Adding shrubs or trees to the contours can also help slow erosion. Some trees are also great to fix nitrogen into the soil. Also they slow the water runoff and therefore increase the water level underground by recharging the aquifers and make more water available during times of drought
This is great! Thank you for making and sharing these videos! I do wonder whether swales would be less labour intensive as they don't require maintenance.
Super, think is amazing what these farmers and ladies are doing to improve their land and increase their productivity. Enjoy seeing this and other things they are doing to make a difference. And since they ARE locals they spread the word and show others what can be done! Thanks for posting and letting us all know the great work these hard working people are doing and the difference they are making.
Relying on small-scale erosion to shape the terraces seems counterproductive to me. This won't harvest rainfall to any degree, either. Introducing swales in addition to the terraces could be the way forward.
Seems to be more for slowing the water and allowing it to percolate vs collecting it. But I agree and I would add a swale once it eroded into a terrace. I could also see it being necessary on a large property that is only being worked by a few people. I was thinking of doing this on my 1 acre hill for a terraced garden and even the amount of effort it would take for me to do alone was too much. I'm going with zai pits instead.
I love EVERYTHING about terraces! Such a wonderful idea!
Adding shrubs or trees to the contours can also help slow erosion.
Some trees are also great to fix nitrogen into the soil.
Also they slow the water runoff and therefore increase the water level underground by recharging the aquifers and make more water available during times of drought
This is great! Thank you for making and sharing these videos! I do wonder whether swales would be less labour intensive as they don't require maintenance.
Have they also learned to incorporate other vegetation such as peas to help fix nitrogen and other nutrients as natural fertilizers?
yes planting beans cowpeas pigeon peas etc
Super, think is amazing what these farmers and ladies are doing to improve their land and increase their productivity. Enjoy seeing this and other things they are doing to make a difference. And since they ARE locals they spread the word and show others what can be done! Thanks for posting and letting us all know the great work these hard working people are doing and the difference they are making.
I think there are many native beans that do that
Juu juu kabisa
Relying on small-scale erosion to shape the terraces seems counterproductive to me. This won't harvest rainfall to any degree, either. Introducing swales in addition to the terraces could be the way forward.
Seems to be more for slowing the water and allowing it to percolate vs collecting it. But I agree and I would add a swale once it eroded into a terrace. I could also see it being necessary on a large property that is only being worked by a few people. I was thinking of doing this on my 1 acre hill for a terraced garden and even the amount of effort it would take for me to do alone was too much. I'm going with zai pits instead.
Terraces are ancient practices in Africa.
Lot's of bare soil.