Thesis (M.Sc.(Agronomy)) --University of Limpopo, 2015 / The changes in climate, especially poor rainfall patterns and distributions are key issues posing major agricultural challenges for food security and threaten the rural livelihoods of many communities in the Limpopo Province. Rainfall (P) is low and limited. These limited P is mostly lost through runoff and evaporation, which result in low soil moisture availability and possible crop failure. Therefore, techniques that reduce these water losses are important for improving dryland crop production and rainwater productivity (RWP). The objectives of this study were to determine the potential and effectiveness of rainwater harvesting and conservation techniques (RWH&CT’s) to conserve and improve plant available water (PAW) for dryland maize production and also determine the efficiency of the RWH&CT’s to improve dryland maize yield and RWP compared to conventional tillage (CON). The study was conducted over a period of two growing seasons (2008/09; 2009/10) using maize as indicator crop at the Towoomba Research Station of the Limpopo Department of Agriculture in the Limpopo Province of South Africa, on an Arcadia ecotope. The experiment was laid out in a randomized complete block design, with four replications and five treatments. The five treatments used in the study were; conventional tillage (CON), No-till (NT), In-field rainwater harvesting (IRWH), Mechanized basins (MB) and Daling plough (DAL). The IRWH and DL were classified as rainwater harvesting techniques (RWHT’s), whilst MB and NT were classified as water conservation techniques. Two access tubes were installed at each treatment to measure the soil water content (SWC) at four different soil depths of 150, 450, 750 and 1050 mm using the neutron water meter. The data collected included climatic data, soil and plant parameters. The data were subjected to analysis of variance through NCSS 2000 Statistical System for Windows and GENSTAT 14th edition. Mean separation tests were computed using Fisher's protected least significant difference test. The SWC of IRWH, DAL and MB were about 510 and 490 mm higher compared to CON and NT treatment during the 2008/09 and 2009/10 seasons, respectively. The PAWT of the IRWH, MB and DAL was significantly different from the CON treatment during the 2008/09 season. For both seasons the biomass yield of the IRWH treatment was significantly different from the NT treatment, producing 23 and 50% more biomass in the 2008/09 and 2009/10 growing seasons, respectively. The grain yield under IRWH was significantly different from the NT treatment during both 2008/09 and 2009/10 seasons. The highest maize grain yield of IRWH was achieved during the 2009/10 season with 56% higher grain yield than the NT treatment. RWP from various RWHT’s were significantly different from the NT treatment. These results indicate that IRWH and DAL were 12 and 2% more effective in converting rainwater into harvestable grain yield than the CON treatment. R2 values of 68.6 and 78.4% for SWC and transpiration (Ev) were obtained when correlated with maize grain yield respectively. This indicates the importance of moisture conservation for improved dryland maize production under low P areas. Therefore, the use of appropriate RWHT’s by smallscale farmers maybe crucial to improve dryland maize production. IRWH outperformed all other treatments in terms of the soil parameters and plant parameter measured during the period of this study. Therefore, these results suggest IRWH has potential of sustaining maize yields under low rainfall conditions. Key words: Rainwater harvesting, conservation techniques, ecotope, rainwater productivity, maize yield, precipitation use efficiency.

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Submitted by Paula Mariko Hatsumura (paulahatsumura@gmail.com) on 2018-11-05T19:06:34Z No. of bitstreams: 1 Paula M Hatsumura_ Versao-FInal.pdf: 8876911 bytes, checksum: c63d2715f25d812f9ed9d925425c2844 (MD5) / Approved for entry into archive by Cristina Alexandra de Godoy null (cristina@adm.feis.unesp.br) on 2018-11-08T19:15:36Z (GMT) No. of bitstreams: 1 hatsumura_pm_me_ilha.pdf: 8876911 bytes, checksum: c63d2715f25d812f9ed9d925425c2844 (MD5) / Made available in DSpace on 2018-11-08T19:15:36Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 hatsumura_pm_me_ilha.pdf: 8876911 bytes, checksum: c63d2715f25d812f9ed9d925425c2844 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2018-09-05 / Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES) / Neste projeto técnico tem-se como objetivo a elaboração de uma proposta que subsidie o projeto básico de Pagamento por Serviços Ambientais do Programa Produtor de Água na bacia hidrográfica do manancial do alto curso do Rio Santo Anastácio. Esta bacia hidrográfica está localizada no extremo oeste do Estado de São Paulo, na Unidade de Gerenciamento de Recursos Hídricos do Pontal do Paranapanema - UGRHI 22 e possui uma área de, aproximadamente, 198 km², englobando partes dos municípios de Álvares Machado, Anhumas, Pirapozinho, Presidente Prudente e Regente Feijó. A proposta foi realizada com base no Manual Operativo do Programa Produtor de Água – 2ª Edição, que compõe as orientações às pessoas e instituições que pretendam participar deste programa. O conteúdo principal dessa pesquisa consiste na elaboração do Roteiro Mínimo de Apresentação do Projeto, a qual contou com a participação de diversas entidades, definidas