Adapted rain-fed annual crops
Full Solution
Rain-fed annual crop plot with diversified crops and trees in Jafr watershed, Rasht district
WHH
Although about 95 percent of the staple crop production in Tajikistan is cultivated on irrigated fields, rain-fed agricultural crops are especially important for smallholder agriculture. Rain-fed crops correspond to the climate conditions in the project districts since they occupy extended areas that cannot be irrigated because of the topography of the land and/or the cost of establishing irrigation infrastructure.
Selecting an appropriate location is especially important in the case of cultivating rain-fed annual crops. In Tajikistan, summer months are hot and dry. The last rainfalls in spring usually occur between mid-May and early June.
In addition, winter and spring precipitation have a high variability from year to year which stresses the importance of cultivating native species adapted to the climate.
Cultivating a diverse mix of species is highly recommended in order to ensure soil fertility on rain-fed land and soil conservation.
Last update: 25 Sep 2020
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Context
Challenges addressed
Promoting rain-fed annual crops in the context of biodiversity and ecosystem services enhancement poses economic challenges since soil preparation for rain-fed annual crops is labour-intensive and requires significant inputs. Moreover, due to the hot and dry summer months, only drought-tolerant crops decrease the risk of harvest failure.
Relatively high risk of soil erosion is also a concrete danger, as the soil is ploughed or not covered by vegetation for most of the year. This especially, since heavy rain events in spring are increasing, resulting in soil erosion or even land- and mudslides. In Tajikistan, it is not possible to sow cover crops after harvesting the main crop (July, August) as during this time of the year no water is available. It is highly recommended to leave residues from harvesting on the fields to protect the soil, as practiced in other countries, instead of using it as fodder for animals.
Location
Tajikistan
North and Central Asia
Process
Summary of the process
- No tillage technique and water conservation measures both aim at increasing the water availability for rainfed annual crops.
- Gully control and check dams, no-tillage technique and water conservation measures aim at rescuing soil erosion and thus reduce the risk of mudflows and floods further downhill.
- Preventing erosion conserves soil fertility and thus the possibility of cultivating annual rainfed crops with good results.
Building Blocks
Diversified crops (oil crops specifically important for rain-fed fields)
Planting different annual crops in a particular order over several years on the same field, also known as crop rotation helps to ensure long-term soil sustainability as the crops have different requirements in terms of nutrients. This prevents the accumulation and propagation of soil-borne diseases and pests. In Tajikistan, many farmers prefer cultivating the same cash crops, e.g. cereals in rain-fed areas, instead of applying crop rotation as in short-term this produces more income. In order to avoid the long-term negative effects, oil crops (flax, sunflower, and safflower) and pulses (chickpeas, green peas, and lentils) can be used to promote crop rotation and diversification. Pulses fix nitrogen and thus improve soil fertility. Crop rotation can be combined with the no-tillage practice for having an even better effect.
An example of a three-year rotation could be:
- Year 1. Cereal crop, e.g. winter wheat
- Year 2. Legumes, e.g. lentil, chickpea
- Year 3. Oil crop, e.g. safflower
Rotation of annual crops with perennial fodder plants as alfalfa or esparcet may also be considered, as these have a very positive effect on soil fertility.
Enabling factors
- Many farmers noticed that their harvest is decreasing and infestation by pests and diseases increased in their rainfed fields if they are continuously cultivating cereals and therefore are eager to try crop rotation.
- Oil crops and legumes attract pollinators, improve family diets and are marketable.
- Some species of oil crops and legumes as safflower and lentils need only a little water for growth and are resistant to high temperature, therefore they are resilient to climate change
Lesson learned
- Special machinery should be available for cultivating alternative rainfed annual cops, e.g. single axle tractors with sickle bar for harvesting oil crops as safflower
- In case of oil crops which have to be processed as safflower it is necessary to produce a certain amount of harvest so that transportation to a mill is worth it.
Gully control and check dams
Rills develop easily on degraded, steep sites during heavy rains and eventually enlarge to become gullies. Often times the area for planting rainfed annual crops is crossed by gullies. The construction of check dams is necessary to control erosion and capture nutrients, silt and moisture. Either living or dead material can be used for the construction of check dams. Further, check dams should be reinforced by planting bushes and trees alongside the gullies. As the gullies normally originate above the planned plot, this area has to be considered as well. For living material, it is recommended to plant fruit trees and bushes. Investing in gully plugging and check dams is rewarding since it can generate some yield and income in the future. However, living material also attracts livestock; hence the area might need to be fenced.
Enabling factors
- This technique does not require specific skills and is low in terms of costs, as long as building materials are available locally and the farmers are willing to contribute with their labor force.
- Shrubs, bushes and trees of local species as cherry plum, hawthorn, barberry, cherry silverberry etccan be planted for gully plugging which aside from preventing erosion will also yield edible fruits and produce firewood.
- Gully plugging, and check dams reduce the risk of mudflows and potential floodings further downhill.
Lesson learned
- This technique is relatively labor-intensive to set-up and maintain and while not providing immediate benefits, therefore, farmers have to be convinced by the benefits.
- Frequently one farmer family alone is not able to plug a gully, therefore, a collaboration of owners of neighboring fields might be required.
