How do you design water harvesting structures for different soil types?

Designing water harvesting structures tailored to different soil types is essential for effective water management. Here are some considerations and techniques: - Contour Trenching and Bunding for well-drained soils. - Rock and Ground Catchments for rocky or stony soils. - Percolation Tanks for low-level wastelands or small drains. - Farm Ponds for most types of soil. - Terracing for erodible soils. - Purposeful Design Criteria: - Consider factors like rainfall intensity, catchment area, and duration of dry spells. - Adapt the structure design based on soil texture, slope, and local conditions.

Create water harvesting systems for various soil types by first conducting soil testing to determine permeability and infiltration rates. Depending on soil qualities, use appropriate harvesting techniques such as contour bunds, swales or check dams. To maximise water retention and reduce runoff, adjust the structure's proportions and placement. Implement erosion control methods to prevent soil degradation. Structures should be monitored and maintained on a regular basis to ensure their effectiveness. This adaptive technique allows efficient water management in a variety of soil conditions, hence promoting sustainable land use practices.

Contour bunds are narrow trapezoidal embankments made on impound runoff water behind them, allowing infiltration into the soil profile for crop use Contour bounds store runoff in agricultural fields, increase soil moisture, and recharge groundwater Constructed where soil is permeable, rainfall is less 800mm, and slope is less than 6% Based on soil texture, slope, and annual rainfall Stable side slopes are designed Similar to contour bunds but constructed across the slope Reduces surface runoff, checks soil erosion, and promotes infiltration Small Percolation Tanks Collect runoff water Farm Ponds Excavated ponds to store rainwater Works well in various soil types Natural Depressions Utilize existing depressions or lakes for water storage

Increasing the organic content of sandy soil can enhance its water retention capacity. This can be achieved by adding compost or other organic materials. Designing an efficient irrigation system (like drip irrigation) can optimize water use, particularly important in sandy soils.

En effet chaque type de sol a ses spécificités et chaque ouvrage de collecte d'eau satisfait un objectif. Je pense que l'approche a prendre c'est de conna?tre l'objectif de la collecte d'eau ( irrigation, drainage, point d'eau pour le bétail, etc) et après faire des études de sol ( perméabilité, texture,etc) afin de dimensionner l'ouvrage qui y correspond.

In areas with high clay content, creating raised beds or ridges for planting can help improve drainage. Constructing ponds or reservoirs for storing excess water is beneficial, especially in areas with high rainfall.

d'après mon expérience, la meilleure méthode de collecte d'eau pour les type de sols surtout limoneux est la combinaison de d'élément filtrant organique à savoir les haies vives et de tuyauteries en PCV le tout disposées perpendiculairement au sens d'écoulement de l'eau

Terraces are one of the most common surface water management structures in rocky soils. Terraces with dry stone risers (i.e. the vertical part of a terrace) allow the collection of excess stones and provide locally sourced building material for water management structures.

To design water harvesting structures in rocky soil, the process involves assessing the soil and rock characteristics, identifying natural water flow paths and accumulation points, selecting appropriate techniques such as rock catchments, check dams, gabion structures, and French drains, preparing the site by clearing vegetation and debris, constructing the structures using suitable materials and techniques, optimizing water storage and infiltration through features like lined rock basins and underground cisterns, implementing erosion control measures and vegetation planting, and monitoring and maintaining the structures to ensure their continued effectiveness in capturing and utilizing water in rocky terrain.

Water can be planted! In Syntropic Farming, it involves creating a resilient system that efficiently manages water through biodiversity and strategic pruning. It uses a mix of plant species that enhance soil's water-holding capacity & increase transpiration, maintaining moisture balance. Drastic pruning revitalizes nutrient cycling and root growth, further improving water absorption & retention in the soil. Research on Ernst G?tsch's farm demonstrates that Syntropic systems excel in soil water retention, making them effective in climate change mitigation. This approach ensures the farming system is robust against droughts and heavy rains, integrating water management into the ecosystem for sustainable agriculture and ecosystem restoration.

~10000 years ago our ancestors started agriculture by seeing what grew in which soil type, this Indigenous Technology Knowledge was inherited from generation to generation. So first learn from native farmers what crops and varieties are suitable in respective soil types then move to intercropping (2 or more crops in same crop season) with zero/ less tillage to protect micro-agroecologies that not only conserve the evapotranspiration while such pre/ probiotic microflora will enhance the capacity of cultivated crops for more uptake of micro/ macronutrients. This whole model will not only harvest water but also add additional nutrients compared to conventional farming.

In a project with clayey soils, we created infiltration basins to capture and store runoff. These basins allowed water to slowly infiltrate, recharging the groundwater and reducing surface water accumulation. Infiltration basins are effective for enhancing groundwater recharge in low permeability soils. Research by the Journal of Hydrologic Engineering shows that these structures can improve infiltration and reduce runoff. Infiltration basins are large, shallow depressions designed to capture and hold runoff, allowing it to infiltrate gradually. They are particularly suitable for areas with low permeability soils, such as clay. The design includes a flat bottom and gently sloping sides to maximise surface area for infiltration.

I'll add on what Christian Fu Miller said above. Start by enriching the soil with carbon, but ensure you maintain its physical structure. This can be achieved by using techniques like Hugelkultur, where dead barks and leaves are covered lightly with soil and allowed to decompose, trapping moisture. For effective water management, construct trenches or barriers to capture runoff, and encourage the growth of grasses and reeds in waterlogged areas. Incorporate a gravity-fed drip irrigation system, optimized with moisture sensors, for efficient watering. When selecting plants, consider Fukuoka's seed casting for a natural, till-free approach, or syntropic farming for a diverse, symbiotic plant environment.

Soil type is crucial to the design and definition of the size and spatial configuration of water harvesting structures. However, water harvesting structures are first and foremost tools for agricultural systems. As such, their design should also take into account needs and capabilities of the farmers for the successive maintenance of the structures. This perspective poses a major challenge. While the distribution and processes of soil and other resources follow biophysical rules, the consideration of farmers and other actors requires the consideration of land tenure and similar constraints. In summary, the design of water harvesting structures within an agricultural system needs to combine soil types and local socio-technical constraints.