Professional Documents
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What is water harvesting ? What are the benefits of water harvesting ? What are the limitations of water harvesting ? For which areas is water harvesting suitable ?
to be directly conveyed to a cropping area and stored in the soil profile for immediate uptake by the crops (i.e. runoff farming systems) or
1.
The principle
Run-on area = cropping area
or storage media Runoff area = catchment area
domestic consumption
aquaculture
To secure water supply in dry areas where other water resources (surface water or ground water) are not available or are uneconomical to develop, in order to:
increase
the productivity of arable and grazing land which suffers from inadequate rainfall
increase yields of rainfed farming minimize the risk of crop failure in drought- prone areas desertification by afforestation, fruit tree planting or agroforestry
combat
Water Harvesting
Run-on area water Runoff area (catchment) water
Storage media
Unit 1 Introduction
Storage media
Irrigated crops
Annual crops / trees / pasture
water
Floodwater harvesting
Macrocatchment
Catchment area
Roof tops
Water Harvesting for Improved Agricultural Production Unit 1 Introduction
Catchment area
Small ground surfaces
Water Harvesting for Improved Agricultural Production Unit 1 Introduction
untreated treated
Catchment area
Slopes
Water Harvesting for Improved Agricultural Production Unit 1 Introduction
untreated treated
Catchment area
Large, untreated catchment areas which feed seasonal water courses
Water Harvesting for Improved Agricultural Production Unit 1 Introduction
Catchment areas
Water Harvesting for Improved Agricultural Production
Roof tops Courtyards, streets, public squares Small ground surfaces untreated treated
Slopes
Unit 1 Introduction
untreated treated
Storage media
Underground storage
Water Harvesting for Improved Agricultural Production Unit 1 Introduction
Soil Sediments
Storage media
Underground storage
Cisterns
Storage media
Storage above ground
Storage media
Storage above ground
Ponds
Storage media
Storage above ground
Reservoirs
Storage media
Water Harvesting for Improved Agricultural Production
Underground storage
Soil
Sediments Cisterns
Unit 1 Introduction
Higher productivity (higher yields and less risk) Crop production in areas where it is normally not feasible Soil conservation (for macrocatchments on cropping area only) = less soil erosion
WATER HARVESTING
Arid, semi-arid and semi-humid areas Where water demand of crops is higher than supply because of
Where rainfall exceeds 150 mm /year, if rain falls in the cool season Where rainfall exceeds 200 mm /year, if rain falls in the hot season and if no storage in ponds or reservoirs is provided
America
Unit 1 Introduction
Jordan (since 7000 BC) Mesopotamia (4500 BC) Palestine (2000 BC-1200 AD) Yemen (since 1000 BC) Pakistan India Sri Lanka China
Africa
Tunisia: `Meskats, Mgoud and `Jessours Somalia: `Caag and `Gawan systems Sudan: `Haffire, `Teras etc. Burkina Faso: Pits
Niger, Ader Doutchi Maggia area (Haussa): rock bunds, stalks and earth for water diversion in fields Burkina Faso (Mossi): rock bunds and stone terraces Mali : stone constructions, macrocatchments
WH well documented
Syria Jordan Saudi Arabia India Oman Yemen Iran China
Afghanistan
Pakistan
Other countries
WH well documented
China
India
Myanmar
Thailand Cambodia
Other countries
Summary
Water harvesting
Water Harvesting for Improved Agricultural Production Unit 1 Introduction
Is the collection and concentration of runoff water Can produce crops in areas with insufficient rain Can improve pasture and crop yield Is suited for arid, semi-arid and semi-humid regions Has positive side effects on: water and soil conservation Consists of a runoff area and a run-on area