Rain Water Harvesting

Water harvesting and collection To avoid water losses after strong rains, surface run-off is collected using bunds and ideally brought into the proximity of the plants. To avoid run-off from the field, the water is retained with micro-catchments and by field contour cultivation. Run-off water that has left the fields is slowed down by terraces, bunds on contour lines, dams and hedges and, if possible, collected. 

Cherries are susceptible to splitting if they take up too much water, too fast. Harvest ripe fruit immediately after a heavy rain. 

Northern manufacturers preferred foreign hemp, especially that from Russia, to domestic hemp because of the superior manner in which the fiber was processed abroad. In Russia, for example, the stalks were hung on rocks as soon as they were cut. If the weather remained dry, the stalks were not disturbed. If it rained they were placed in a kiln. Regardless of how they were initially dried, on the third day after harvesting the plants were completely submerged in warm water for three weeks and then cold water for five weeks more. Then they were allowed to dry for two additional weeks, followed by a second kiln drying for twenty four hours. Finally, the stalks were broken. The husks were tom off and the fiber was carefully hatcheled. The finished fiber was then placed in storerooms until it was sold. 

Water is made available to plants either as rain, dew or humidity and artificially through irrigation. The effect of water is variable many plants, e.g. cinchona, require high humidity for growth. Excessive rainfall on the other hand may encourage rotting of harvested material. 

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