Category: Goal: Increase crop yields

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Semi-Circular Bunds

Similar names: Demi-Lunes, Banquettes, Boomerangs, Water Bunds, Earth Bunds, Earthworks, Micro Basins, Half-Moons, Earth Smiles

The technique of creating Semi-Circular Bunds belongs to the overall category of water harvesting interventions and consists of half-moon-shaped basins dug in earth. The main goal of water harvesting, as the name suggests, is to collect water, and to make moisture available for vegetation for a longer time. This type of micro-catchment water harvesting technique is suitable for slopes up to 15%, however Bunds made of earth are seldom used in areas with slopes greater than 5% with a precipitation rate higher than 300 mm/y. At lesser slopes, Semi-Circular Bunds are also used in areas with higher rain falls.

Semi-Circular Bunds are a low cost intervention, where the time requirements of bund construction are very low as they can be implemented very fast, especially when the raw materials (plant residues) are available. The intervention also allows for the cultivation of plants and species that would not grow in previously dry conditions. Overall, the direct benefits of Semi-Circular Bunds can be realised in the short term and often after one year of implementation.

Watch this bunds instruction video for step-by-step guidance on how to implement them effectively.

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Eyebrow Terraces

Similar names: Banquettes, Boomerangs, Terraces, Stone Bunds, Eyebrow Systems, Eyebrow Basins.

Eyebrow Terraces are a form of microcatchment water harvesting system. They are handmade micro basins, in the shape of an eyebrow, and are often made from soil and stones. Their main goal is to facilitate vegetation growth on steep slopes by collecting runoff water from a small catchment area and having it infiltrate the soil. This way, it is stored in the root zone and will be available for crops. They are usually situated on hillsides and can be used on up to 50% of slopes. The steeper the slope, the more the bunds have to be reinforced with stones. Eyebrow Terraces work well in areas characterised by 200-600 mm of annual rainfall. Reinforcing Eyebrow Terraces with stones on steep slopes makes them more resistant to the increased water speed caused by the slope. Instead, they can be some metres apart. After completion, the pit uphill from the eyebrow may fill with sediments and soil, thereby giving rise to terraces.

Some of the main advantages of Eyebrow Terraces are that they reduce the risk of flooding, while simultaneously increasing the on-site conversion of water through the facilitation of filtration. Furthermore, the intervention improves the yields in the area, by increasing the soil organic content, as sediments are trapped in the terraces.

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Farmer Managed Natural Regeneration

Similar names: treecovery, natural regeneration, tree-based regeneration, Kisiki Hai

Natural regeneration is a biological process that can be assisted and managed by farmers and landowners to increase the recovery of native ecosystems and their functions. Usually practised on wooded agricultural land, Farmer Managed Natural Regeneration (FMNR) is an approach that aims to increase the number of trees by protecting, managing and pruning existing tree and shrub stumps and roots to create the optimal conditions for them to flourish and germinate seeds again. 

An advantage of FMNR is the freedom that farmers have in implementing and adapting this technique to their specific landscape. Farmers can make decisions based on their knowledge and experience and choose which tree species they want to target, for example, fruit trees. Farmers can also select which species they want to save or remove during the pruning process, as well as when and what preferred tree density they want.

Learn the four steps of FMNR in the below instruction video:

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Conservation Agriculture

Similar names: No-Tillage Agriculture, No-Till Farming, Zero Tillage, Zlimate-Smart Agriculture

The Conservation Agriculture approach is a system of managing agricultural lands based on certain farming practices. It aims to achieve sustainable production through minimizing soil disruption, while preserving soil quality and improving its biodiversity. Indeed, the main goal of Conservation Agriculture is to tackle land degradation and increase efficiency in the use of water and nutrients. For this reason, this technique works well with degraded agro-ecosystems as it helps in the restoration of resources, and to increase profits and food security. Beside the conservation of soil structure and fertility, this practice plays an important role in preventing soil erosion caused by machineries, especially in hilly and mountainous areas.

