Half Moon Water Harvesting Technics for Agriculture: A Case
Study of Degraded Land Reclamation in Abdullahi Fodio University
of Science and Technology, Aliero (AFUSTA)

Ambursa; A. S.; Mohammed; I.U.; Mansur.M. A.; Abdulrahman; A.K; Abdulrahman; A.

doi:10.56201/ijaes.vol.11.no10.2025.pg46.51

📄 Download Paper

Half Moon Water Harvesting Technics for Agriculture: A Case Study of Degraded Land Reclamation in Abdullahi Fodio University of Science and Technology, Aliero (AFUSTA)

Ambursa, A. S., Mohammed, I.U., Mansur.M. A., Abdulrahman, A.K and Abdulrahman, A.

Abstract

Land degradation is a major environmental challenge threatening the productivity and sustainability of dryland ecosystems globally, particularly in sub-Saharan Africa. In Nigeria’s semi-arid regions, declining soil fertility, desert encroachment, and reduced vegetation cover have intensified the vulnerability of rural livelihoods. This study assessed the effectiveness of the half-moon water harvesting technique as a low-cost, sustainable land restoration strategy. The technique involves constructing semi-circular micro-catchments designed to capture and retain surface runoff, thereby improving soil moisture, reducing erosion, and promoting vegetation recovery. Two degraded plots were established at Abdullahi Fodio University of Science and Technology premises during the 2025 rainy season (August–September), with half-moon structures measuring 4 m in diameter and 0.15–0.25 m in depth. Organic manure was incorporated to enhance nutrient availability and plant growth. Results indicated that the halfmoon technology significantly improved soil moisture retention, minimized surface runoff, and created favorable conditions for tree establishment. Post-intervention observations revealed marked vegetation recovery compared to pre-intervention conditions. The study concludes that half-moon water harvesting offers a viable, community-adaptable approach for combating land degradation and enhancing ecosystem resilience in Nigeria’s drylands. It further recommends policy integration of such indigenous and cost-effective techniques into national land restoration and climate adaptation frameworks to support the attainment of Sustainable Development Goal 15—Life on Land

Keywords

Land degradationhalf-moon techniquewater harvestingsoil restorationAFUSTAsustainable land managementdryland ecosystems.

References

Barry, B., Namara, R., Hope, L., & Owusu, E. (2020). Water harvesting technologies in the African drylands: Potential and challenges. Water International, 45(3), 235–248. https://doi.org/10.1080/02508060.2020.1743249 Critchley, W., & Siegert, K. (2018). Water harvesting: A manual for the design and construction of water harvesting schemes for plant production. Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO). Nkonya, E., Mirzabaev, A., & von Braun, J. (2016). Economics of land degradation and improvement: A global assessment for sustainable development. Springer. Olagunju, T. E. (2019). The impact of land degradation on agricultural productivity in Nigeria: A review. Journal of Soil Science and Environmental Management, 10(5), 84–91. https://doi.org/10.5897/JSSEM2019.0769 Reij, C., & Garrity, D. (2016). Scaling up farmer-managed natural regeneration in Africa to restore degraded landscapes. Biotropica, 48(6), 834–843. https://doi.org/10.1111/btp.12390 Rockström, J., & Barron, J. (2017). Water productivity in rainfed systems: Overview of challenges and analysis of opportunities in water scarcity-prone savannahs. Irrigation Science, 35(3), 221–232. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00271-017-0540-2 Sawadogo, H., Bationo, B. A., & Zombré, N. P. (2018). Impact of half-moon water harvesting technique on soil fertility and crop yield in Burkina Faso. Agricultural Water Management, 204, 21–29. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.agwat.2018.04.007 Sivakumar, M. V. K. (2020). Land degradation and desertification in drylands: An overview. Sustainability, 12(17), 7075. https://doi.org/10.3390/su12177075 United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD). (2019). Global land outlook: Regional report on Africa. UNCCD. Zougmoré, R., Partey, S., Ouédraogo, M., & Totin, E. (2021). Climate-smart soil and water management for land restoration in West Africa. Land Degradation & Development, 32(1), 23–34. https://doi.org/10.1002/ldr.3680

Half Moon Water Harvesting Technics for Agriculture: A Case Study of Degraded Land Reclamation in Abdullahi Fodio University of Science and Technology, Aliero (AFUSTA)

Abstract

Keywords

References

More Articles from INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF AGRICULTURAL AND EARTH SCIENCE