Best practices in sustainable land management

Collection of cattle urine in improved cattle sheds for use as liquid manure and organic pesticide. Cattle urine, which is a viable alternative to mineral fertiliser, is collected in a pit or drum and protected from rain and runoff. Where urine is collected for incorporation with farmyard manure, the pit may be directly connected to the manure pit or heap. Urine that is used as liquid manure or organic pesticide is stored in a drum for fermentation.

The Riaan Dames Grazing Strategy, otherwise known as Split-Ranch Grazing (SRG), is a fundamentally-different technology to grazing management in comparison with popular rotational grazing management systems in many western countries. SRG provides a full-year uninterrupted recovery period for rangeland after grazing. A full year’s rest for the paddock allows maximum uptake of nutrients and maximum storage of these nutrients in deep, strong root systems and crowns, and ensures sustainability. Livestock are maintained in the paddocks planned for grazing until the mid-dry season to ensure that grasses in the rested paddocks have completed root growth. Note: For this SLM technology case, the SPI report on Sustainable Land Management and Climate Change refers to: Rothauge, A. 2001. An evaluation of open rotational grazing. Agricola,12, 94-98.

Eco-graze is a grazing management system that involves rotation and resting of paddocks. It is based on the establishment of three paddocks with two herds within a rotational system, where all paddocks get some wet season rest two years out of three. Paddocks are sub-divided into three relatively equal sizes, though some flexibility is required to balance variation in the productive capacity of different land types within the paddock. The paddocks are fenced and extra water points, additional water troughs, and (where required) pumps are established. Note: For this SLM technology case, the SPI report on Sustainable Land Management and Climate Change refers  to: Ash, A. et al. 1992. The Ecograze Project - developing guidelines to better manage grazing country. CSIRO. ISBN 0-9579842-0-0

Restoring degraded pastureland with alfalfa, a fast-growing plant, and putting the area under quarantine for three years to allow for the pasture to restore sufficiently, which requires the agreement of community members. The restoration measures include levelling the soil with a rack to soften the soil and prepare the seedbed. Fertilizer (mineral or organic) applied and the area is protected from grazing during the three years. During this quarantine period the alfalfa has to grow sufficiently in order to be harvested for livestock fodder, although it may be possible to harvest some areas earlier. Note: For this SLM technology case, the SPI report on Sustainable Land Management and Climate Change refers to: Sghaier, M., et al. Context of oum zessar watershed Tunisia. Afromaison project. In: Observatoire du Sahara et du Sahel.

The daily combining of livestock from all households into a single herd, which are moved to different designated portions of the communal grazing area, and allows grass to recover before being re-grazed some months later. The technology aims to replace continuous, open grazing with a planned system to prepare the soil and grass for the forthcoming rainy season, and is particularly effective in areas with no fences and high incidence of stock theft and predator losses. Fixed stocking rates based on carrying capacities are replaced by flexible stocking rates which track availability of forage. Two grazing plans are developed for one year; one when perennial grasses are growing and the other when they are dormant, but plans may change and must take into account the factors that affect livestock performance and the capacity of the livestock owner. Note: For this SLM technology case, the SPI report on Sustainable Land Management and Climate Change refers to: Tinoziva, H., et al. 2013. Influence of Communal Area Grazing Management System on the Nutritive Value of Forages Selected by Cattle in a Semi-Arid area of Zimbabwe. Greener Journal of Agricultural Sciences, 3 (9), 663-668.

The primary purpose of manure separation is to produce a thick fraction with high organic matter and nutrient content and low moisture content. Slurry manure is fed through a manure separator that separates much of the thick material from the liquid portion. The thick material is a valuable fertiliser and can be transported over large distances. The thin fraction can be applied as fertiliser on the farm, on farmland in the proximity, or can be treated into a quality suitable for discharge in the environment or water drainage system. Note: For this SLM technology case, the SPI report on Sustainable Land Management and Climate Change refers to: Gebrezgabher, S.A., et al. 2015. Factors influencing adoption of manure separation technology in the Netherlands, Journal of Environmental Management,150 (1).

Technique used to restore degraded rangelands (steppe areas). Small shallow ‘pits’ are scooped out by the action of inclined metal disks (similar to the disks of a disk plough). A seed hopper mounted on the top releases small quantities of range-plant seeds into the pits and an attached light harrow covers the seeds with a thin layer of loose topsoil. For optimal reestablishment of vegetation, grazing should be controlled during the initial establishment phase.

Transformation of degraded pastureland to high quality fodder plot. Grass and legumes are planted on degraded pasture land in fenced fodder plots to improve the availability of quality forage and fodder for livestock during the dry season and to feed small ruminants. The technology also reduces runoff, increases water infiltration during the rains and lessens the effect of floods.

Rehabilitation measures, including eyebrow pits and live fencing, are used to re-establish a protective vegetative cover. The main purpose was to re-establish vegetative cover on the almost bare, overgrazed site. Several species of grass and fodder are planted along the ridges of the eyebrows and drainage trenches. Contour hedgerows are established between the eyebrow pits and trenches and trees planted below the pits. Maintenance involves clearing the vegetation and cleaning the pits.

Improvement of pastures through planting perennial legumes, cereals and grasses and creating seed banks. The purpose is to restore the degraded area for later use as a pasture, to secure perennial grass and cereal seed production, and to improve pasture productivity in other areas. Establishment and maintenance activities include fencing the area, ploughing, sowing the cover crops in the spring, and mowing in the autumn. Note: For this SLM technology case, the SPI report on Sustainable Land Management and Climate Change refers to: Nadezhda, F. 2016. Creating varieties of the perennial cereal grasses by the polycross method in northern kazakhstan. Ekin Journal of Crop Breeding and Genetics 2(1):30-35.