Stone faced trench bund [Ethiopia]
- Creation:
- Update:
- Compiler: Unknown User
- Editor: –
- Reviewers: Fabian Ottiger, Alexandra Gavilano
Emni Getsel metrebawizala
technologies_991 - Ethiopia
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Expand all Collapse all1. 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:
Dawit Michael
Ministry of Agriculture and Natural Resources
Ethiopia
Name of the institution(s) which facilitated the documentation/ evaluation of the Technology (if relevant)
Ministry of Agriculture and Natural Resources of Ethiopia (MoA) - Ethiopia1.3 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
2. Description of the SLM Technology
2.1 Short description of the Technology
Definition of the Technology:
It is an allignment of stones embankment at the lower/downslope of the trench dug to form earth embankment following a contour.
2.2 Detailed description of the Technology
Description:
Description: digging of foundation, stone wall constructionof 60-80 m, digging of trench along the contour Purpose: decrease soil erosion, moisture harvesting, decrease slope length, reduce runoff velocity and increase productivity per unit area Establishment/Maintenance: planting of fodder trees and integrate with biological measures Environment: enhance to grow natural grasses and vegetation, minimize desertification, recharge ground water and improve local climate
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:
Ethiopia
Region/ State/ Province:
Tigray
Further specification of location:
Adet Naedir
Comments:
Total area covered by the SLM Technology is 32 km2.
This data is based on the Adet Naedir office of Agriculture and Natural Resources
Map
×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:
- through projects/ external interventions
Comments (type of project, etc.):
Developed in the region
3. Classification of the SLM Technology
3.2 Current land use type(s) where the Technology is applied
Cropland
- Annual cropping
- Tree and shrub cropping
Annual cropping - Specify crops:
- cereals - maize
- cereals - sorghum
- legumes and pulses - beans
- teff, Lentile, flux, niger seed
- leucanea, sesbanea
Number of growing seasons per year:
- 1
Specify:
Longest growing period in days: 120Longest growing period from month to month: Jun - Oct
Grazing land
Forest/ woodlands
Products and services:
- Timber
- Fuelwood
- Grazing/ browsing
- Nature conservation/ protection
Comments:
Major land use problems (compiler’s opinion): Decline of soil fertility and productivity, soil erosion, deforestation, overgrazing
Major land use problems (land users’ perception): Decrease in production, low moisture content of the soil, drought and deforestation
Plantation forestry: deforestation
Problems / comments regarding forest use: Basically the forest land is open wood/shrub cover and used for grazing/browsing at the same time
Ge: Extensive grazing land
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
- cross-slope measure
3.6 SLM measures comprising the Technology
agronomic measures
- A2: Organic matter/ soil fertility
- A3: Soil surface treatment
- A6: Residue management
- A7: Others
vegetative measures
structural measures
Comments:
Main measures: structural measures
Secondary measures: agronomic measures, vegetative measures
Type of agronomic measures: better crop cover, manure / compost / residues, mineral (inorganic) fertilizers, contour tillage
Type of vegetative measures: aligned: -contour
3.7 Main types of land degradation addressed by the Technology
soil erosion by water
- Wt: loss of topsoil/ surface erosion
- Wg: gully erosion/ gullying
chemical soil deterioration
- Ca: acidification
Comments:
Main type of degradation addressed: Wt: loss of topsoil / surface erosion
Secondary types of degradation addressed: Wg: gully erosion / gullying, Ca: acidification
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:
Main goals: mitigation / reduction of land degradation
Secondary goals: rehabilitation / reclamation of denuded land
4. Technical specifications, implementation activities, inputs, and costs
4.1 Technical drawing of the Technology
Technical specifications (related to technical drawing):
Technical knowledge required for field staff / advisors: moderate
Technical knowledge required for land users: low
Main technical functions: control of dispersed runoff: retain / trap, increase / maintain water stored in soil
Secondary technical functions: reduction of slope length, increase of infiltration, water harvesting / increase water supply
Better crop cover
Material/ species: teff, sorghum
Agronomic measure: row planting
Material/ species: maize
Quantity/ density: 45,000/ha
Remarks: planting on rows along the contour
Contour tillage
Remarks: farmers plow their land along the contour
Aligned: -contour
Vegetative material: T : trees / shrubs, G : grass
Number of plants per (ha): 100-150
Vertical interval between rows / strips / blocks (m): 1m
Spacing between rows / strips / blocks (m): 20-25m
Vertical interval within rows / strips / blocks (m): 2.5 m
Width within rows / strips / blocks (m): 1
Trees/ shrubs species: leucanea, sesbanea
Grass species: local grasses
Slope (which determines the spacing indicated above): 12.00%
Gradient along the rows / strips: 12.00%
Bund/ bank: level
Vertical interval between structures (m): 1
Spacing between structures (m): 20-25m
Depth of ditches/pits/dams (m): 0.3m
Width of ditches/pits/dams (m): 0.5m
Height of bunds/banks/others (m): 0.5-0.75m
Width of bunds/banks/others (m): 1m
Length of bunds/banks/others (m): 60-80m
Structural measure: bund / bank: level
Vertical interval between structures (m): 1m
Spacing between structures (m): 20-25m
Height of bunds/banks/others (m): 0.5-0.75m
Width of bunds/banks/others (m): 0.5-0.75m
Length of bunds/banks/others (m): 0.5-0.75m
Slope (which determines the spacing indicated above): 12%
Lateral gradient along the structure: 0%
Vegetation is used for stabilisation of structures.
