As you may already know, the topography in Meghalaya is hilly, with steep slopes and rough landscapes. Hence, using ground channels in this area is unfavorable. So, bamboo drip irrigation is widely preferred.
Usually, water sources are distant from plantation sites and so the main bamboo channel runs several meters, sometimes even a couple of kilometres. Water is thus obtained and managed through a brilliant bamboo system of secondary and tertiary channels to reach each part and corners of the plantation.
Bamboo channels are utilized to tap perennial water from up-slopes, which is cleverly diverted to the lower parts using gravity. An ingenious system that wastes very little water and works to this day.
Channel sections are made of bamboos of different diameters, to control the water flow in such a way that the water reaches the site in the lower reaches, where it is circulated without spillage. The channels are supported by forked branches.
It is so perfected that about 18-20 litres of water entering the bamboo pipe system per minute gets transported over several hundred metres and finally gets reduced to 20-80 drops per minute at the site of the plant.
We recently built a covered growhouse in Hawai’i but were left with wondering how to irrigate it. We thought about going to hardware store and paying over $100 for all of the drip supplies. But I hate paying for things if I can make them. So we came up with Bamboo Drip irrigation. A couple hours later and a few knicks on the hand from the carving knife and we made it happen. 100% free homemade drip irrigation that won’t pollute. Watch this short video on how it can be done. Aloha!!
One can buy online best quality herbs and spices that are grown in traditional ways by Meghalaya’s farmers (without pesticide and chemicals fertilizer) and are unadulterated and guaranteed by Zizira from their website https://www.zizira.com/ .
Over 80% of the population of Meghalaya depend on agriculture and most of them own small family farms and follow traditional farming methods. A good irrigation system is an imperative for successful farming.
Read on to see how these farmers who follow traditional farming methods have a traditional irrigation system designed by themselves.
A 200 years old Traditional Irrigation System
The topography in Meghalaya is hilly, with steep slopes due to which there are two challenges the farmers of Meghalaya face.
First, the water-retention capacity of the terrain is poor.
Second, bringing water from distant water sources to the fields is a big challenge for the farmers in the rural areas.
Ground channeling is also impractical due to the harsh landscape. Confronted with such adverse conditions for irrigation, the traditional farmers of Meghalaya have come up with an innovative way that works. Since olden times, farmers of Meghalaya who mostly follow traditional farming methods have been utilizing an indigenous, traditional irrigation method of bamboo drip irrigation system to water their crops.
The few materials needed are a locally made small axe (local name – dao), bamboo strands of various sizes, forked branches, smaller bamboo shoots used for the channel diversions, and two trained laborers. Two workers can construct a system covering one hectare of land in 15 days. About four or five stages of irrigation zig-zag from the water source to the last point of application. Along the way, 18-20 liters of water will eventually disseminate at a rate of 20-80 drops per minute.
The people of Jaintia, Khasi, and Garo hill tribes of Northeast have long entrusted the use of bamboo drip irrigation as a means to fulfilling domestic, agricultural, and customary needs. Its function remains unspoiled so as the rains continue to fall and the bamboo continues to grow.
We recently built a covered growhouse in Hawai’i but were left with wondering how to irrigate it. We thought about going to hardware store and paying over $100 for all of the drip supplies. But I hate paying for things if I can make them. So we came up with Bamboo Drip irrigation. A couple hours later and a few knicks on the hand from the carving knife and we made it happen. 100% free homemade drip irrigation that won’t pollute. Watch this short video on how it can be done. Aloha!!
Critical Area Planting Establish vegetation in small areas of isolated erosion. The grass, trees, or shrubs provide surface cover to stop raindrop splash and slow water flow.Cover Crops Plant crops, including cereal rye, oats and winter wheat, to temporarily protect the ground from wind and water erosion during times when cropland isn’t adequately protected.Conservation Tillage Leave last year’s crop residue on the surface before and during planting operations to provide cover for soil. Crop residue shields soil particles from rain and wind until crops produce a protective canopy.Water and Sediment Control Basins Build an embankment across a depressional area of concentrated water runoff to act similar to a terrace. It traps sediment and water running off farmland above the structure.Grassed Waterways Grade and shape a natural drainageway to form a smooth, bowl shaped channel, and seed to sod-forming grasses. Runoff flows down the grassed drainageway, preventing erosion and the formation of gullies.
