Water Storage Methods

In our Agriculture for Everybody blog series,  we will discuss the specifics of Water Storage Methods.  Generally, the water storage methods can be classified into two groups and they are as follows.

1. Underground Water Storage
2. Over ground Water Storage

We can opt to utilize one or the other of the methods or a combination of both.


Underground Water Storage

The water is stored below the surface and can be retrieved at a later point of time by using the available options.

Advantages

• Evaporation is very minimal as the water is stored below the ground
• Contamination possibility is very less
• No need to allocate any land for this purpose

Disadvantages

• Water can only be retrieved by using bore well and other means
• Water availability is not guaranteed as other farmers can also exploit the underground water

Over ground Water Storage

The water is stored above the surface and can be utilized directly for many purposes and that too whenever we require them.  Examples of this method are Farm Ponds, Open Wells etc

Advantages

• Can utilize the water & space for Fish Farming
• Can utilize it as drinking water for Cattle, Poultry etc
• Can utilize it for the crops during the summer season when the water availability is generally low
• Seepage of water in the soil will benefit the entire farmland

Disadvantages

• Need to allocate land
• Evaporation is very high and hence possibility of loss of available water to some extent
• Contamination is possible
• Will attract Snails and other similar things which may not be good to our Livestock 

Water Harvesting Methods

In our Agriculture for Everybody blog series, we will see the different types of Water Harvesting Methods from a farmland point of view.  We will highlight each one of them and anybody wishes to implement them can look for more detailed information elsewhere.

• Trenches
• Trenches need to be created against the flow of the water to get maximum benefit
• Trenches are best suited water harvesting method where plants or trees are the main crops.  For eg, Coconut Tree Plantations, Mango Tree Plantations etc
• Trenches can be created in between the rows of the Trees

• Swales = Continuous Contour Trenches
• Swales need to be created against the flow of the water to get maximum benefit
• Swales generally are bigger in size (in terms of width, depth & length) compared to trenches
• Swales are best suited water harvesting method where plants or trees are the main crops.  For eg, Coconut Tree Plantations, Mango Tree Plantations etc

• Bunds
• Bunds are created around the borders or periphery of the farmland to retain maximum water
• The size of the bund is bigger and deeper so that water is retained as well as ensuring that cattle and other animals do not trespass

• Open Wells
• Open Wells are best suited water harvesting (storage) method when there is run-off of rain water
• Any excess water needs to be channelled into this after filtering the sediments

• Farm Ponds
• A small portion of the land is allocated for Farm Ponds
• Generally, the Farm Pond is located at the lowest point of the farmland
• Farm Ponds are best suited water harvesting (storage) method when there is run-off of rain water
• Farm Ponds is required when we need to store large amounts of water
• Any excess water needs to be channelled into this after filtering the sediments


• Check Dams
• Check Dams are built for retaining the water in the upstream
• Check Dams ensure seepage of water into the soil thereby increasing the ground water
• Check Dams can be built in Swales and other similar structures

Data & Analysis

The Data & Analysis page will be the main page for anything related to the data and any analysis based on the data.  The Raw Data will be available to everybody and they can create their own analysis as well.




Data

1. Parameters For Crops - A Data Oriented Complete Guide - WorkInProgress
2. Fruit Crops - A Data Oriented Complete Guide - WorkInProgress
3. Vegetables Crops - A Data Oriented Complete Guide -WorkInProgress
4. Greens (கீரைகள்) - A Data Oriented Complete Guide - WorkInProgress
5. Flowers Crops - A Data Oriented Complete Guide - WorkInProgress
6. Timber Crops - A Data Oriented Complete Guide - WorkInProgress
7. Misc Crops - A Data Oriented Complete Guide - WorkInProgress
    

Analysis

1. Categories or Types of Vegetables
2. Understanding Crops (Groupwise) Propagation Methods
3. Traditional or Open Pollinated or Heirloom (Vegetable) Seeds of India
4. Traditional or Open Pollinated or Heirloom (Rice) Seeds of India