Category: Aridity: Dry sub-humid

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Companion Planting

Similar names: trap cropping, intercropping, plant association 

Companion planting is an agricultural technique wherein various crops are grown close together to enhance growth, control pests, optimise space and boost productivity. While companion planting is associated with small-scale gardening, the general principles can be broadly integrated into large-scale operations. This approach is considered a low-input and ecologically mindful method for pest management. Rooted in traditional ecological knowledge, this technique focuses on creating mutually beneficial relationships between plants. One of the most common examples of companion planting is the Three Sisters, which is a traditional Native American growing practice that includes corn, beans and squash. Each plant serves a specific role that benefits the other crops in various ways.

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Biochar

Similar names: agrichar, biocarbon 

Biochar is charcoal made from organic matter such as wood, plant materials, and manure. The organic matter is heated at high temperatures of between 300-900 ℃, with very little oxygen. Biochar is carbon rich, absorbent and does not break down easily like other soil enhancers, therefore it is able to stay in the soil for long periods of time. Thus, it can reduce the need for frequent application of compost while still promoting healthy crop growth. Biochar is a soil amendment that improves soil health by aerating the soil, as well as retaining moisture and nutrients in the soil. Additionally, due to the low oxygen burning method, carbon is locked into the soil instead of being released back into the environment. The materials used for processing biochar can range from small-scale and simple to more complex and commercial.

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Cover Cropping

Similar names: green manure, living mulch, soil-building crops, catch crops

Cover cropping has been used across the world throughout history. However, as the rise of synthetic herbicides and fertilizers became more popular, the use of cover crops declined. In recent years, concerns over soil health and the desire to reduce chemical inputs has sparked renewed interest in cover crop techniques. Unlike cash crops, cover crops are grown for environmental benefits rather than for profit. Cover crops are typically grown in the off-season following the harvest of a main cash crop. They are typically mowed, incorporated into the soil, or used as mulch. Cover crops offer a wide array of benefits as they help to improve soil health, control erosion, suppress weeds, improve yields, and attract pollinators. There are a large variety of cover crops to choose from, however the choice of cover crop depends on the goal of the grower.

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Dune Planting

Synonyms: Dune fixation, wickerworks

Dune grass planting is a dune restoration technique that reinforces dune stability by establishing vegetation capable of trapping, anchoring, and accumulating sand. This process is effective in both coastal and inland dunes, where wind erosion, overgrazing and sand mobility pose threats to ecosystem stability.

In coastal settings, grasses like marram grass (Ammophila arenaria) and lyme grass (Leymus arenarius) are essential for initiating and maintaining dune growth. Marram grass, in particular, grows vigorously in sandy environments, extending its roots both horizontally and vertically as sand accumulates. This growth pattern allows the grasses to trap sand and stabilize dune surfaces, reducing wind speeds at the ground level and encouraging sand to settle. By reducing the velocity of surface winds, the grasses create a self-reinforcing cycle of sand accumulation and root expansion. This process promotes the formation of “yellow dunes” further inland, while more resilient species like sand couchgrass (Elymus farctus) stabilize the vulnerable “foredune” zone nearest to the shoreline, where occasional seawater inundation occurs.

In arid, inland dune regions where desertification is a concern, planting drought-resistant vegetation such as Leptadenia pyrotechnica and Calligonum comosum serves a similar function. These species prevent sand from moving with the wind by creating dense root systems that hold soil in place. The combined horizontal and vertical growth of these plants enhances soil retention, improves the dune’s physical stability, and reduces the likelihood of sand encroachment on nearby agricultural or pastoral lands. By acting as windbreaks and anchoring loose sand, these plants encourage dune formation and mitigate the physical impacts of wind erosion.

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Dune Thatching

Covering exposed dune faces – or blowouts – with waste cuttings from forestry or other low-cost materials is a technique called dune thatching. It is used to stabilize sand, reduce trampling, and protect vegetation. When locally sourced, thatching materials are inexpensive, and the process requires no machinery or skilled labor. This method is typically combined with dune grass planting to further enhance dune stability. 

Properly applied thatch can aid dune recovery and provide resistance to erosion, although it cannot fully protect areas where waves frequently cause damage. The thatch slows surface wind speeds, encouraging sand to settle and accumulate. The effectiveness of this approach depends on the presence of blown sand, frequency of wave impact, presence of vegetation, and level of maintenance. Planting dune grasses after thatching can further improve dune recovery and stability over time. 

In this intervention we distinguish two types dune thatching:

  • Dune thatching with old (Christmas) trees:  Creating a natural barrier by digging in old (christmas trees) in a line parallel to the shoreline. This barrier promotes the entrapment of sand and in combination with dune grass planting this can stabilize dunes and promote formation of new dunes.

  • Dune thatching with millet stalk palisades: Creating physical sand barriers from dried plant palisades can be arranged in various ways depending on the level of sand dune destabilization. In heavily encroached areas, millet stalk palisades arranged in square grids can act as considerable wind catchment zones and prerequisite for revegetation. After two years, these palisades tend to fall apart and decompose and restored vegetation takes over the dune fixation function.
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Dune Fencing

Building semi-permeable fences along the seaward or the prevailing wind side of dunes encourages windblown sand to accumulate, reduces trampling, and protects both existing and newly planted vegetation. Various fencing materials can effectively enhance natural dune recovery. This type of fencing is often combined with other management practices to promote dune stabilization and minimize environmental impact.

The use of dune fencing for wind erosion control and dune stabilization has a long history. Its success relies on factors such as the fence’s void-to-solid ratio, the availability of wind-driven sand, the frequency of wave activity at the fence line, and the amount of vegetation present to help stabilize accumulated sand. Combining dune fencing with other strategies, such as Dune Planting or Dune Thatching, can help establish new foredunes and further enhance stability.

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Riparian Buffer Zones

Similar names: Conservation buffers, Stream corridor bank enhancement, Riparian buffer strips and hedges, Terrestrial buffers, Riparian buffer systems

Riparian buffer zones are the interface between land and a river, stream or creek often characterised by riparian woodlands, forests and riparian strips. The plant habitats and natural communities along the river banks are better known as riparian vegetation and they are characterised by hydrophilic plants, bushy vegetation and forest systems. The presence of riparian buffer zones is crucial due to their role as natural biofilters and their protection of aquatic environments from excessive sedimentation, polluted surface runoff and erosion. Furthermore, they provide shelter, shade and food for many aquatic species.

Often the riparian zones are damaged by various anthropogenic activities such as agriculture, construction and silviculture. In this case, biological restoration can take place, with the most common practices being erosion control and revegetation. Furthermore, in some places riparian zones are fully lacking and reintroducing them could bring plenty of benefits to the local ecosystems. Because of the great biological function these systems have in supporting a diversity of species and landscapes, they are in some places subject to national protection mechanisms.

Initiating and restoring riparian buffers is crucial for the healthy functioning of riparian ecosystems. The vegetation around the banks of the river slows the flow of water which controls the power of the river and the destruction that could occur downstream. When near agricultural land, the riparian buffers filter various pollutants from agricultural runoffs, enhancing water quality via biofiltration. 

Disclaimer: Check whether Riparian Buffer Zones are subject to national protection in your area, as this could help with their protection and restoration.

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Muvuca Direct Seeding

Similar names: Seed-based land restoration, Direct sowing

Muvuca direct seeding is a nature restoration method, where a mix of seeds from dozens of native species at different successional stages are planted simultaneously into the ground. The method mimics natural regeneration mechanisms such as seed soil banks and seed rain. Better known conventional practice is direct seeding’s popular counterpart – transplanting, which is a technique of moving plants from one location to another, usually to preserve the optimal condition of the seedlings. Despite providing more control over the plant’s growth, transplanting doesn’t allow for a high variety of plant seeds to grow simultaneously.

The Muvuca system uses a high diversity of species and ensures longer-term operational efficiency, which in return enables mechanised restoration with reduced planting, low maintenance in terms of time and reduced costs. Planting can be done either manually or mechanised (using machinery such as tractors), which enables the scalability of the intervention. Furthermore, the grown plants through Muvuca become more robust and resistant to various weather conditions, which results in stronger root systems and overall healthier vegetation. Overall, Muvuca direct seeding can contribute to the scaling up of restoration efforts, while reducing costs and increasing the species diversity. Meanwhile, the demand for native species enables the promotion of conservation and well-being.

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Composting

Similar names: Organic Amendments

Composting is an effective method of organic waste management, involving the controlled aerobic decomposition of organic matter, such as plant and animal waste. This process results in Compost, a stable, humus-like material that can be directly applied to soil. The primary goal of Composting is to reduce the amount of organic waste sent to landfills while providing economic, environmental, and social benefits. When used in soil, Compost enriches it, reducing the need for chemical fertilizers and lowering potential methane emissions from landfills.

The Composting process (Source)

Due to its recycling nature, Composting is a cost-effective tool for managing organic waste, utilizing leftover materials from land-based processes. It offers a range of co-benefits that enhance land and soil regeneration practices. Agronomically, Composting supports crop yields, improves soil moisture content and workability, enhances crop nutritional quality, and suppresses weeds, pests, and diseases. Additionally, Composting provides broader environmental benefits by supplying essential nutrients (such as mineralized nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium), reducing soil erosion, sequestering carbon, and improving soil biological properties and biodiversity.

Furthermore, Compost can be used as a mulching material in landscaping, garden management, and the restoration of abandoned quarries, among other applications.

Agricultural benefits of Composting (Source)

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Assisted Natural Regeneration

Similar names: Pruning, Kisiki Hai, Managed Regrowth

Assisted Natural Regeneration (ANR) is a simple, low-cost forest restoration method that can effectively convert deforested and degraded lands into productive forests and rangelands. The method uses a blend of active planting and passive restoration techniques, which help vegetation to naturally recover by eliminating barriers and threats to their growth. ANR is similar to Farmer-Managed Natural Regeneration (FMNR), with the difference that ANR applies to degraded forest lands and rangelands while FMNR is usually practised on croplands. Overall, ANR mimics the natural systems and habitats by supporting the land processes through ANR. 

ANR is a flexible restoration approach and could be adapted to various contexts and objectives. A set of ecosystem restoration techniques are being facilitated, to eliminate obstacles to plant growth and survival. Those could vary depending on a range of factors, such as location, land type, restoration goal, etc. Hence, local community engagement is crucial for successfully implementing and managing ANR. Their knowledge of the land and ancestral traditions offers the best indication of what techniques and practices would be most beneficial. The most common ANR techniques are visualized in the figure below.

(source)

In comparison to other regeneration techniques such as tree-planting campaigns, ANR has comparatively low implementation and maintenance costs. The method could be applied on a local and larger scale level, with some areas and contexts being more favorable than others when it comes to implementation (see Requirements). However, where implemented, ANR can create jobs and bring income to local communities, as the implementations would require establishment and maintenance.