A Cover Crop is a non-cash crop planted to keep ground covered. This video explores how Charlie Roberts in Halls, TN is using this practice to protect soil health and increase water infiltration on his cropland.
Major benefits of this practice include: 1. Decreases erosion 2. Improves soil health 3. Decreases soil compaction 4. Reduces evaporation 5. Reduces input cost
Conservation tillage Read more from https://allenswcd.org/conservation-tillage/ . The Benefits of Conservation Tillage: (1) Agronomics, (2) Monetary, (3) Environmental. (1) Agronomics: (a) Improves Soil Tilth, (b)
The Conservation at Work video series was created to increase producer awareness of common conservation practices and was filmed at various locations throughout the country. Because conservation plans are specific to the unique resource needs on each farm and also soil type, weather conditions, etc., these videos were designed to serve as a general guide to the benefits of soil and water conservation and landowners should contact their local USDA office for individual consultation. USDA is an equal opportunity provider, employer, and lender. #CoverCrops #SoilHealth #Conservation
#SoilTilth – Soil Tilth – Crop rotations can have a positive impact on soil tilth, depending on the crops that are being alternated. Additional ways to improve soil tilth include reducing tillage and using cover crops. https://www.sare.org/publications/crop-rotation-on-organic-farms/physical-and-biological-processes-in-crop-production/crop-rotation-and-soil-tilth/ . Conservation Tillage- Crop production where little or no tillage occurs defines conservation tillage. Conservation tillage benefits water quality because it reduces soil erosion and run-off. Soil erosion degrades the quality of our soil resource by washing away valuable organic matter, nutrients, and minerals. These materials, called sediment, usually end up in our streams and lakes and impair drainage, wildlife and fish habitat, and recreational values. Also, run-off carries fertilizers and pesticides which impair water quality. https://youtu.be/Rpl09XP_f-w
Yamakura Dam, Ichihara City, Chiba Prefecture, Japan
Project
Overview
Location
Yamakura Dam (Ichihara City, Chiba Prefecture, Japan)
Operation
Kyocera TCL Solar LLC
Output
Approx. 13.7MW
Solar modules
270-watt Kyocera modules (50,904 modules in total)
Expected annual power generation
Approx. 16,170MWh/year Electricity generated is planned to be sold to Tokyo Electric Power Company, Incorporated
Construction timeline
Start of construction: December 2015Planned launch: FY2018 (fiscal year ending March 31, 2018)
Design & construction
KYOCERA Communication Systems Co., Ltd.
Maintenance
KYOCERA Solar Corporation
Company
Overview
Company name
Kyocera TCL Solar LLC
Location
Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo, Japan
Shareholders
Century Tokyo Leasing Corporation (81%) Kyocera Corporation (19%)
Established
August 2012
Business outline
To sell power produced from solar power generation
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0801_K7VZGo 17 Apr 2015 – Kyocera Corporation and Century Tokyo Leasing Corporation announced today that Kyocera TCL Solar LLC, a joint venture established by the two companies, has completed construction of two floating mega-solar power plants at Nishihira Pond and Higashihira Pond in Kato City, Hyogo Prefecture, Japan. The plants, inaugurated in late March, will generate an estimated 3,300 megawatt hours (MWh) per year in total — enough electricity to power approximately 920 typical households*. Features 1. Floating solar power generating systems typically generate more electricity than ground-mount and rooftop systems due to the cooling effect of the water. Features 2. They reduce reservoir water evaporation and algae growth by shading the water. Features 3. Floating platforms are 100% recyclable, utilizing high-density polyethylene, which can withstand ultraviolet rays and resists corrosion. Features 4. The floating platforms are designed and engineered to withstand extreme physical stress, including typhoon conditions. * Based on average annual use of 3,600kWh per household. Source: Federation of Electric Power Companies of Japan.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NDnVBFqpFpI The largest floating PV power plant in Japan: 13,744 kWp Installed on a water retention reservoir, Yamakura Dam, in Chiba prefecture. Project developed by Kyocera TCL Solar LLC Hydrelio® floating system provided by Ciel & Terre® International company.