como instituições parceiras, cada qual com suas especialidades. Foi elaborada a caracterização da bacia hidrográfica, com base em estudos já realizados; as metodologias que serão utilizadas como estratégias de PSA, de educação ambiental, estratégias para as ações de restauração ecológica, conservação de água e solo, bem como para o monitoramento da bacia hidrográfica do manancial do alto curso do Rio Santo Anastácio. Dessa forma, espera-se que este estudo gere subsídios para que, futuramente, na área em estudo possa se implantar efetivamente o Programa Produtor de Água, beneficiando assim o meio ambiente, com a proteção e a produção de água, bem como os produtores rurais da bacia hidrográfica em estudo. / In this technical project the objective is the preparation of a proposal that subsidizes the basic project of Payment for Environmental Services of the Water Producer Program in the watershed of the wellspring of the high current of Santo Anastácio River. This watershed is located in the extreme west of the State of São Paulo, in the Water Resources Management Unit of Pontal do Paranapanema - UGRHI 22 and has an area of approximately 198 km², encompassing parts of the cities of Álvares Machado, Anhumas, Pirapozinho, Presidente Prudente and Regente Feijó. The proposal was based on the Operational Manual of the Water Producer Program – 2nd Edition, which makes up the guidelines persons and institutions wishing to participate in this program. The main content of this research is the elaboration of the Minimal Presentation of the Project, which was attended by several entities, defined as partner institutions each with its own specialties. It was elaborated the characterization of watershed based on studies already made; the methodologies that will be used as PSA strategies, environmental education, strategies for ecological restoration actions, water and soil conservation, as well as for the monitoring of watershed of the wellspring of the high current of Santo Anastácio River. Thus, it is expected that this study will generate subsidies so that, in the future, in the study área the Water Producer Program, thus benefiting the environment, with the protection and production of water, and the rural producers of the study watershed. / CAPES: Código de Financiamento 001

Orientador: Antonio Cezar Leal / Resumo: Neste projeto técnico tem-se como objetivo a elaboração de uma proposta que subsidie o projeto básico de Pagamento por Serviços Ambientais do Programa Produtor de Água na bacia hidrográfica do manancial do alto curso do Rio Santo Anastácio. Esta bacia hidrográfica está localizada no extremo oeste do Estado de São Paulo, na Unidade de Gerenciamento de Recursos Hídricos do Pontal do Paranapanema - UGRHI 22 e possui uma área de, aproximadamente, 198 km², englobando partes dos municípios de Álvares Machado, Anhumas, Pirapozinho, Presidente Prudente e Regente Feijó. A proposta foi realizada com base no Manual Operativo do Programa Produtor de Água – 2ª Edição, que compõe as orientações às pessoas e instituições que pretendam participar deste programa. O conteúdo principal dessa pesquisa consiste na elaboração do Roteiro Mínimo de Apresentação do Projeto, a qual contou com a participação de diversas entidades, definidas como instituições parceiras, cada qual com suas especialidades. Foi elaborada a caracterização da bacia hidrográfica, com base em estudos já realizados; as metodologias que serão utilizadas como estratégias de PSA, de educação ambiental, estratégias para as ações de restauração ecológica, conservação de água e solo, bem como para o monitoramento da bacia hidrográfica do manancial do alto curso do Rio Santo Anastácio. Dessa forma, espera-se que este estudo gere subsídios para que, futuramente, na área em estudo possa se implantar efetivamente o Programa Produtor de Á... (Resumo completo, clicar acesso eletrônico abaixo) / Abstract: In this technical project the objective is the preparation of a proposal that subsidizes the basic project of Payment for Environmental Services of the Water Producer Program in the watershed of the wellspring of the high current of Santo Anastácio River. This watershed is located in the extreme west of the State of São Paulo, in the Water Resources Management Unit of Pontal do Paranapanema - UGRHI 22 and has an area of approximately 198 km², encompassing parts of the cities of Álvares Machado, Anhumas, Pirapozinho, Presidente Prudente and Regente Feijó. The proposal was based on the Operational Manual of the Water Producer Program – 2nd Edition, which makes up the guidelines persons and institutions wishing to participate in this program. The main content of this research is the elaboration of the Minimal Presentation of the Project, which was attended by several entities, defined as partner institutions each with its own specialties. It was elaborated the characterization of watershed based on studies already made; the methodologies that will be used as PSA strategies, environmental education, strategies for ecological restoration actions, water and soil conservation, as well as for the monitoring of watershed of the wellspring of the high current of Santo Anastácio River. Thus, it is expected that this study will generate subsidies so that, in the future, in the study área the Water Producer Program, thus benefiting the environment, with the protection and production of wa... (Complete abstract click electronic access below) / Mestre