Baptista, I.

Ferreira, A.D.

Geissen, V.

Querido, A.

Ritsema, C.J.

English

Wageningen UR (University & Research Centre): Publication System

 Optimizing rainwater-use in Cape Verde through alternative 
land management technologies: Preliminary research results 
from “Ribeira Seca” watershed, Cape Verde 
 
 
 
 
  
 
  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
        
       Figure 3: Rainfall distribution during growing season 
    *Treatment means followed by same letters are not significantly different at 0.05 level  
 
0
200
400
Jul Aug Sep Oct
Ra
in
fa
ll (
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S. Jorge Covada Serrado O. Pequeno
 
Baptista, I 1., C. J. Ritsema 2, V. Geissen 2, A.D. Ferreira3, A. Querido4 
1 Instituto Nacional de Investigação e Desenvolvimento Agrário, INIDA, CP 84, Praia, Cape Verde 
2 Alterra/ Wageningen University (WUR), the Netherlands P.O. Box 47, 6700 AA, Wageningen, The Netherlands 
3 CERNAS, Escola Superior Agrária de Coimbra, Instituto Politécnico de Coimbra, Bencanta, P-3040-316 Coimbra, Portugal 
4Environment, Energy & Natural Disaster Prevention Unit, Office of United Nations, Praia, Cape Verde 
 
Table 1:  Characteristics of experimental sites 
Site Soil texture Slope 
(%) 
OM content  
(%) 
K 
cm/day 
Rainfall 2011 
 (mm) 
S. Jorge loam 8 2.46   7.34 655 
Covoada loam 11 1.63 41.56 504 
Serrado sandy loam 35 1.10 95.04 462 
O. Peq.  silt loam 23 1.55 45.79 599 
Table 2: Effect of treatments on runoff (l/m2), suspended sediment (g/m2), and maize grain yield  (kg/ha) in each experimental sites for 2011 rainy season 
 
Treatments* 
S. Jorge Covoada Serrado O. Pequenos 
Runoff Sediment Maize yield Runoff Sediment Maize yield Runoff Sediment Maize yield Runoff Sediment Maize yield 
T1 (control) 0.79 a 2.04 a 289 a 0.98 a 1.41a 462 a 1.61a 40.13 a 1818 a 2.10 a 235.42 a 856 a 
T2 0.42 b 0.58 b 444 b 0.71a 0.42b 1288 b 1.34 a 13.74 b 1469 a 1.78 a 72.21 b 924 a 
T3 0.34 b 1.18 c 305 a 0.62 a 1.73a 598 a 1.33 a 22.12 c 1545 a 1.89 a 94.46 b 833 a 
T4 0.10 c 0.27 d 542 b 0.15 b 0.03c 955 b 0.35 b 11.41b 2083 a 0.95 b 6.32 c 606 a 
Method 
 Literature review to select potential land management techniques 
 Stakeholders workshop to discuss and select techniques  
 Experimental design: Completely Randomized Design; 3 replications; 4 
collaborative field trials (1 on-station and 3 on-farms), in Ribeira Seca 
(Fig.1 and 2)  
 Experimental units: 44 m2 field plots 
 Treatments/scenarios: T1 = control (standard farmers practice); T2 = 
organic nutrient source (4 t/ha compost or animal manure) + soil surfactant 
(1mL/m2);  T3 = organic nutrient source (1t/ha green manure, compost or 
animal manure) + pigeon pea barrier; T4 = crop residue mulching at 4 t/ha) 
+ organic nutrient source (4 t/ha)  
 Crops:  local maize variety and 2 bean types  
 Instruments: rain gauges, TDR, data logger with moisture sensor 
 Parameters: rainfall amount and intensity, soil moisture, amount of runoff 
and suspended sediment, maize and bean yield 
Figure 1. Location of experimental plots within Ribeira 
Seca, Santiago and Cape Verde  
Introduction 
Food production in Cape Verde dryland areas is severely hampered by erratic rainfall patterns, high intensity storm events, water losses 
through rapid runoff, deep percolation and low soil fertility, resulting in poor rainwater use efficiencies (RWUE) and low crop yields.  In 
spite of past investment in soil and water conservation, crop yields remain low. It is, therefore, crucial to explore innovative land 
management technologies that integrate soil fertility, efficiency of rainwater-use and increase dryland crop productivity. There is a wide 
range of land management techniques available to improve RWUE in dryland farming systems (Stroosnijder, 2009; WOCAT, 2007), but 
need to be tested in each specific condition and take into consideration farmers’ perception and participation. This research aims to 
evaluate the efficacy of selected land management techniques in Cape Verdean drylands to increase RWUE and crop yield,  combining 
traditional and scientific knowledge in a field based participatory approach.    
Conclusion 
 Amounts of runoff and sediment yield were influenced by steepness of slope and 
rainfall amount per event 
 
 A combination of residue cover (mulching) with an organic nutrient source (compost, 
animal manure or green manure)  contributes for significant reduction of runoff and 
soil loss from agricultural dryland fields in the watershed, thus, improving RWUE 
 
 Application of soil surfactant seems to have positive effect on crop yield depending 
on specific soil conditions (i.e. texture) 
 
 Effect of treatments on maize yield is not conclusive for first year results of 
experiments due to uncontrolled external factors such as poorly distributed rainfall, 
during growing season and damage by rodents 
References 
Stroosnijder, L. (2009) 'Modifying land management in order to improve efficiency of rainwater 
use in the  African highlands', Soil and Tillage Research, 103(2), 247-256. 
WOCAT (2007). Where the land is greener- Case studies and analysis of soil and water 
conservation      initiatives worldwide. Editors: Hanspeter Liniger and William Critchley. 
Querido, A. (1999). Watershed system analysis for evaluating the efficiency of soil and water 
conservation works: a case study of Ribeira Seca, Island of Santiago, Cape Verde. 
Master’s thesis. International Institute for Aerospace Survey and Earth Science. Enschede. 
The Netherlands
 
 
 
 
 
 
Figure 2:Aspects of trial  sites  


Optimizing rainwater-use in Cape Verde through alternative land management technologies: Preliminary research results from “Ribeira Seca” watershed, Cape Verde

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Optimizing rainwater-use in Cape Verde through alternative land management technologies: Preliminary research results from “Ribeira Seca” watershed, Cape Verde

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