A rain garden is a bowl-shaped depression designed as a garden to capture, hold, and absorb rainwater. Rain gardens slow the flow of rainwater from roofs, sidewalks, streets, parking lots, and other impervious surfaces, allowing the water to penetrate the soil.
The soil cleans the water of pollutants before it enters the storm drain and empties into our bayous and bays. This process allows us to keep more of the rain that falls on our yards, and the storm water that finally enters the storm drain is cleaner.Rain gardens use native plants as well as nonnative plants that are adapted to our climate. When designed properly, water in the rain garden should stand for no more than 24 to 48 hours, too short a period for mosquitoes to hatch.
Another benefit is that rain gardens serve as habitats for wildlife such as birds and butterflies. They are useful for residential, commercial, and public areas.
Above all, a rain garden is a landscape amenity, blending beauty and function—an attractive WaterSmart solution to water pollution.
Proposed to be constructed in the southern portion of the AgriLife Campus the rain garden will have curb openings with a concrete flume that will allow for runoff to drain to a collection point within the garden for automatic sampling and flow measurement. A surface overflow box will drain water to an underground pipe away from the median. Additionally, the drainage layer of the rain garden will house perforated pipes that will assist in soil infiltration. A flow measurement device will measure the overflow and perforated pipe. Water quality samples will be collected with an automatic sampler. A pressure transducer will be installed within a well point to measure soil water storage. The outflow will drain into a depression/ ditch via a flume. Plants will be selected based on optimal performance of the rain garden, including treatment of the storm water. Overall, the monitoring data will be used to quantify total water inflow (runoff), outflow (runoff and infiltration), soil water storage, and pollutant balances. The rain garden will also be maintained beyond the scope of this project as a demonstration for the public.
What is rain garden? A rain garden is a beautiful and effective way to clean polluted stormwater runoff. A rain garden acts like a miniature native forest by collecting, absorbing, and filtering stormwater runoff from roof tops, driveways, patios, and other areas that don’t allow water to soak in. They can be built at several scales and one may be just right for your home or neighborhood. Rain Gardens are simply shallow depressions that: # Can be shaped and sized to fit your yard. # Use a special mix of sand and compost that allow water to soak in rapidly and supports healthy plant growth. #Can be landscaped with a variety of plants to fit the surroundings.
Will it be expensive or difficult to install and maintain a rain garden? Once a shallow depression is dug for the rain garden, it won’t be any more expensive than planting other landscaped areas in your yard. Most of the recommended plants can be purchased at local nurseries and you maintain them just like any other plants in your yard. If you are using native plants, once established, they will require less water and no fertilization.
Won’t a rain garden create a pond for mosquitoes? No, a rain garden is not a pond. When properly constructed, the water will drain within 48 hours (but usually faster). Mosquitoes won’t find rain gardens to be good breeding areas because they need much more time to lay and hatch eggs.
I’m interested in building a rain garden. What should I do next? Visit http://www.cmhc.ca (or any equivalent website in your area) and type “rain gardens” in the search field for more information on rain gardens. *Note: This information is provided for your benefit only. If you do not feel comfortable in constructing your rain garden, please consult a landscaper. The City of Calgary will not be liable nor responsible for any bodily or personal injury or property damage of any nature that may be suffered from the construction of your rain garden.
What’s are Benefits of Rain Gardens Low maintenance. Rain gardens need no more care than regular landscaping. Grows quickly. Extra moisture and loose, deep soil make plants thrive and quickly fill in a space. Provides habitat. Rain gardens can provide abundant food, water, and shelter for wildlife such as birds and butterflies. Diversifies plant possibilities. Extra natural moisture means you can have a water-wise garden while including more moisture-loving plants you might otherwise have had to leave out. Improves aesthetics. Rain gardens add visual interest to your yard and your community.
