Abstract
The sub-Saharan climate is experiencing a marked increase in temperature and intensification of precipitation intensity and variability. Besides, longer dry spells are compromising the reliability of local agricultural practices. The present study provides a comprehensive investigation about the benefits induced by using indigenous rainwater harvesting techniques (RWHT) against hydrometeorological threats affecting the Sahelian areas. Different RWHT have been tested in term of runoff retention, infiltration increase into the root zone, and soil water stress mitigation. To achieve these purposes, hydrological processes at the field scale have been investigated using a two-dimensional distributed hydrological model. To make the study representative of the whole Sahelian areas, several simulations were carried out adopting a wide range of input parameters based on conventional values of those areas. The results reveal that RWHT may lead to a runoff retention up to 87% and to double the infiltration. Intercepting and storing runoff, RWHT increase the water content in the root zone and the right design can diminish the crop water stress. Furthermore, the results show that adopting RWHT makes it possible to extend the growing season up to 20 days, enhancing the yield. These benefits contribute to the reduction of the climate-related water stress and the prevention of crop failure.
Highlights
Sub-Saharan countries are the poorest regions in the world
We focus on Rainwater Harvesting Techniques as practices used by African farmers to capture rainfall, increase the water use efficiency, reduce crop water stress, and increase the crop survival expectation
The computed hydrographs at the outlet of the considered Sahelian farming plot, as well as the cumulative infiltration in the field are displayed in Figure 3, showing the different responses of each rainwater harvesting techniques (RWHT) configuration to the extreme are displayed in Figure 3, showing the different responses of each RWHT configuration to the rainfall event
Summary
Sub-Saharan countries are the poorest regions in the world. Notwithstanding, sub-SaharanAfrica has one of the highest fertility rates with 5.4 children per woman, which results in extremely fast population growth [1,2]. Sub-Saharan countries are the poorest regions in the world. Africa has one of the highest fertility rates with 5.4 children per woman, which results in extremely fast population growth [1,2]. The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO). To face the constant hazard of famine, farmers strive to boost the local agricultural production in their scarcely fertile lands, naturally poor in organic matter. During the last 50 years, the increase in food production was achieved mainly by expanding the extent of cropland but with a scarce cereal yield compared with the rest of the world, since the artificial fertilizers were too expensive for the majority [3,4]. Climate scientists are studying how global warming is intensifying the hydrological cycle [5]
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