Difference between revisions of "How to Start Culture in Zai Holes"

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*'''Competencies:'''
 
*'''Competencies:'''
 
*'''How Many people?'''
 
*'''How Many people?'''
−
*'''How Long does it take?''' approx. 300 up to 450 hours per hectare digging  the zai, 150 hours per hectare filling up with manure.
+
*'''How Long does it take?''' Approx. 300 up to 450 hours per hectare digging  the zai, 150 hours per hectare filling up with manure.
−
*'''Other Names''' planting pits, tassa
+
*'''Other Names:''' Planting pits, tassa
  
 
==Description==
 
==Description==
−
Mali and Burkina Faso's Farmers apply the Zaï technique to recover crusted land in semi-arid regions.
+
[[File:WA-pit-300.jpg|500px]][[File:ZaiGrowth.jpg|500px]]<br>
 +
Mali and Burkina Faso's Farmers apply the Zai technique to recover crusted land in semi-arid regions. <br>
  
−
Zaï is a hole, a planting pit with a diameter of 20-40 cm and a depth of 10-20 cm - the dimensions vary according to the type of soil.  
+
Zai is a hole, a planting pit with a diameter of 20-40 cm and a depth of 10-20 cm - the dimensions vary according to the type of soil.  
−
Pits are dug during the dry season from November until May and the number of Zaï pits per hectare varies from 12,000 to 25,000.(The number of zaï per hectare and their dimensions determine how much water they harvest. The bigger the number and the smaller their size, the less water they harvest.)The excavated earth is ridged around the demi-circle to improve the water retention capacity of the pit.
+
Pits are dug during the dry season from November until May and the number of Zai pits per hectare varies from 12,000 to 25,000.(The number of zai per hectare and their dimensions determine how much water they harvest. The bigger the number and the smaller their size, the less water they each harvest.)The excavated earth is ridged around the demi-circle to improve the water retention capacity of the pit.
  
 
After digging the pits, composted organic matter is added at an average, recommended rate of 0.6 kg/pit and, after the first rainfall, the matter is covered with a thin layer of soil and the seeds placed in the middle of the pit.
 
After digging the pits, composted organic matter is added at an average, recommended rate of 0.6 kg/pit and, after the first rainfall, the matter is covered with a thin layer of soil and the seeds placed in the middle of the pit.
  
−
Zaï fulfils three functions: soil and water conservation and erosion control for encrusted soils.
+
Zai fulfils three functions: soil and water conservation and erosion control for encrusted soils.
−
The advantages of Zaï are that it :  
+
The advantages of Zai are that it :  
  
−
(i) captures rain and surface/ run-off water;  
+
*captures rain and surface/ run-off water;  
 +
*protects seeds and organic matter against being washed away;
 +
*concentrates nutrient and water availability at the beginning of the rainy season;
 +
*increases yields; and
 +
*Reactivates biological activities in the soil and eventually leads to an improvement in soil structure.
 +
*The manure applied to the pits contains seeds of trees or bushes. This helps the regeneration of the vegetation on fields treated with pits.
  
−
(ii) protects seeds and organic matter against being washed away;
+
The application of the Zai technique can reportedly increase production by up to 500% if properly executed.
−
 
 
−
(iii) concentrates nutrient and water availability at the beginning of the rainy season;
 
−
 
 
−
(iv) increases yields; and
 
−
 
 
−
(v) Reactivates biological activities in the soil and eventually leads to an improvement in soil structure.
 
−
 
 
−
(vi)The manure applied to the pits contains seeds of trees or bushes. This helps the regeneration of the vegetation on fields treated with pits.
 
−
 
 
−
The application of the Zaï technique can reportedly increase production by about 500% if properly executed.
 
  
 
==Difficulties==
 
==Difficulties==
−
High labour to dig the zai holes ( between 300h/hectare and 450h/hectare)
+
*High labour to dig the zai holes ( between 300 and 450 hours/hectare)
−
High maintenance labour (in soils with a high clay or
+
*High maintenance labour (in soils with a high clay or gravel portion, pits require less maintenance than pits dug in sandier soils.)
−
gravel portion, pits require less maintenance than pits dug in sandier soils.)
+
*No mechanization possible.  
−
No mechanization possible.  
+
*The pits should be dug during the dry season.
−
The pits should be dug during the dry season.
+
*Size and position are important.
−
Size is important.
+
*Composted organic material should be used, not raw organic material.
−
Composted organic material should be used, not raw organic material.
 
