Abstract
The results of hydrological investigations for two years on eight levels of native forest (Caatinga) watershed management, principally for runoff inducement for water harvesting for irrigation, are reported. The first four watershed treatments consisted of one or a combination of intensified surface drainage treatments within native forest watershed, clearing alternate contour strips of native forest at 25-cm vertical intervals while alternate strips are maintained in native cover, constructing narrow-based channel terraces below cleared strips and application of common salt in cleared strips for impermeabilization of the soil. The next three watershed treatments are without native forest and the eight (the last) watershed is maintained undisturbed under native forest cover as a control treatment. In the arid zones of the Northeast of Brazil, the combination of (i) clearing alternate strips of Caatinga with alternate virgin strips about 30 m wide at 25-cm vertical interval on gently sloped watersheds and (ii) the construction of narrow based channel terraces, can make available for irrigation about 5–11% of the incident rainfall. At the same time this combination helps conserve soil and natural forest ecosystems.
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