An evaluation of potential management options to Reduce water use in communal gardens on the cape Flats

Abstract

The aim of this project was to evaluate various potential management options in their ability to reduce the water use of small and medium scale vegetable gardens on the Cape Flats. The water use of these gardens has a considerable impact on the economic feasibility of vegetable gardening. Considering the importance of the Cape Flats aquifer, it is also preferable from an environmental point of view to reduce water usage on the Cape Flats. The potential management options discussed in this report are: (1) reducing crop water requirements by using windbreaks and changing planting or sowing dates, (2) improving irrigation techniques and (3) improving irrigation management practices.