Managing Water on Your Farm - Presented by Mark Shepard

WATER! the #1 plant nutrient

Keyline Design and the Restoration Agriculture Water Management System

Restoration Agriculture Development Inc: Radpioneers.com

On facebook:Restoration AgricultureDevelopment

Forest Agriculture Enterprises LLC: Forestag.com

Water For Every FarmP A Yeomans p2

Yeomans p 2

• I. DefinitionUsing ridges and furrows formed by tillage, planting and other farming operations to change the direction of runoff from directly downslope to around the hillslope (perpendicular to the field slope).

• II. PurposesThis practice may be applied as part of a conservation management system to achieve one or more of the following:To reduce sheet and rill erosion. To reduce transport of sediment, other solids,and the contaminants attached to them. To increase water infiltration.

• www.nrcs.usda.gov/Internet/FSE_DOCUMENTS/nrcs143_026017.pdf

CONTOUR FARMING(Acre) Code 330 Natural Resources Conservation Service Conservation Practice Standard

Yeomans p 39

(bonde msingi)

(Safu ya milima msingi)

(keypoint)

Source: mas humus

Source: Mas humus

Photo source: Darren Doherty

Some factors influencing Keyline/ water management design:

-Slope

-Soil Type

-Soil permeability

-Intended use

-equipmentDepth, type and structure of bedrock

permaculturenews.org/resources_files/KeylineArticle.pdf

Every property has a “Sweet Spot”…..

…the line where the most of that property’s water can be managed with the least amount of earthworks.

TERRACE(Feet) Code 600 Natural Resources Conservation Service Conservation Practice Standard

l. Definition An earth embankment, or a combination ridge and channel, constructed across the field slope.

II. Purpose This practice is applied as part of a resource management system for one or more of the following purposes:.-Reduce soil erosion by reducing slope length. -Reduce sediment content in runoff water. -Retain runoff for moisture conservation. -Improve farmability.III.Conditions Where Practice Applies This practice applies where:-soil erosion by water is a problem, -there is a need to conserve water, -the soils and topography are such that terraces can be constructed and farmed with reasonable effort,-a suitable outlet can be provided, or -excess runoff is a problem.

• Catchment area X maximum rainfall event ever recorded = “safest design” swale + pond volume.

• The capacity of the swale and outlet system must be able to intercept and disperse this catastrophic event volume to avoid system failure.

• Swales in clay soils can be deeper with steeper sides.

• Swales in Sandy soils must be wider with gently sloping sides.

• Safest design volume is influenced by measured water infiltration rate, saturation point and soil type.

Source: Darren Dougherty

http://www.yeomansplow.com.au/yeomans-plows.htm

Water movement beforeKeyline Patterning & Terraces

Water movement After Keyline patterningTerraces & ponds

Managing Water on Your Farm - Presented by Mark Shepard

Science

Transcript of Managing Water on Your Farm - Presented by Mark Shepard