#201Rainwater basins in the field
201⸱AConcept
- Reduces erosion
- Improves water infiltration
- Improves plant nutrition
- Increases the coffee yield
- Reduces coffee mortality
- Improves soil life
Rainwater basins, as small soil depressions between the coffee rows, serve to reduce run-off from coffee plots and store water. The water is held inside the small basins for several minutes, hours, and days. This gives it time to infiltrate into the soil and become available for the plants. Furthermore, it prevents soil erosion as the run-off water amount and speed are reduced. Also, the leaching of nutrients is reduced, which improves the nutrition of the coffee plants, and biodiversity in the soil is preserved.
However, this practice should generally only be applied as a short-term or emergency measure in times of high risk of erosion or insufficient water infiltration. As every earthmoving causes disturbances in the soil, a regular application would rather damage the soil in the long run.
Water basins should always be associated with long-term soil and water conservation practices such as Cover crop management, level planting, and Mulching as well as Runoff barriers, terraces, or ditches lined with cover crops to slow and channel rainwater and runoff flows.
201⸱BTo be considered
Ground cover between the coffee rows such as cover crops or mulching helps to prevent soil from being washed into the excavated basins. As cover crops take some time to grow they should ideally already be in place. In mechanized areas, it is recommended to prepare the area at the end of the dry period, followed by sowing cover crop mixtures at the first rain.
However, the basins, of course, also work without the presence of cover crops or mulch.
On slopes, the basins can be combined with canals to channel the rainwater to flow towards them.
Previous practices of digging basins around coffee tree trunks should be avoided as they can damage feeder roots.
Timing: The basins should be built before the rainy season starts. It is particularly after longer drought periods and under strong rainfalls when the risk of erosion and insufficient infiltration is high.
201⸱CImplementation
Materials
201⸱1Procedure
Rainwater Basin
If using normal planting distances (plant population of 2000 coffee plants per ha), it is recommended to make one water hole for every two coffee plants.
201⸱2Application
The water hole also collects organic materials from coffee pruning, etc., which decomposes into compost.Therefore, when excavating them from time to time, the content can be spread over the root area of the coffee plants.
201⸱DEconomic benefits
Lower irrigation costs
This tool reduces irrigation requirements and thereby costs.
Higher coffee yield
The effects of this tool can lead to a higher coffee yield and therefore a higher income.
201⸱EGreen benefits
Water saving
This tool saves water as a scarce resource.
Better soil life
This tool helps improve soil life (microbes, earthworms, etc.). This plays a vital role in plant nutrition and contributes to a healthy ecosystem.