{"id":11571,"date":"2020-07-03T08:02:36","date_gmt":"2020-07-03T08:02:36","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.greenpeace.org\/africa\/?p=11571"},"modified":"2021-12-01T12:42:59","modified_gmt":"2021-12-01T12:42:59","slug":"how-to-guide-4-water-conservation","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.greenpeace.org\/africa\/en\/blogs\/11571\/how-to-guide-4-water-conservation\/","title":{"rendered":"HOW TO GUIDE 4: Water conservation"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Learning objectives of this guide<\/h3>\n\n

\u2022 To understand how to increase the amount of water stored in the soil<\/p>\n\n

Learning outcomes<\/h3>\n\n

\u2022 This how to guide on water conservation will enable you to understand how to conserve the limited water received on the farm<\/p>\n\n

\u2022 This how-to guide deals with methods to increase the amount of water stored in the soil profile by trapping or holding rain where it falls, or where there is some small movement as surface run-off.<\/p>\n\n

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Click here to read How to guide 3<\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n
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The techniques described in this section all involve some re-shaping of the soil surface, and so require<\/p>\n\n

substantial inputs of energy. In many cases, it is not practical to use only hand labour, and animal-drawn implements are necessary, or tractors. Some of the methods show promise of increased crop yields so a major feature of experimental trials is the search for cheap, simple, low energy methods and machines.<\/p>\n\n

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Broad Bed and Furrow System (BBF)<\/h3>\n\n
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In a broad bed-and-furrow system, runoff water is diverted into field furrows (30 cm wide and 30 cm deep). The field furrows are blocked at the lower end. When one furrow is full, the water backs up into the head furrow and flows into the next field furrow. Between the field furrows are broad beds about 170 cm wide, where crops are grown.<\/p>\n\n