This publication from ResAlliance describes how, zai, a simple and low-cost method could restore degraded lands in the Mediterranean.
The term zai refers to a simple yet effective technique where farmers dig pits in highly degraded and crusted drylands to capture water and nutrients and progressively restore the land for forestry or agriculture. This technique originates in the Sahel. Zai combines efficient water and nutrient management practices into a technique that can be used to restore degraded land, needs little external inputs, bears very low costs and requires no extra knowledge or technology, making it easily accessible to and manageable by small and poor farmers.
Download this resource: https://ugent-dict-farmbook-prd.s3.ugent.be/knowledge-object-prd/c03c85223df23c6ae11b977dc3de8cc7