Lesson #6 On-Farm Activity:
Sustainable Water Management in Your Agroecosystem

As you learned in the previous lesson, managing water in your ecosystem is a challenging but important task. In this activity, you’ll look at your farm’s water use, your farm’s adaptations for water conservation, and the climate and weather of your agroecosystem. After, you’ll predict ways you could better conserve water or adapt to your particular water resources.

  1. Observe: Your Climate and Weather

First, you need to determine the climate and weather for your farm, and determine when your agroecosystem is water deficient or has excess water that could be harvested. Using the chart below, take notes about your region:

Measure: / Notes On Your System:
Average Total Annual RainfallUSA: and world: / The average annual rainfall in my area is 711 mm
Distribution and periodicity How is rainfall is spread throughout the year, both on average and during a specific year? i.e. are there predictable wet and dry periods? For example, Mediterranean climates are noted for their wet winters and long dry spells in summer / We have two major seasons. Dry and wet. Dry season comes between June and September, while our wet months are April through May
Availability
Does it penetrate into the root zone? Does it fall with a serious intensity (such as many inches of rain in a short time period) and lead to runoff and flooding? / Yes. The downpour is normally heavy and most of the regions experiences flooding
Predictability of rainfall
What is the degree of variability in rainfall patterns in your system? The higher the variability, the less predictable the rainfall for any particular time period is. / In the past 10 years, the rainfall pattern has been very variable. Its never predictable when and how much the rains will be received
Average Annual Temperature/
Temperature Range / The average annual temperature range is
22.3 ͦ C
  • Looking at your climate and weather information, what are some crops that would be unsuitable for your climate?

The most unsuitable crops in my region are mostly coffee, tea. The rest of the crops do very well

  • Would you say that your agroecosystem has a deficit or an excess of water? Does it vary during different times of the year?

My agroecosystem has a deficit of water and this varies between the times of the year, i.e short rainy season and long rainy season

  1. Observe: Trace Your Watershed

Create another layer of the farm map, and then look at it with water in mind. Are there any strategies or techniques for conserving water on your farm? Make note of them on your map.

Visit your farm to create another layer of the farm map. Do you notice any plants (wild or cultivated) that look like they could use more water (wilting, dry soil, etc.) or have excess water? Mark an outline of these plants on your farm map using red ink.

Do you notice any parts of your farm that seem to be subject too much sun light (with sunburn marks, slowed growth, plant damage) on the plant or other signs of heat stress? Mark an outline of these plants on your farm map using orange ink.

Do you notice any parts of your farm that seem to be too cold (stunted growth, etc)? Mark an outline of these plants on your farm map using blue ink.

  1. Interact: Your Farm’s Watering Regime

At a convenient time for your farmer (or steward of your chosen field site), talk to them about their soil moisture and temperature management plans. Proposed questions:

  • What sort of irrigation technology do you use?

I rely on the rain but I also harvest rain water to use during the dry season

  • How often do you irrigate? Make a notation on your farm map of how often they water each block.

Irrigation is done ones per week during the dry season and in specific areas only and not the whole farm

  • If used, what is the source of your irrigation water (well, city water, pond, etc.)?

Ponds

  • How does water leave your farm?

There are channels in my farm that I use to harvest rain water and they are the ones that supply water in my farm

  • What crops use the most amount of water?

Maize, bananas, sorghum and millet

  • Are there any methods in place to save water or recycle water back into the agroecosystem?

The channels that are there save water for long

  1. Analyze

Now, think back on the questions you just asked and analyze your site using what you’ve learned in this course:

  • How do you maintain balance throughout the year of your irrigation water sources?

The ponds and water channels if done well can really help my farm to save water for long and maintain balance throughout the year

  • How and where is water leaving the farm? How is that affecting the agro ecosystem?

Evaporation is normally very high during the dry spell and this is how water leaves the farm. When there is no water and it is dry, the agro ecosystem suffers a lot and especially the food crops suffers from water stress

  • What parts of the farm look stressed for water? Why do you think that is?

The upper part of the farm is slopping downwards; therefore when it rains all water is swept downwards. The Left side of the farm has shallow soils and a bit rocky and that is why it looks stressed for water

  • What methods could you use on your farm to reduce water use, conserve water on farm, or reduce evapotranspiration on the farm?

Use of organic fertilization strategies and especially manures will help to reduce water use. Deep digging is another important practice that could be used in this farm.

Growing Agroforestry trees all over will help to cover the soil and thus reduce evapotranspiration

  • In agroecology, one of the goals is to achieve balance in the agroecosystem. What could you do to reduce water loss from the farm, and maintain on-farm water resources? What could you do to protect existing water sources from pollution or other forms of degradation?

Constructing water channels, and making the soil and water conservation structures or terraces,planting of environmentally friendly trees i.e. Agroforestry trees, practicing crop rotation and crop diversification will help to achieve balance in agroecosystem, maintain water, reduce degradation and eventually increased food productivity.