agronomic measures

• A2: Organic matter/ soil fertility

Comments:

Main measures: agronomic measures

Type of agronomic measures: mulching, green manure

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)

Comments:

Main type of degradation addressed: Cn: fertility decline and reduced organic matter content

3.8 Prevention, reduction, or restoration of land degradation

Specify the goal of the Technology with regard to land degradation:

• prevent land degradation
• reduce land degradation

4.1 Technical drawing of the Technology

4.2 General information regarding the calculation of inputs and costs

other/ national currency (specify):

CFA

4.3 Establishment activities

4.4 Costs and inputs needed for establishment

Comments:

Costs for planting Tithonia along farm/field boundaries and roadsides are not known

4.5 Maintenance/ recurrent activities

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

Comments:

Machinery/ tools: cutlass, hoe

4.7 Most important factors affecting the costs

Describe the most determinate factors affecting the costs:

Labour costs are the main factor affecting the costs. Labour inputs depend a lot on transport distance between Tithonia hedge and cropland.

5.1 Climate

5.2 Topography

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 fertility: High (ranked 1, usually soil fertility is high but as there is grown more and more, it is declining) and medium (ranked 2)
Soil drainage / infiltration: Medium
Soil water storage capacity: Medium

5.6 Characteristics of land users applying the Technology

Indicate other relevant characteristics of the land users:

Land users applying the Technology are mainly disadvantaged land users

Population density: 50-100 persons/km2

Annual population growth: 2% - 3%

Off-farm income specification: No big difference. Almost all farmers live of their own farm production/depend on it.
Level of mechanization: Manual work (only manual labour, hoe used)

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

Land use rights:

• individual

6.1 On-site impacts the Technology has shown

Socio-economic impacts

Production

Income and costs

Other socio-economic impacts

Socio-cultural impacts

Ecological impacts

Soil

Climate and disaster risk reduction

Other ecological impacts

6.2 Off-site impacts the Technology has shown

6.4 Cost-benefit analysis

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

Comments:

The closer to the field Tithonia is planted, the better is the benefit-cost ratio.

6.5 Adoption of the Technology

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

15 households and 100% of the area covered

Comments:

100% of land user families have adopted the Technology without any external material support

15 land user families have adopted the Technology without any external material support

There is a strong trend towards spontaneous adoption of the Technology

Comments on adoption trend: In the villages where the OFT had been established the interest of other farmers is big.

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