Unit12

Negarims

Negarim

Microcatchment : Negarim

• small infiltration area• surrounding bunds• runoff captured at lowest point

= 1 - 5 %

Productive trees (almond, apricot, peach, carob, pistachio, olive, pomegranates, vine, citrus) or bushes

Reforestation

= 3 - 250 m²

= 3 : 1 to

= 1 - 10 m²

25 : 1

= 150-600 mm/yr

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Negarims

Negarim with bushes; Photo: Oweis

Negarim

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Negarims

Aerial view of a negarim system; Photo: Lövenstein

Negarim

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Negarims

CONSTRUCTION :• Manual

Negarim

LIMITATIONS:• Mechanization impossible

LABOUR DEMAND :• High (construction +

maintenance)

MAINTENANCE : • Weed catchment• Loosen soil in cropping area• Mulch cropping area after receipt of water• Insert infiltration tube (optional)• Keep grazing animals away• Apply fertilizer (optional)• Repair bunds immediately after damage

Negarim system; Source: Rocheleau 1988

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NegarimsNegarim

Plan and cross-section of negarimmicrocatchments,

usual layout Source: Barrow 1987, redrawn

DIMENSIONS:• height of bund: ³ 25 cm• depth of planting pit:

40 cm - 1.5 m• cross-section: 5 - 30 m Variation of negarim: planting pit in

centre

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Negarims

Negarim

A

A

B

B

x (v

aries)x (varies)

Slo

pe

Infiltrationpit

Detailed plan view and cross-section of negarim; Source: Critchley & Siegert 1991

1:11:1

x (varies)

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NegarimsNegarim

Height of bunds

below the pit (maximum height)

Quantities of earth-works for negarims;Source: Critchley & Siegert 1991

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NegarimsStep One

• Stake out the contour by using a line level or a water tube level

• Smooth contours if required

• If the topography is very uneven, separate blocks of negarims

Layout and Construction of Negarim

Step Two

• Mark the tips along the contour at even spacing with a tape.

Source: Critchley & Siegert 1991

Unit12

Negarims

Layout and Construction of Negarim

Step Three

• Hold a string from each of both tips of a microcatchment .

If held tight, they will meet at the lowest point of the catchment (apex)

• Mark the apex with a peg

• Continue until all catchments in the upper row have been marked

Step Four

• Lay out the next lower row :

• The apex of the catchment below is now a tip of the second row

• Repeat Step Three for all further rows

Contour

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NegarimsStep Five

• Stake out size and excavate pit

Layout and Construction of Negarim

Step Six

• Clear the catchment of all vegetation

• Use the excavated soil from the pit to construct the bunds in two

layers

• Wet and compact bund by foot or with a barrel filled with sand or

water

• Fix a string at the beginning and end of each side of the bund and

adjust it

above ground at the selected bund height to ensure a uniform

height

Step Seven

• Plant tree seedlings of at least 30 cm height after the first rain of

the season

• It is recommended to plant two seedlings: one in the bottom of the

pit and

one on a step at the back of the pit.

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Negarims

• Negarims are diamond-shaped microbasins surrounded by

low earth bunds

• The distance between the most distant points is 5-30 m

• They are mainly used for growing fruit trees and fodder bushes

• Negarims are constructed manually

• The labour demand is high

Summary