Why Rain Gardens are Best for… Properties with more space. Rain gardens are simplest to install when you can stay at least three metres away from building foundations. Newer properties with mostly manicured turf. Typical groomed turf is usually underlain with a shallow soil that is inhospitable to plant survival, doesn’t break down contaminants, and creates a lot of runoff. Adding rain gardens to this type of property (newer than about 1970) will instantly improve its performance. Areas where a tree canopy is yet to establish. If you have mature trees, your property is working hard already, and rain gardens are a type of feature that might be difficult to fit in. Where you don’t have trees, rain gardens are a major performance booster.
Rain Garden Basics
What is a rain garden? A rain garden is a beautiful and effective way to clean polluted stormwater runoff. A rain garden acts like a miniature native forest by collecting, absorbing, and filtering stormwater runoff from roof tops, driveways, patios, and other areas that don’t allow water to soak in. They can be built at several scales and one may be just right for your home or neighborhood.
Rain Gardens are simply shallow depressions that:
Can be shaped and sized to fit your yard.
Use a special mix of sand and compost that allow water to soak in rapidly and supports healthy plant growth.
Can be landscaped with a variety of plants to fit the surroundings.
Why do we need raingardens? Stormwater is nothing but rainfall after it falls on the earth’s surface and travels across the landscape to a nearby stream or other water body. In landscapes that have been altered by humans, this stormwater picks up everything we humans leave behind – things like oil and gas, heavy metals, fertilizers, and animal waste.
Scientists have confirmed that stormwater is harmful to humans, animals, and fish that come in contact with it. Eventually stormwater makes its way to Puget Sound impairing the Sound’s water quality, impacting our shellfish and fisheries industry, and limiting recreational opportunities. (Source: https://extension.wsu.edu/raingarden/featured-rain-gardens/)
WSU research and experiments have shown that stormwater collected from highways around Puget Sound is lethal to fish. However, when that same stormwater was filtered through a special rain garden soil mix – the fish lived. Rain gardens can be a important tool in limiting the amount of contaminated water reaching our streams and Puget Sound.
Raingarden – A clean solution to storm water pollution.
Rain gardens are a natural and beautiful way to help your streams. These gardens in slight depressions in the ground trap rainfall from a roof or driveway and prevent it from adding to the polluted runoff that damages streams. Trapped rain water is allowed to slowly sink into the ground while supporting beautiful plants that attract birds and butterflies. You can create your own rain garden in 3 easy steps…
1. Pick the Right Location and Size
The best locations are in natural depressions or low lying areas where water flows naturally from a downspout, driveway, patio or sidewalk. Avoid steep slopes and areas near septic systems or drinking water wells. You must be able to move water from the hard surface (roof, etc.) to the garden location, either by directing a downspout with an extended tube towards it, or simply by following contours and capturing water that is naturally flowing downhill.
A properly sited and prepared rain garden will not allow mosquitoes to breed. Your rain garden will drain within 24-48 hours after a storm. Mosquitoes need seven days or more to complete a breeding cycle
2. Create a Design and Select Plants
Once you have a location and size for your garden, sketch it out on paper. Determine the mix of species you would like to use, including flowers, grasses, and shrubs that are drought tolerant but can withstand wet conditions. Native plants are adapted to local conditions, easy to maintain and attract birds and butterflies. Fill in your sketch with your selected plants. Click here for more detailed information about design and plant selection .
3. Construct and Plant your Garden
Spray paint or otherwise mark on the ground the exact shape of your rain garden. Excavate to a depth of 4-8 inches, creating a berm on the downslope side of your garden using the removed sod. Amend your soil as needed to improve drainage. Try to keep the bottom of the basin as flat as possible to increase the area that will come in contact with water regularly. Add plants following your design, placing species that need the most water in the lowest lying areas or in the most direct path from the downspout. Click here for more detailed information about constructing and planting your rain garden .
4. Rain Garden Plants
By using native plants in your rain garden you are giving your plants the best chance to survive the wide range of weather conditions they will experience, from long droughts to large storms. Native plants also support the largest number of wildlife species, including birds, butterflies, and bees.
