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Potential applications

This technique can be potentially used for economic returns from the following;

Supporting fruit plant growth (e.g. citrus, guava, olives, pears, peach, apple etc)

Sustaining forest plantations (e.g. bohania, sukhchain, bakain, pine etc)

Can be useful for small scale field crop production

Types of MCWH system

Semi circular micro catchment based water harvestingat Satrameel

Rain falling over sloping surface around

plants can be harvested through variety of

means. However, choice for each technique

depends upon many factors like followings;

Topography

Type of plantation

Rainfall, slope,

1. Semi circular/eyebrows:

These are generally well suited for

topography having sufficient slopes to

produce runoff (over 20% slopes).

2. Rectangular basins:

These rectangular basins are

potentially well suited in flat topographical

locations to support orchards/fruit plants. If

sufficient slope is not available, artificiallyslopes have to be maintained to promote the

MCWH System . Proper care is required to

avoid direct submergence and safe drainage

of excess water from the basins.

Rectangular mi ro catchments for relatively flat landsc3. V-shaped:

This type of MCWH system is also suitable for sloping surfaces. Potentially, plantation along roasides can be sustained through this technique



Semi circular micro catchments at Fatehjang

Why MCWH is required?

Simplest but very efficient, if properly

designed

Low-tech and low input technology

Easy to operate and maintain

Can promote environmental amenity

Can conserve top fertile soils and

associated nutrients from catchments

Material required and availability

Soil (dugout from plant vicinity)

Low cost and usual farm equipment

(spade, chisels, compaction hammer etc)Stones (if locally available)

Labor

All material required for construction of efficient MCWH system are mostly locally available.

Cost of construction

The cost of construction varies with type, topography, plant type and locality. However semi circula

and V-Shaped MCWH systems can be constructed between Rs. 15-20 for each plant. Once these micr

catchments are constructed, these require little maintenance.

Small sized micro catchments for high density orchard at Satrameel



For more information regarding Micro catchment Based Water Harvesting Please ContactClimate Change, Alternate Energy and Water Resources Institute (CAEWRI)

National Agricultural Research Centre (NARC) Islamabad, Phone: 051-9255022, 9255395

E-mail: [email protected]

How local weather can affect the design?

This established technology can sustain every weather condition. However weather needs to

considered for designing purpose to produce effective returns. For example, if local weather is dry (ar

regions like south of Pakistan), the size of micro catchment and storage components both should be lar

enough to harvest sufficient rainwater. Where localized weather is wet (humid to sub humid regions like norof Pakistan), the corresponding size of both micro catchment and storage component can be reduced to avo

submergence.

Guidelines for effective MCWH

Regular maintenance is required throughout the year. However, before on set of rainy season, thes

must be rehabilitated

Earthen bunds/ridges should be well compacted to avoid washed away or leakage. The storagecomponent can be strengthened additionally by placement of stones, if available

Size of storage component will increase as the plant growth. Generally, canopy of plant should be

considered for size estimations

Water loss from storage component can be decreased if mulching is introduced. Mulching can be

done with crop residues or plastic sheets

How much water will they yield?

Expected yield from MCWH systems

depends on micro catchment size and storage

size which varies with topography and plant

type. Generally, semi circle and V-shaped

micro catchments can harvest 20-70 liters of

water per plant, while rectangular micro

catchments can store from 150-400 liters of

water per plant

Micro catchment reinforced with loose stone at Fatehjang