  
 
==Success Story==
 
==Success Story==
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==Related articles==
 
==Related articles==
 +
*[[How to Use the Porous Clay Pots and Pipes System]]
 +
*[[How to Start Composting]]
 +
*[[How to Fight Soil Erosion by planting Vetiver Grass]]
 +
 +
=='''Categories'''==
 +
[[Category:Stub]]
 +
[[Category:Agriculture]] [[Category:Community]] [[Category:Composting]] [[Category:Fertilizer]] [[Category:Fruits]] [[Category:Ideas]] [[Category:Resource Management]] [[Category:Soil]] [[Category:Run-Off]]  [[Category:Tree]] [[Category:Irrigation]] [[Category:Biodiversity]] [[Category:Water harvesting]] 
 +
[[Category:Easy to Medium]]
 +
 +
[[Category:Global Technology]] [[Category:Arid Climate]] [[Category:Monsoon Climate]] [[Category:Rainy season]] [[Category:Montaneous Environment]] [[Category:Rural Environment]]
 +
[[Category:Clay]] [[Category:Charcoal]] [[Category:Compost]]  [[Category:Cow dung]] [[Category:Manure]] [[Category:Seeds]] [[Category:Seedlings]] [[Category:Straw]]  [[Category:One Person and more]]
 +
[[Category:Household]] [[Category:Village]][[Category:Neighbourhood]]
 +
[[Category:Application]]
 +
[[Category:Howtopedia requested drawings]] [[Category:Howtopedia requested images]]
 +
 +
 +
[[Category:Requested translation to Spanish]]
 +
  
−
=='''Categories:'''==
+
[[fr:Principes de la culture en Zai pour les climats arides]]
−
[[Category:Example]]
+
[[en:How to Start Culture in Zai Holes]]
−
[[Category:Arid Climate]]
 
−
[[Category:Wate]] [[Category:Agriculture]] [[Category:Soil]]  [[Category:Ideas]]  
 
−
[[Category:Plastic container]]
 

Latest revision as of 15:15, 7 June 2010

This article is a draft. It was just started and needs further work.


Short Description

  • Problem: Crusted land in arid regions, soil fertility, soil conservation, water conservation
  • Idea: Planting crop in small holes enriched with compost
  • Difficulty: Medium
  • Price Range:
  • Material Needeed: Digging material, Compost
  • Geographic Area: Arid areas
  • Competencies:
  • How Many people?
  • How Long does it take? Approx. 300 up to 450 hours per hectare digging the zai, 150 hours per hectare filling up with manure.
  • Other Names: Planting pits, tassa

Description

WA-pit-300.jpgZaiGrowth.jpg
Mali and Burkina Faso's Farmers apply the Zai technique to recover crusted land in semi-arid regions.

Zai is a hole, a planting pit with a diameter of 20-40 cm and a depth of 10-20 cm - the dimensions vary according to the type of soil. Pits are dug during the dry season from November until May and the number of Zai pits per hectare varies from 12,000 to 25,000.(The number of zai per hectare and their dimensions determine how much water they harvest. The bigger the number and the smaller their size, the less water they each harvest.)The excavated earth is ridged around the demi-circle to improve the water retention capacity of the pit.

After digging the pits, composted organic matter is added at an average, recommended rate of 0.6 kg/pit and, after the first rainfall, the matter is covered with a thin layer of soil and the seeds placed in the middle of the pit.

Zai fulfils three functions: soil and water conservation and erosion control for encrusted soils. The advantages of Zai are that it :

  • captures rain and surface/ run-off water;
  • protects seeds and organic matter against being washed away;
  • concentrates nutrient and water availability at the beginning of the rainy season;
  • increases yields; and
  • Reactivates biological activities in the soil and eventually leads to an improvement in soil structure.
  • The manure applied to the pits contains seeds of trees or bushes. This helps the regeneration of the vegetation on fields treated with pits.

The application of the Zai technique can reportedly increase production by up to 500% if properly executed.

Difficulties

  • High labour to dig the zai holes ( between 300 and 450 hours/hectare)
  • High maintenance labour (in soils with a high clay or gravel portion, pits require less maintenance than pits dug in sandier soils.)
  • No mechanization possible.
  • The pits should be dug during the dry season.
  • Size and position are important.
  • Composted organic material should be used, not raw organic material.

Success Story

Plans, Illustrations, Posters

Contacts

Links

http://www.ifpri.org/divs/eptd/dp/eptdp114.htm

http://www.worldbank.org/afr/ik/iknt80.htm

Bibliography

Related articles

Categories

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