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Mulching

Similar names: Covering, Groundcover, Topping, Blanket Mulching

Mulching involves applying a layer of material to the soil surface mainly in order to improve soil health and enhance plant growth. Either organic or inorganic materials can be used as mulch. Mulching simulates a natural forest environment. In a natural forest, soil is covered by leaves and organic material, and it is rich in living organisms that recycle nutrients. Mulch can be composed of a wide variety of materials (see method of application) and has a number of potential uses. It is an especially helpful technique in climactic zones with high evaporation rates. 

The physical and ecological benefits of Miyawaki are numerous. Firstly, the layer of mulch helps retain soil moisture by reducing the soil’s exposure to direct sunlight and preventing evaporation. Mulching is also effective at stifling weed growth by physically impeding their growth and stopping their access to sunlight needed for photosynthesis (amongst other mechanisms of weed prevention such as allelopathy with certain Mulching materials). Other benefits of Mulching include that it helps prevent soil erosion, is an effective means of regulating soil temperature by acting as insulation and improves the fertility and structure of soil (especially organic Mulching). Please refer to the conditions section for information on potential problems with Mulching so as to ensure the best chances of successful implementation.

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Tilling

Similair names: ploughing

Tilling is one of the most important and widely used agricultural techniques in the world. It dates back to ancient times. Tilling involves physically manipulating the soil to achieve optimal conditions for seed sowing and crop planting. Different tools and techniques for tilling agricultural land exist. Put simply, tilling consists of breaking, cutting, or turning over the first layer of soil (usually between 15 and 25 cm) before planting crops. This helps to achieve a range of potential benefits such as increased aeration of the soil, increased water infiltration capacity, improved nutrient availability, burying of leftovers of previous crops, and weed control. These effects provide good conditions for plant growth and root establishment. Although tilling aims to improve soil structure for planting crops, excessive tilling can have the opposite effect and create a detrimental impact on the soil by leading to a depletion of soil microorganisms and fertility. By loosening the soil, tilling also increases the vulnerability of land and soil to erosion.

Tilling offers several ecological and socioeconomic benefits. Ecologically, it improves soil aeration and drainage by breaking up compacted soil, facilitating better root growth and nutrient uptake, and aids in weed control by disrupting weed roots, reducing competition for resources. Socioeconomically, tilling enhances soil structure, creating a favourable seedbed for planting, which can boost crop yields and contribute to food security. It also accelerates nutrient cycling by decomposing organic matter and releasing nutrients back into the soil, reducing the need for chemical fertilizers. However, excessive tilling can lead to soil degradation and nutrient loss.

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Water Spreading Bunds

Similar names: diversion embankments, diversion bunds, low lying crescent embankments, spate irrigation (general term).

Water spreading bunds is a technique in the category of floodwater farming (also called spate irrigation) which consists of the use of earthen bunds, usually applied where trapezoidal (regular) bunds are not suitable. Regular bunds may not be suited for area where runoff rates are high and they would be damaged, or where the crops may suffer from flooding.

The goal of the water spreading bunds is, as the name suggests, to spread water and not to confine it, like trapezoidal bunds do. They are intended to spread floodwater that has been either diverted from a watercourse or has reached the floodplain. The technique of water spreading bunds is very site-specific, as it can only be used on lands close to a watercourse, usually on alluvial fans or floodplains, and is characterized by almost flat slopes (up to 1%). Water spreading bunds are usually applied on even lands with deep and fertile soil, with a precipitation rate within 150-300 mm. Therefore, hyper-arid or arid areas where floodwater farming is often the only possibility to achieve fodder or crop production.

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Multi-storey Cropping

Multi-storey cropping, or multi-tier cropping, is a production system characterized by an extremely efficient utilization of space by focusing on both vertical space and ground arrangement. Crops of different heights, stages of maturation, sunlight requirements, and root systems are grown in tandem. By selecting crops of different heights, canopy patterns, and root systems, multiple layers of canopy (2 to 5 layers) can be grown on a farm. This farming system seeks to maximize farm productivity and income and usually involves cultivating entirely cash crops. It is best suited to smallholder farms in tropical zones that receive high levels of sunlight. 