No-tillage
The traditional technique of soil cultivation in Tajikistan using a plough or a disc for breaking and turning the soil's surface leads to a loss of fertility by the destruction of organic matter, reduced capacity for water retention and soil erosion, especially on slope areas. Therefore, soil cultivation within fields of rainfed annual crops should be limited to a minimum. In order to prevent the negative effects of the traditional cultivation methods, farmers are encouraged to apply the no-tillage or low tillage techniques. When applying the no-tillage technique, the soil is not disturbed as only a small slot is opened for collocating seeds and eventually fertilizer. When applying the low-tillage technique, the soil is cultivated superficially with discs but not turned at all as it occurs by ploughing. Both techniques can be applied by using a single axle (two-wheel hillside) tractors which are promoted by the project. No-tillage or low tillage must be carried out along contour lines on slope areas.
Enabling factors
- Preparing the field with no-tillage or low tillage technique costs less than ploughing as less fuel is required.
- The no-tillage technique increases the content of organic matter in the soil, thus fertility, water infiltration and retention capacity.
- Less seeds are required as these are collocated directly on the spot and not broadcasted as in the traditional technique.
- The infestation by diseases is reduced as the plants are in line and the wind can blow better through the stand and dry the leaves after rain or dewfall.
Lesson learned
Nevertheless, the no-tillage technique requires specialized equipment which in many cases is still not available in the country, positive experiences were seen in other projects using single axle tractors equipped with no-tillage gear. For a better result and safety, the single axle tractor should be driven by an experienced operator and the owner of the field should clear the ground from stones.
Also, it should be noted that the no-tillage technique stimulates weed growth, at least for a couple of years, until a solid mulch layer can be built up to suppress the weeds. The use of herbicides should be avoided whenever possible. Weed control during this period should instead be implemented through hand weeding or row weeding using horses, donkeys or tractors.
Water conservation measures (water harvesting through contour trenches or terraces)
In Tajikistan, precipitation varies by season. In spring, precipitation is relatively high, while in the summer months are hot and dry. Irrigation water is provided through meltwater. Depending on the type of land use and local climatic conditions, different activities on harvesting and conserving water can be undertaken for making it available for annual crops.
Water from snow and rain can be harvested by installing contour trenches alongside contour lines or terraces. The trenches should be discontinuous and shifted, following a scheme of a chessboard. The trenches should be dug with 1m width, 1.5-2m length and 0.5m depth. This method has several important benefits:
- Enables water infiltration, making it thus available for annual crops
- Prevents the water run-off
- Averts soil erosion, soil degradation, gullying and landslide
Enabling factors
- Increased water retention is especially important for cultivating rainfed annual crops as these cannot receive artificial irrigation and thus depend on the water reserves in the soil.
- Climate change entails more water stress for annual rainfed crops and thus increases pressure for implementing water harvesting and conservation measures.
Lesson learned
Many farmers do not have their own tractors and contract owners of tractors for ploughing their land. These frequently do not want to plough contour lines, alleging that the strain for the engine is higher, till the point that the axle could break. As a consequence, it is better when the owners of the fields acquire single axle tractors by themselves or as a group for installing contour lines or terraces in their fields.
Impacts
Adapted rain-fed annual crops have a strong impact on soil fertility, improved by contour ploughing and cultivating diversified crop varieties as well as through crop rotation. This is also essential for the productivity and water-holding capacity of the soil that in turn will lead to a stable harvest and food and nutrition security.
Land degradation is halted and traditional, local varieties of annual crops are conserved and promoted.
The cultivation of barren lands ensures a positive economic impact by providing additional income and work opportunities.
Moreover, the biological diversity of plants and insects is significantly improved by applying measures of Integrated Pest Management and the natural stone walls and natural/living fences used for controlling erosion and harvesting water, offer habitat and hiding places to insects and other pollinators.
Beneficiaries
Farmers who are eager to diversify rainfed fields by cultivating local varieties adapted to climate conditions.
Story
Sa’dullo Hojiev sharing about rediscovery of lentils, Mazor, Rasht.
WHH
The remote Rasht valley located at the Kyrgyz border can look back on a long history of fruit tree cultivation. Recently, the farmers of Jafr and Mazar watersheds are rediscovering their heritage of farming practices in the framework of our project on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services in Agrarian Landscapes. Relying on still existing knowledge and experience in the communities, they revive not only old local varieties of fruits species but vegetables and cereals as well. The taste of pulses like lentils, which are rarely grown nowadays, brings back long-forgotten memories. Sa’dullo Hojiev was the first among the farmers in Mazar Watershed who dared to plant an old local variety again. Presenting his plot he tells about his rediscovery of lentils: ‟We did not use them anymore in a long time and were just about to forget them, but then we realized, they are actually very tasty!" For this attempt, he earned the well-deserved thanks and admiration of all the visitors. While the farmers reintroduce and preserve traditional seed, they try to grow innovative food crops as well. Very soon also the smell of freshly-baked rye loaf will evoke reminiscences of past times among the farmers and their families. On their rediscovery, they not only develop precious resources that can provide food and livelihoods for their families, but they also sustain their communities' essential relationship to their unique agricultural landscape.
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Local Partner Organization
Public Organization "IPD"
Local Partner Organization
Public Organization "Rushnoi"
