Water harvesting: experimental results and conclusions |
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In the Guadalentín basin in south-eastern Spain, land degradation is considered severe due to a combination of several factors. The semi-arid climate has dry summers followed by intense autumn rainfall, while there is a steep topography and fragile soils. Desertification takes the form of soil erosion and drought. Moreover, considerable land use changes have taken place over the last centuries, which is an important driving force for further degradation in the area. A more efficient way of harvesting rain water might contribute to better yields while at the same time reducing surface runoff and erosion.
The boquera and control fields were ploughed 3-5 times per year, whereas the field with straw mulch was ploughed only twice a year. The experiment was established in 2008 and data on soil moisture content, inflow amount of water and almond crop harvests were recorded as from 2009 until 2011.
The results are evaluated from a production, socio-cultural and economic point of view. The bars express the estimated or measured percentage of change with respect to the reference situation. This change can be positive (blue) or negative (red). Note that this evaluation is based on the experiments, on the long term experience of the coordinating team in this area and on consultations with the farmers.
3. Mulching is not profitable compared to conventional cultivation practices since it does not increase the yield. Moreover the farmers consider the land not tidy when mulching is applied. As a third disadvantage the mulch would have to be purchased or collected from surrounding natural vegetation, which would then mean increased labour. In both cases this has negative economic consequences.
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Study sites

Acknowledgement
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The DESIRE project was
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Contract no: 037046 GOCE
DESIRE brought together the expertise of
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