Living off the land means you survive only by the resources that can be harvested from the land you own. So, think food, water & power.
Offgrid Living – The Nicholson House: We are living off the grid! This 1200 sq. foot house was built in 1997. Concrete floor with open floor plan 2 Bedrooms, 1 bath, carport, with 200 sq. foot workshop Propane for hotwater and stove. Appliances included Solar for electric Rain water harvesting with two 1500 gallon tanks. Case-study: http://rwh.in/offgrid.htm
Coming up the drive wayFront porch-“D” doing what she does best.
Off-the-grid or off-grid is a characteristic of buildings and a lifestyle designed in an independent manner without reliance on one or more public utilities.
The porch goes all the way around the house as the next four pictures show. This one is the front of the house.Front Porch – Another ViewSide Porch – 1Side Porch – 2 Side PorchSide view of yard and carport/workshop.
Off-the-grid living allows for buildings and people to be self-sufficient, which is advantageous in isolated locations where normal utilities cannot reach and is attractive to those who want to reduce environmental impact and cost of living.
The carport is constructed with 2 x 4 metal studs and insulated. Rainwater is also harvested from this roof.
The term “off-the-grid” traditionally refers to not being connected to the electrical grid, but can also include other utilities like water, gas, and sewer systems, and can scale from residential homes to small communities. The term off-the-grid (OTG) can refer to living in a self-sufficient manner without reliance on one or more public utilities. People who adopt this lifestyle are called off-gridders.
Side of house that faces the driveway. Pictured is “Henry” who was left behind and loves to hang there. He was too scared to be captured by the old owners, so they had to leave him behind. He can’t be touched but does follow us around as we walk the property. He eats our food and by barking at the coyotes keeps them away. He gets along with our two dogs and instead of sleeping in the dog house that was left behind he sleeps on the hay in front of it.Kitchen and dining area. Generally, an off-grid building must be able to supply energy and potable water for itself, as well as manage food, waste and wastewater.Living Room with wood stove. This little stove is all the heat that is needed for an Arizona winter. It takes the chill out of the air, and with the strawbale construction the heat is retained nicely.Front door on right, hallway toward bedrooms on left.BathroomHallway from bath. Portia on her favorite windowsill. The windowsills are two feet deep. Main bedroom-the hang out for Sundance and Cheyanne. Approx. 13×13.The second bedroom is our computer room. Approx. 11×13.Two tanks that collect the water from the roof of the house and carport.Solar panel that supplies the electricity for the house. Batteries store power for night time and cloudy days. The solar panel tracks (moves) with the sun.
Basic components of rainwater system: Regardless of the complexity of the system, the domestic rainwater harvesting system comprises six basic components: #1 Catchment surface: the collection surface from which rainfall runs off #2 Gutters and downspouts: channel water from the roof to the tank #3 Leaf screens, first-flush diverters, and roof washers: components which remove debris and dust from the captured rainwater before it goes to the tank #4 One or more storage tanks, also called cisterns #5 Delivery system: gravity-fed or pumped to the end use #6 Treatment/purification: for potable systems, filters and other methods to make the water safe to drink. Refer Chapter2 of The Texas Manual on Rainwater Harvesting >>
Tap water across the US is riddled with chemical contaminants and even radioactive material, a new study has shown, with the situation complicated by outdated safety standards.
The worrying state of American tap water was highlighted in recent analysis by the Environmental Working Group (EWG), a non-profit organization based in Washington, DC that has maintained a database of drinking-water contaminants across the country since 2014.
Hazardous chemicals, including pesticides and radioactive materials, are “often found in drinking water at potentially unsafe levels, particularly in low-income and underserved communities,” it said in a press release.
“When some Americans drink a glass of tap water, they’re also potentially getting a dose of industrial or agricultural contaminants linked to cancer, brain and nervous system damage, fertility problems, hormone disruption, and other health harms.”
For too many Americans, turning on their faucets for a glass of water is like pouring a cocktail of chemicals.
