Project tests mechanised soil moisture conservation techniques in heavy clay soils

Abstract

Soil and water conservation Like many other semi-arid areas in the world, South Africa’s food production is limited by its scarce water resources. Irrigated agriculture is the biggest consumer of water in the country. There are various soil and water conservation techniques currently being practiced in the semi-arid areas of South Africa, mainly in homestead gardens. For example, successful application and adoption of techniques such as in-field rainwater harvesting has been reported in homestead gardens in Thaba Nchu in the Free State (more than 1 000 households) and around Alice in the Eastern Cape (more than 260 households). The challenge now is to mechanise some of these soil and water conservation techniques and extend their application to the croplands. To this end the Water Research Commission is funding a research project entitled ‘Rainwater harvesting and conservation for rangeland and cropland productivity in communal areas in selected provinces in the semi-arid area of South Africa’ .

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