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TECA - Technologies and Practices for Small Agricultural Producers

Date: 6/29/2023 - Path: https://teca.apps.fao.org/teca/en/technologies/7717

Title: Slope agriculture land technology (SALT)

Id number: 7717
Source: FAO Strategic Objective 5 – Resilience, in FAO
Language: English
Date of Publication: October 2013
Date of Revision: December 2020
Sloping land, Conservation agriculture, Farming, Eroded soil, Rain water management, Terracing, Alley
Keywords:
cropping, Labour-saving technologies
Categories: Natural Resources Management
Country: Nepal
Region: Southern Asia

Related SDGs:

Summary
The objective of implementing the slope agriculture land technology (SALT) is to stabilize the slope and improve the terrace or the contours in
order to control soil erosion along the slopes and improve soil fertility. This practice describes how to implement the SALT method.

Description
1. Slope Agriculture Land Technology (SALT)
Overall characteristics of the SALT system include:

applicable to at least 50 percent of hillside farms; 

easily replicable;
culturally acceptable; 
with a focus on small family farms and food production; 
minimal labour; and
economically feasible and ecologically sound.

1.1 Advantages of SALT

SALT has many advantages over conventional terrace farming.

It enables farmers to stabilize and enrich the soil and to grow food crops.
Top soil stores plant nutrients and moisture essential to productive agriculture, therefore it is essential to protect the land from soil
erosion.
The sloping agricultural land technology (SALT) may turn a sloping parcel into a highly productive upland farm, as these technologies:
stabilize the slope and improve the terrace or the contours in order to control soil erosion along the slopes, improving soil fertility
and increasing the availability of fodders during the dry season.

2. Implementation of the technology

To implement the SALT method, ten main steps need to be followed.

2.1 First step: making the A-frame

In SALT, the first step is to locate the contour lines of the field. The A-frame is a simple, yet effective tool for laying out contour lines across the
slope. It is made of a spirit level and a three wooden or bamboo poles (two should be about one meter long each and one about one-half meter
long) nailed or tied together in the shape of a capital letter A with a base of about 90 cm.

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The spirit level is mounted on the crossbar.

Tie together the upper ends of the longer poles. 
Let the lower ends of the legs stand on level ground, spread the legs about one meter apart to form a perfect angle.
Brace horizontally the shorter pole to become a crossbar between the two legs.
Tie the carpenter’s level on top of the crossbar.
Use the A-frame to find the contour lines of the land. The contour line is a level line from one end of the field to the other and is found
around the hill or mountain (Figure 1).

Figure 1. First step: making the A-frame

©FAO/TECA

1.2 Second step: contour lines

Finding the contour line
Two people will make the work easier and faster.
One will operate the A‑frame while the other marks the located contour lines with stakes.
Make a study of the area for which contour lines are to be determined.
Begin marking contour lines near the highest point.
Let the A‑frame stand on the ground. Without moving the rear leg, lift the front leg.
Then put the front leg down on the ground that is on the same level with the rear leg.
The two legs of the A-frame are on the same level when the air space in the carpenter’s level stops in the middle. When this
happens, it means that the contour line was identified.
Mark with a stake the spot where the rear leg stands (Figure 2). 
Length of contour lines
Move the A‑frame forward by placing the rear leg on the spot where the front leg stood before.
Adjust the front leg again until it levels with the rear leg.
For every two to three meters of contour line, mark it with a stake, Follow this procedure through the entire length of the contour
line.
Try to locate as many contour lines as possible.
Two criteria for determining the distance between contour lines. Vertical drop and surface distance.
Generally, no more than a 1 m vertical drop is desirable for effective erosion control.
Therefore, the steeper the slope, the closer the contour hedgerows.
Conversely, the flatter the slope, the wider the spacing of hedges. However, on the flatter slopes, it is recommended that contour
hedgerows be spaced no farther apart than 5 m in order to maximize the benefits of the nitrogen-fixing trees/shrubs on soil fertility
management.
In determining a 1 m vertical drop, the “eye‑hand” method is a simple procedure to use. If using a transit or home-made transit, the
1 m vertical drop can be obtained very quickly.

Figure 2. Second step: locating the contour lines 

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1.3 Third step: contour line preparation

After you have found and marked the contour lines, prepare them by ploughing and harrowing until ready for planting.
The width of each area to be prepared should be 1 m.
The stakes will serve as your guide during ploughing (Figure 3).

