Top 5 Techniques Used for Harvesting Water

This article throws light upon the top five techniques used for harvesting water. The techniques are: 1. Micro Watersheds 2. Lister Furrow 3. Construction of Furrow and Ridges 4. Construction of Level and Sloping Strips in the Field 5. Collection of Rain Water in Ponds and Reservoirs.

Technique # 1. Micro Watersheds:

Cropping systems have been developed in which run-off water from parts of a field are concentrated in strips in which crops are planted. The crop is sown in narrow strips between wide intervals that are ridged (sloped both sides) as artificial miniature watersheds.

These micro-watersheds are compacted to increase run-off of water to the crop rows. The relative width of the water-shedding strips and of the crop producing strips depend on the amount of annual rainfall [See figure 23.10(a) and 23.10(b)].

Technique # 2. Lister Furrow:

Lister furrows on cultivated land retain water for a short period only (Fig. 23.11). The crop can be grown in the furrows. Lister furrows may be used in clay or loam soil (except on the sandy soil).

Technique # 3. Construction of Furrow and Ridges:

In this method water is conserved in the furrows. The crops grow in the furrow or on the ridge depending upon the quantity of rainfall. If rainfall is very low seed should be sown in the furrows and if the rainfall is not very low then the crops are grown on the ridges.

Technique # 4. Construction of Level and Sloping Strips in the Field:

This water harvest technique was developed at Punjab Agricultural University. Eight metre wide strips are chosen for this technique. Four-metre land is made levelled in which crop is grown and 2 metre wide compact slopes are made each side of the 4-metre wide level strip. Rain water is accumulated in the level strips where crops can be grown (Fig 23.12). This method may be practiced in arid areas.

Technique # 5. Collection of Rain Water in Ponds and Reservoirs:

The rain water can be stored in tanks or reservoirs constructed on wasteland etc. When large areas of low-cost land are available, land clearing and land shaping may increase run-off greatly and may be utilized for irrigation and other purposes also (Fig. 23.13).