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Desire for Greener Land

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Assessment<br />

Impacts of the Technology<br />

Production and socio-economic benefits Production and socio-economic disadvantages<br />

increased crop yield<br />

increased fodder production<br />

increased fodder quality<br />

increased farm income<br />

increased demand <strong>for</strong> irrigation water<br />

increased expenses on agricultural inputs (seeds,<br />

fertilizer, biocides)<br />

Socio-cultural benefits Socio-cultural disadvantages<br />

improved conservation / erosion knowledge<br />

improved food security / self-sufficiency<br />

improved health<br />

Ecological benefits Ecological disadvantages<br />

improved harvesting / collection of water<br />

increased soil moisture<br />

reduced surface runoff<br />

reduced wind velocity<br />

improved soil cover<br />

increased biomass / above ground C<br />

increased nutrient cycling recharge<br />

increased soil organic matter / below ground C<br />

reduced soil loss<br />

reduced salinity<br />

increased beneficial species<br />

increased plant and habitat diversity<br />

decreased water quantity<br />

lowering of ground water table<br />

Off-site benefits Off-site disadvantages<br />

improved buffering / filtering capacity<br />

reduced wind transported sediments<br />

Contribution to human well-being/livelihoods<br />

The improved livestock feeding increases income<br />

Benefits/costs according to land user<br />

Benefits compared with costs short-term: long-term:<br />

Establishment positive very positive<br />

Maintenance/recurrent positive very positive<br />

Acceptance/adoption: Ninety-five per cent of land user families (95 families; 95% of area) have implemented the technology with<br />

external material support (financial support in cash). Five per cent of land user families (5 families; 5% of area) have implemented the<br />

technology voluntary. Because of the high costs of the inputs land users do not want to apply the technology without external support<br />

There is a slight (and growing) trend towards spontaneous adoption of the technology. Input prices are increasing and there<strong>for</strong>e farmers<br />

do not readily adopt the technology without some inducement.<br />

Concluding statements<br />

Strengths and how to sustain/improve Weaknesses and how to overcome<br />

It improves the soil fertility Technical and economic support is<br />

needed<br />

It improves the livestock health by means of mixed fodder <br />

Technical and economic support is needed<br />

Increased protection of soil from water erosion Trials in plots<br />

should be done to demonstrate the magnitude of this advantage, so<br />

that the farmers can easily accept this technology<br />

It reduces the costs of fodder input Subsidies should be<br />

continued<br />

It increases productivity of livestock Technical knowledge should<br />

be given<br />

Technology increases water use Drip irrigation of the crops<br />

suitable <strong>for</strong> this can be a partial solution<br />

<strong>Land</strong> users awareness is low They can be trained<br />

Key reference(s): Ryder, M.H., Fares, A., 2008. Evaluating cover crops (sudex, sunn hemp, oats) <strong>for</strong> use as vegetative filters to control sediment and nutrient<br />

loading from agricultural runoff in a Hawaiian watershed. J. Am. Water Res. Assoc. 44, 640–653. De Baets, S., Poesen, J., Meersmans, J., Serlet, L., 2011. Cover<br />

crops and their erosion-reducing effects during concentrated flow erosion. Catena, 85: 237–244.<br />

Contact person(s): Assis. Prof. Dr. İnci Tolay, Eskişehir Osmangazi University, Faculty of Agriculture; incitolay@akdeniz.edu.tr<br />

108 DESIRE – WOCAT <strong>Desire</strong> <strong>for</strong> <strong>Greener</strong> <strong>Land</strong>

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