Figure 3. Third step: preparing the contour lines

©FAO/TECA

1.4 Fourth step: nitrogen-fixing trees and shrubs

Plant seeds of nitrogen-fixing trees and shrubs
On each prepared contour line, make two furrows at a distance of half a meter apart.
Sow the seeds in each furrow to allow for a good, thick stand of seedlings.
Cover the seeds lightly and firmly with the soil (Figure 4).
Nitrogen-fixing trees that grow in poor soils and in areas with long dry seasons restore forest cover to watersheds, slopes and other
lands that have been denuded of trees.
Through natural leaf drop, they enrich and fertilize the soil. In addition, they compete vigorously with coarse grasses, a common
feature of many degraded areas that have been deforested or depleted by excessive agriculture. 
Nitrogen-fixing trees and shrubs (NFTS) for the mid-hill area of Nepal
Flemingia macrophylla, Desmodium rensonii, Gliricidia sepium, and Calliandra calothyrsus are the best examples of nitrogen-fixing
trees for hedgerows on the SALT farm.
Other examples of nitrogen-fixing trees and shrubs (NFTS) which may be suitable for SALT hedgerows are Indigofera tyesmane,
Calliandra tetragona, Leucaena luecocephala, and Leucaena diversifolia.
The members of the Cassia genus such as spectabilis and siamea are not mentioned here because of their doubtful fixing on
nitrogen.
Remember, you must select the species that grows best in your climate and particular soils.

Figure 4. Fourth step: plant seed of nitrogen-fixing trees and shrubs

©FAO/TECA

1.5 Fifth step: cultivate alternate strips

A strip is the space of land between the thick rows of nitrogen-fixing trees where crops are planted, also called alleyways or avenues.
If soil is prepared before the NFTS are fully grown, it should be done on alternate strips, so as to prevent erosion because the
unploughed strips will hold the soil in place.
Once NFTS are fully grown, cultivation on every strip is possible (Figure 5).

Figure 5. Fifth step: cultivate alternate strips

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1.6 Sixth step: permanent crops

Plant permanent crops
These crops need to be planted every third strip, and they may be planted at the same time the seeds of nitrogen-fixing trees are
sown.
Only the spots for planting are cleared and dug; later, only ring weeding is employed until the NFTS are large enough to hold the
soil so full cultivation can begin (Figure 6). 
Examples of permanent crops
Durian, ianzones, rambutan, coffee, banana, citrus, cacao, and others of the same height are good examples of permanent crops.
Tall crops are planted at the bottom of the hill while the short ones are planted at the top.
Shade-tolerant permanent crops can be intercropped with the tall crops.
Crop selection should be based on climatic conditions and local preference.

Figure 6. Sixth step: plant crops

©FAO/TECA

1.7 Seventh step: short- and medium-term crops 

Plant short- and medium-term crops
These income-producing crops may be planted between strips of and among permanent crops.
They are sources of food and regular income while waiting for the permanent crops to bear fruits (Figure 7).
Examples of short-term crops
Suggested short and medium-term crops are pineapple, ginger, gabi, castor bean, camote, peanut, mung bean, melon, sorghum,
corn, upland rice, etc.
To avoid shading, short plants are planted away from tall ones. Crop selection should be based on climatic conditions and local
preference.

Figure 7. Seventh step: plant short term crops

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1.8 Eighth step: nitrogen-fixing trees/ shrub trimming

NFTS are cut down to a height between 1 m to 1.5 m from the ground.
Leaves and twigs are cut and piled at the base of the crops, to serve as soil cover to minimize the impact of the raindrop on the bare soil,
as well as acting as an organic fertilizer for both permanent and short-term crops.
In this way, only a minimal amount of commercial fertilizer (about a quarter of the total fertilizer requirements) is necessary (Figure 8).

Figure 8. Eight step: trim regularly nitrogen-fixing trees and shrubs

©FAO/TECA

1.9 Ninth step: crop rotation

A good way of rotating is to plant grains (corn, upland rice, sorghum, etc.), tubers (camote, cassava, gabi, etc.) and other crops
(pineapple, castor bean, etc.) on strips where legumes (mung bean, bush sitao, peanut, etc.) were planted previously and vice versa.
This practice will help maintain the fertility and good condition of your soil.
Other management practices in crop growing like weeding and pest and insect control should be done regularly (Figure 9).

Figure 9. Ninth step: practice crop rotation

©FAO/TECA

1.10 Tenth step: green terrace building

To control erosion, keep gathering and piling up straw, stalks, twigs, branches, leaves, rocks, and stones at the base of the rows of
nitrogen-fixing trees.
By doing this regularly and as the years go by, strong, sustainable, naturally green and beautiful terraces will form as reliably
anchors for the soil (Figure 10).

Figure 10. Tenth step: build green terraces

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2. Technical, economic, financial, social and environmental attributes of the technology

Controls soil erosion and fertility loss. 
Increases efficiency of farm inputs use.
Stabilizes slope and terraces over time.

3. Minimum requirements for the successful implementation of the practice

Adoption of hedge-row contour technology and allay cropping.
Plantation of fodders, fruits, forages and crops.
Maintenance of soil fertility and conservation of soil erosion will help in keeping a sustainable crop production and enhance the resilience
of farmers against natural hazards derived from heavy rainfall and flooding.

4. Agro-ecological zones
Subtropics, warm/mod cool; and
temperate, cool.

5. Related/associated technologies
Community-based landslide treatment: ID 7710.

6. Objectives fulfilled by the project

6.1 Resource use efficiency
Improved use of land by using hillside farms. Stabilizes and enriches the soil for crop production.

6.2 Pro-poor technology

Easily replicable with minimal labour and with a focus on small family farms. Ensures sustainable food production, is economically feasible and
does not negatively impact the environment.

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