EVALUATION OF IN SITU RAINWATER HARVESTING TECHNIQUES FOR CROP PRODUCTION AND SOIL

CONSERVATION IN THE SEMI-ARID AREAS OF EASTERN ETHIOPIA

By: Kibebew Kibret (Dr.) BSc: Arid Zone Soil and Water Conservation (Alemaya University,

Ethiopia) MSc: Eremology (Desert Science) (Gent University, Belgium) PhD: Soil Science (Sp: Soil Physics) (Free State University, RSA)

Other investigators of the project: Dr. Kindie Tesfaye and Dr. Bobe Bedadi –Haramaya University Financial support: African Water Facility through MoWR of Ethiopia

Study sites

Ex-situ Efforts

Siltation problems

Siltation problems

Basin Tied-ridges (TR)

Infield Rainwater Harvesting (IRWH)

Conventional (flat bed) tillage

Conventional tillage

IRWH

TR

0

1000

2000

3000

4000

5000

6000

CT TR IRWH1 IRWH1.5 IRWH2

Mea

n b

iom

ass

(k

gh

a-1

)

In situ water harvesting techniques

0

200

400

600

800

1000

1200

1400

CT TR IRWH1 IRWH1.5 IRWH2

Mea

n g

rain

yie

ld (

kgh

a-1

)

In situ water harvesting techniques

Source: Cornelis et al. (2012)