11/23/2023 0 Comments Blueharvest free online![]() ![]() In 2016, we posted a blog on this work: Calculating Water Benefits on Farms. In collaboration with Limnotech, an environmental engineering and science firm, we have developed a tool that allows us to model hydrological impacts that result from different types of farm management. These factors are key for plant productivity as well as for water security for communities downstream. Soil erosion – soil erosion is the loss of the top layer of soil due to water and wind.Water recharge – water recharge is the amount of water that moves downward from surface water to groundwater.Soil moisture – Soil moisture is the amount of water stored in the soil.The key variables that we want to see positive changes in are: As part of the project monitoring, we are measuring water and soil characteristics. These are questions we are working on answering. What agricultural practices provide the biggest positive benefits for the environment? What is the 3 key practices we want to see every coffee farmer doing? Yet while we understand in general terms that the practices we promote not only help improve productivity, but also increase the provision of drinking water, we were left with a question. ![]() Through this combination of different approaches, we have improved the quality and quantity of water and increased the productivity of farmers whose farms lie in our target watersheds. in the community, through improving local water governance.in the watershed, by identifying key farms that served as recharge sites for community water sources.at the wet mill, by promoting the efficient use of water to mill coffee and the proper treatment of wastewater.on the farm, by decreasing runoff and increasing soil infiltration.The Blue Harvest project does this through a combination of approaches: ![]() Yet, managed correctly, coffee farms can provide ample amounts of quality drinking water for rural communities. As we have pointed out in the blog previously ( here here, here and here) coffee production and processing can have severely negative impacts on drinking water sources in the Coffeelands, through overuse, poor recharge and contamination by wastewater. Measuring how better management of coffee farms improve water resources in the Coffeelandsīlue Harvest started as an idea of how to restore and improve the management of water resources in coffee producing areas in El Salvador, Honduras and Nicaragua, while increasing the productivity of coffee farms located in our target watersheds. A screenshot of the Water Balance Calculator online tool. ![]()
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |