Thumbnail Image

Establishing grass barriers along the contour to reduce water runoff and erosion during heavy rainfall, Grenada

Year of publication 2012

Place of publication Rome, Italy ;

Pages 3p.

Publisher FAO ;

Product type Document

Edition 1

Synopsis (short abstract) The agricultural sector in Caribbean islands such as Grenada is extremely vulnerable to storms and hurricanes. Establishing grass barriers along the contour can help in reducing water runoff and erosion during heavy rainfall. Grass barriers provide erosion control on croplands and offer a cheaper and more sustainable alternative to terraces in areas where soil degradation is highly likely. This system reduces surface runoff by promoting detention and infiltration, diverts runoff to a stable outlet and helps entrapping sediment-borne and soluble contaminants. This practice describes how to establish a grass barrier.

Language English

Also available in:
No results found.

Related items

Showing items related by metadata.

  • Thumbnail Image
    Document
    Enhancing drought resistance through Guinea grass mulching, Jamaica 2008
    Also available in:
    No results found.
    Guinea grass mulching is one of the local drought-mitigation strategies adopted in the low-rainfall areas of Jamaica. After the land preparation dried guinea grass is applied in a matted form over the area to be cultivated. This practice helps crop to survive during the dry season without having to recur to irrigation. Moreover, this technique enhances soil moisture for germinating seeds and allows for a better crop establishment and nutrient uptake.
  • Thumbnail Image
    Document
    Mechanical soil conservation strategies to reduce soil erosion in Dominica 2014
    Also available in:
    No results found.
    In Dominica, natural disasters, such as storms and heavy rainfalls, regularly occur and have a direct impact on its agricultural sector. Therefore, mechanical soil conservation strategies are important management practices for crop production. These strategies use methodologies that include the use of bunds, terraces, waterways / drainage channels, and other structures, for example vegetative barriers, or stone / rock lines. Thereby, the structures are so installed as to break the force of winds or decrease the velocity of runoff to reduce soil erosion. Barriers can be constructed with live material, such as plants, dead material, such as rocks, or with a mixture of both materials. For an illustration of different on-farm erosion control strategies see the pictures attached to this practice.
  • Thumbnail Image
    Document
    Mulching to control soil erosion in Dominica 2014
    Also available in:
    No results found.
    Natural hazards, such as storms, hurricanes, and heavy rains, directly impact agricultural productivity and production in Dominica, leading to landslides and soil erosion, among others. In order to better mitigate the impacts of these hazards and prevent soil erosion, mulching can be used to protect and conserve the soil, and reduce erosion by water and wind. Mulching is a very simple and beneficial practice where organic material, such as crop residues and weeds, or inorganic material, like plastic sheets, is spread over the soil surface.
Show more

Users also downloaded

Showing related downloaded files

No results found.