Multi-storey cropping can be implemented in an intercrop or mixed-crop arrangement. Crops may also be planted in a more random arrangement where practitioners/farmers have specific knowledge of the local environmental and ecological system and which crops may be optimal for their context. Multi-storey cropping enables the diversification of crops produced and often brings higher yields per unit area than mono-crop settings. This type of crop-growing system leverages the synergies between plants to enhance productivity (foliage size, shade formed, nutrients used, etc.). Multi-storey cropping systems also place a strong emphasis on nutrient recycling;  these systems allow organic matter to re-enter the soil, thus improving the structure and fertility of soils (this can be aided further by actively implementing Mulching). Finally, a multi-storey cropping system reduces soil erosion by increasing the soil cover and water retention of an area.

Some of the main advantages of multi-storey cropping are the increased long-term productivity of farms due to improved soil health and the survival of different crop varieties thanks to the provision of shade by taller plants. The provision of shade and multiple crop types can increase soil fertility and restore the nutrient content of the soil. As a result, this can lead to long-term productivity of the soil which can contribute to long-term food security and quality due to improved soil health. Furthermore, what is also observed is a reduced exposure of farmers/implementors to market volatility due to diversified sources of income from planting multiple crops. This on its own can result in a potential increase in farm income (once the system is complete) due to diversification of income screams through the planting of multiple crops, and reduction in crop vulnerability (for crops which prefer shade). Finally, when the intervention is applied is can result in a decreased flood risk/flood damage due to the increased soil cover and dense vegetation preventing excessive water runoff downstream.

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Grass Seed Banks

Similar names: Community Seed Banks (also for other seeds)

Grass Seed Banks are a conservation and restoration strategy aimed at revitalizing degraded landscapes, particularly in arid and semi-arid regions. Communities can decide where they are suitable and establish them in degraded areas of about ten hectares. Grass Seed Banks are sowed with grass seedlings and should be naturally fenced using shrubs to protect the grasses against grazing livestock and wildlife. These seed banks serve as repositories of native grass seeds, which are essential for restoring vegetation cover in areas affected by desertification, land degradation, and biodiversity loss. They are a community-based initiative that restores degraded landscapes and provides economic opportunities for local communities, especially women. Grass Seed Banks can be managed and maintained by local women’s groups, who sow and harvest the grand grass seeds. Once the grasses are fully grown, they produce grass seeds, which the women can sell at local markets (for example to other restoration projects) or as fodder for livestock.

By selling the grass seeds, women can earn additional income. When grass seed bank projects are successful, the status of the women in the community can be improved. Selling the grass seeds can also help other restoration projects and thereby help to regreen other areas as well. Moreover, they can help to attract insects and small animals, which boosts local biodiversity and the growth of vegetation in the area around the seed banks.

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Kitchen Gardens

Similar names: Community Gardens, Permagardens, Permaculture Gardens, Vegetable Gardens, Urban Gardens

Kitchen Gardens consist of pieces of land close to households in which plants such as vegetables, herbs and fruits for use in the kitchen are cultivated. These gardens can include space for livestock, (fruit & nut) trees and hedges cultivated for fodder. Kitchen Gardens have long been practised to provide subsistence and a variety of food for small households, whilst also providing an additional source of income when surpluses are generated and sold at the market. With a few adjustments, this practice can be adapted to most kinds of ecosystems, and even in highly urbanised areas, with the aid of pots and containers. This intervention is most suitable for flat or gently sloped terrains (0-5%), however, to obtain a lower slope in hillside conditions, it can be combined with Eyebrow Terraces. Gardens can also be created in schools and other public facilities, involving the entire community.

Kitchen Gardens offer socio-economic benefits by diversifying income streams, reducing food expenses, and empowering women and youth through their involvement in establishment and maintenance. They enhance food security by providing diverse, nutritious crops locally and serve as social hubs for education on food production and healthy soils, positively impacting mental health. Ecologically, they promote biodiversity, improve soil health through organic practices, and conserve water resources through efficient irrigation systems. In summary, Kitchen Gardens contribute to increased household income, reduced food expenses, improved dietary diversity, and enhanced ecological sustainability, making them valuable assets for communities.