4.2 General information regarding the calculation of inputs and costs
other/ national currency (specify):
Birr
If relevant, indicate exchange rate from USD to local currency (e.g. 1 USD = 79.9 Brazilian Real): 1 USD =:
8.0
Indicate average wage cost of hired labour per day:
0.88
4.3 Establishment activities
Activity | Timing (season) | |
---|---|---|
1. | seedling production | Dec.-June |
2. | seedling planting | June-July |
3. | collection of stones | dry season |
4. | placing of stones | dry season |
5. | digging of trench | dry season |
6. | embanking of soil | dry season |
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 | 1.0 | 118.0 | 118.0 | 100.0 |
Equipment | Animal traction | ha | 1.0 | 20.0 | 20.0 | 100.0 |
Equipment | Tools | ha | 1.0 | 2.0 | 2.0 | 100.0 |
Plant material | Seeds | ha | 1.0 | 6.25 | 6.25 | 100.0 |
Fertilizers and biocides | Fertilizer | ha | 1.0 | 33.75 | 33.75 | 100.0 |
Other | Other cost | ha | 1.0 | 17.5 | 17.5 | 100.0 |
Total costs for establishment of the Technology | 197.5 | |||||
Total costs for establishment of the Technology in USD | 24.69 |
Comments:
Duration of establishment phase: 48 month(s)
4.5 Maintenance/ recurrent activities
Activity | Timing/ frequency | |
---|---|---|
1. | plowing | March-July / 3-4 times |
2. | sowing | June-July / Once |
3. | Weeding | July-August / twice |
4. | harvest | Oct.-Dec. / once |
5. | Replanting | July /once |
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 | Labour | ha | 1.0 | 10.5 | 10.5 | 100.0 |
Total costs for maintenance of the Technology | 10.5 | |||||
Total costs for maintenance of the Technology in USD | 1.31 |
Comments:
Machinery/ tools: crawbar, hammer, shovel, digging hoe
length of the structure and tree seedlings per hectar
4.7 Most important factors affecting the costs
Describe the most determinate factors affecting the costs:
labour, slope
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:
550.00
Agro-climatic zone
- sub-humid
- semi-arid
Semi arid covers larger area
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.
Comments and further specifications on topography:
Landforms: Hill slopes coer a larger area of the woreda but there are also footslopes and plateaus/plains
Slopes on average: Also Rolling and moderate
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)
Topsoil organic matter:
- medium (1-3%)
- low (<1%)
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 depth on average: Also very shallow and moderately deep
Soil texture: Also coarse/light and fine/heavy
Soil fertility is low. Also very low and medium
Topsoil organic matter: Low (this data is based of physical observation on crop performance)
Soil drainage/infiltration is medium. Also good and poor
Soil water storage capacity is low. Also medium, very low.
5.6 Characteristics of land users applying the Technology
Market orientation of production system:
- subsistence (self-supply)
Off-farm income:
- less than 10% of all income
Relative level of wealth:
- poor
- average
Level of mechanization:
- manual work
- animal traction
Indicate other relevant characteristics of the land users:
Population density: 100-200 persons/km2
Annual population growth: 2% - 3%; 3%
10% of the land users are rich and own 15% of the land.
40% of the land users are average wealthy and own 45% of the land.
30% of the land users are poor and own 25% of the land.
20% of the land users are poor and own 15% of the land.
Off-farm income specification: daily labourer in town, food for work
Level of mechanization: Manual labour and animal traction (oxen plow)
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
Comments:
Cropland: Average land holding is 0.5 ha.
Forest/woodland per household: 0.5- 1 ha (most of the forest/bush lands are owned communally, but some farmers owned their own woodlots, 0.25ha per household)
5.8 Land ownership, land use rights, and water use rights
Land ownership:
- state
Land use rights:
- open access (unorganized)
- individual
6. Impacts and concluding statements
6.1 On-site impacts the Technology has shown
Socio-economic impacts
Production
crop production
fodder production
fodder quality
wood production
production area
land management
Income and costs
farm income
workload
Socio-cultural impacts
community institutions
national institutions
SLM/ land degradation knowledge
Ecological impacts
Soil
soil moisture
Comments/ specify:
Can lead to waterlogging
soil cover
soil loss
Other ecological impacts
Biodiversity
Soil fertility
Increased input constraints
6.2 Off-site impacts the Technology has shown
reliable and stable stream flows in dry season
downstream flooding
downstream siltation
6.4 Cost-benefit analysis
How do the benefits compare with the establishment costs (from land users’ perspective)?
Short-term returns:
positive
Long-term returns:
very positive
How do the benefits compare with the maintenance/ recurrent costs (from land users' perspective)?
Short-term returns:
positive
Long-term returns:
positive
6.5 Adoption of the Technology
Comments:
100% of land user families have adopted the Technology without any external material support
109035 land user families have adopted the Technology without any external material support
Comments on spontaneous adoption: survey results
There is a moderate trend towards spontaneous adoption of the Technology
Comments on adoption trend: some individual farmers are applying the technology on their farm land by their own.
6.7 Strengths/ advantages/ opportunities of the Technology
Strengths/ advantages/ opportunities in the land user’s view |
---|
increase in productivity How can they be sustained / enhanced? continous maintenance, |
increase soil fertility How can they be sustained / enhanced? integrate biological SWC measures |
increase fodder availability How can they be sustained / enhanced? planting of fooder trees and grass species on the enbankments |
Strengths/ advantages/ opportunities in the compiler’s or other key resource person’s view |
---|
decrease soil erosion How can they be sustained / enhanced? By integrating area closure on the up slopes and incorporate biological SWC |
moisture harvesting |
increase production |
enhance vegetation growth |
decrease runoff velocity |
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? |
---|---|
loss of cultivated land | increase the land productivity by incorporating biological measures in the system |
Weaknesses/ disadvantages/ risks in the compiler’s or other key resource person’s view | How can they be overcome? |
---|---|
labour intensive | mobilization of the community |
hinder farm operation | enlarge the spacing between bunds |
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