Groundwater is a vital resource in Australian agriculture. Increased demand for water resulting from rapid economic development accompanied by poor climatic conditions (e.g. low rainfall levels) has induced an increased reliance on groundwater harvesting to sustain intensive irrigation practices. Overdraft of groundwater as a result of reduced surface water availability, increased economic viab...

Thuja plicata is a coniferous tree which displays remarkable water channelling properties. In this article, an easily fabricated mesh inspired by the hierarchical macro surface structure of Thuja plicata branchlets is described which emulates this efficient water collection behaviour. The key parameters are shown to be the pore size, pore angle, mesh rotation, tilt angle (branch droop) and laye...

Artificial rainwater harvesting system (ARHS) is a new way to increase water supply in semi-arid area, and has developed rapidly recent years in northwestern China. Not only it used in domestic supply, but also in agricultural as supply irrigation. More than 2 million water cellars have been built in Loess Plateau of China. In this paper, based on 5 years’ related experiments, field engineering...

To further understanding of the environmental implications of rainwater harvesting and its water savings potential relative to conventional U.S. water delivery infrastructure, we present a method to perform life cycle assessment of domestic rainwater harvesting (DRWH) and agricultural rainwater harvesting (ARWH) systems. We also summarize the design aspects of DRWH and ARWH systems adapted to t...

Several lizard species that live in arid areas have developed special abilities to collect water with their bodies' surfaces and to ingest the so collected moisture. This is called rain- or moisture-harvesting. The water can originate from air humidity, fog, dew, rain or even from humid soil. The integument (i.e., the skin plus skin derivatives such as scales) has developed features so that the...

Water harvesting systems have improved productivity in various regions in sub-Saharan Africa. Similarly, they can help retain water in landscapes, build resilience against droughts and dry spells, and thereby contribute to sustainable agricultural intensification. However, there is no strong empirical evidence that shows the effects of intensification of water harvesting on upstream-downstream ...

Climate change has resulted in increased vulnerability of smallholder farmers in marginal areas of Zimbabwe where there is limited capacity to adapt to changing climate. One approach that has been used to adapt to changing climate is in-field water harvesting for improved crop yields in the semi- arid regions of Zimbabwe. This review analyses the history of soil and water conservation in Zimbab...

Acquiring water is a challenge for desert animals, and organisms inhabiting arid regions have evolved morphological, physiological, and behavioral traits to maintain an appropriate water balance. On four occasions, I observed rain-harvesting or observed behaviors suggestive of rain harvesting in a population of speckled rattlesnakes (Crotalus mitchellii) in the Mojave Desert of southwestern Nor...

Rain-water-harvesting is one of the means by which agricultural production can be increased to meet the growing food demands in all regions. The study indentified the factor affecting rain-water-harvesting technology adoption for irrigation and farmers practice in water harvesting against drought in lowland woreda, Eastern Hararghe, Oromia Region. Both primary and secondary data were collected ...