Water harvesting cum soil erosion system: an instrument in transforming subsistence to sustainable farming
2014
Castro, R.C. | Rarangol, R.A.A. | Maloom, J.M.
Water scarcity and land degradation are the main reasons why most upland farms become unsustainable. To make them sustainable and realize their potential in contributing to food self-sufficiency and in providing enough income to farmers, appropriate water harvesting and soil, and water conservation technologies must be developed. This study aims to develop a rainwater harvesting system appropriate for small upland farms which can also minimize soil erosion. The system incorporates both water harvesting and soil conservation features. It is a modular system with each module enough to irrigate 40 sq m during the dry season. It is composed of a 10 m collection canal and a 200 li capacity plastic drum. If two dry season crops is planned, the number of storage tanks should be doubled. Similarly, if the area to be irrigated is doubled to 80 sq m, then two 200 li capacity tank is needed. This module can be further expanded depending on the area of the farm. The system was established in an area with slope 11.5 to 17.5 degrees. Distribution of the harvested water is fully regulated through in expensive PVC pipes using gravity. In relatively flat areas, the treadle pump is used. The system not only harvest rainwater but also helps minimize soil erosion because the collection canals reduce the length of water runoff flow and also serve as contour bunds. The water storage tanks are below the ground to minimize evaporation losses and competition with the crops for area. Soil erosion is greatly minimized. While previous studies in Leyte observed erosion of 490 t/ha/yr, eroded soil using the system was only 32.84 t/ha/yr at the steepest slope. Further, the eroded soil is collected in the canal and can be put back to the field.
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