More than 50 new pollutants have been identified in water supplies, with the main culprits behind the increase being perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances. This class of substances, commonly referred to as ‘forever chemicals,’ due to their stability and slow breakdown process, are widely used across multiple industries.
The amount of rainfall that you can collect is governed by the following formula:
Easy to Remember Formula: 1″ of rain x 1 sq. ft. = 0.623 gallons
To calculate the amount of rainwater you can collect, you need to know your annual average precipitation for your area. You can use the precipitation map below to find an approximate amount for your area.
Different Components of Rainwater Harvesting System
Basic Components: Regardless of the complexity of the system, the domestic rainwater harvesting system comprises six basic components:
#1 Catchment surface: the collection surface from which rainfall runs off #2 Gutters and downspouts: channel water from the roof to the tank #3 Leaf screens, first-flush diverters, and roof washers: components which remove debris and dust from the captured rainwater before it goes to the tank #4 One or more storage tanks, also called cisterns #5 Delivery system: gravity-fed or pumped to the end use #6 Treatment/purification: for potable systems, filters and other methods to make the water safe to drink.
Homepage: http://www.rwh.in/ Rainwater harvesting is the capture, diversion, and storage of rainwater for a number of different purposes including landscape irrigation, drinking and domestic use, aquifer recharge, and stormwater abatement.
In a residential or small-scale application, rainwater harvesting can be as simple as channeling rain running off an unguttered roof to a planted landscape area via contoured landscape. To prevent erosion on sloped surfaces, a bermed concave holding area down slope can store water for direct use by turf grass or plants. More complex systems include gutters, pipes, storage tanks or cisterns, filtering, pump(s), and water treatment for potable use.
Garden Water Saver allows environmentally conscious people to easily collect rainwater from the roof of a house, so that the water can be used whenever it’s needed to irrigate a lawn or a garden, to clean yard tools, or for any other non-drinking use.
Plants, flowers and vegetables love rainwater from the sky, which means they also love rainwater from the rain barrel! Soft, pure, chemical-free rainwater maintained at proper ambient temperature help plants grow vigorously.
But collecting rain water for a garden without a rainwater harvesting system can be a bit unwieldy. The easiest way to get rain water from your roof to your rain barrel is to use a diverter right in your gutter’s downspouts. By placing a Garden Watersaver Downspout Diverter directly into your roof’s gutter system, you’ll have a rain barrel full of natural rain water in no time, making it easy to water your garden the eco-friendly way!
The Garden Watersaver Downspout Attachment is an excellent tool to have for your rain barrel. It can redirect rainwater from your downspout to your rain barrel, and when the rain barrel is full, will then allow the water to flow freely through your drain pipe. It’s an excellent way to save money and to reuse rainwater. This video explains the installation and offers advice and tips on properly installing your Garden Watersaver Downspout Attachment. We take you step by step through this process to ensure that everything will work smoothly.
The secret of Garden Watersaver is their unique Downspout Diverter, which attaches easily to any gutter’s downspout. Once in place, the Diverter sends water to a rain barrel through a hose until that barrel is completely full. Once full, additional water simply continues down the downspout as it normally would — so the process is automatic!
Garden Watersaver also offers a Complete Rain Barrel Construction Kit that includes the Downspout Diverter plus all of the other items and instructions necessary to build a complete rain barrel system for water collection. It’s all there!
The amount of rainfall that you can collect is governed by the following formula: Easy to Remember Formula: 1″ of rain x 1 sq. ft. = 0.623 gallonsTo calculate the amount of rainwater you can collect, you need to know your annual average precipitation for your area. You can use the precipitation map from search engine to find approximate amount for your area.
WHY COLLECT RAINWATER FOR THE GARDEN? The primary purpose of a rain garden is to reduce runoff, so it should be placed in a location enabling the garden to collect water. Select only native plants (shrubs, perennials, and annuals) for your rain garden.
The primary purpose of a rain garden is to reduce runoff, so it should be placed in a location enabling the garden to collect water. Select only native plants (shrubs, perennials, and annuals) for your rain garden.
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