General Technical Documents

The Turbidity Tube: Simple and Accurate Measurement of Turbidity in the Field - 20/1/2006

Turbidity is an important water quality parameter in drinking water provision and treatment. The equipment typically used to measure turbidity can be quite expensive, and often provides results which are more precise and accurate than necessary. This high cost is a barrier to many projects in the developing world. In this paper, we will present the turbidity tube as an alternative device to measure turbidity. A turbidity tube can be purchased commercially, or can be constructed at an extremely low cost using a wide range of locally available materials. It is particularly well-suited to situations when decisions can be made based on approximate turbidity (rounded to the nearest 5 NTU). We give a brief discussion of what turbidity is, how a turbidity tube is constructed, and how to use it properly.

Un sistema de Cultivo Orgánico para la Agricultura Sostenible en los Trópicos - 20/1/2005

Este libro es una obra importante para la agricultura tropical.  Existen muy pocas fuentes de informacion que son realmente "orgánicas" y prácticas para el agricultor comun en el contexto ambiental y tropical. Este libro se dirige a asuntos que son extremadamente utiles para la operación diaria de una granja o hortaliza.

Contiene material de planificación que toma en cuenta tanto la logística como también la programación de su uso.

Esto no es una guía para el estudiante de agronomía. He identificado

algunas especies que funcionan bien para nosotros, pero no tengo una guia de cultivo para arroz o maíz o verduras. Esas guías son fácilmente obtenidas

de proveedores de semillas y libros generales de agricultura. Si el lector mira

cuidadosamente, descubrirá que he dado un sistema para la fecundación natural

en lugar de las recomendaciones químicas que son los metodos comunes hoy en dia. Un poco de adaptación creativa será requerida si varian sus condiciones

y el clima. Tenemos una tierra de arcilla muy ácida que en su tiempo era selva tropical. Con el paso de los años la hierba “cogan” se ha establecido. Esto es nuestro punto de partida pero hay que recalcar que las fórmulas pueden cambiar para enfrentar la variedad de desafíos que el lector pueda estar encontrando.

Éste no es un manual de “Como Se Hace”.  Más bien, esto es un libro “Como Lo Hacemos” basado en mi manual de “Agricultura Sostenible en los Trópicos”.  Ha sido utilizado en el entrenamiento y capacitación de cientos de agricultores y jardineros de pequeña escala en la aventura del cultivo organico y natural.  Es un camino que vale la pena andar porque son muy pocas cosas en la vida que pueden resultar en el mejoramiento general de la salud y bienestar como lo que proviene de alimentos de calidad cultivado hasta su maxima potencial

Keith O. Mikkelson - otoño 2005

Tippy Tap II - 20/1/2005

The Tippy Tap II (Lifewater International) is a modified design of the Tippy Tap that is easier to make and easy to use. The Tippy Tap II can be made from any container of about one to four litres capacity. A jug with a handle works best, but a Tippy Tap II can be made from any plastic container, even a two-litre bottle!

This publication is Copyright by Lifewater International 

Coconut Farm Diversification - 20/5/2001

For a long time, coconut farmers were able to live with the fate of declining harvests and incomes. In view of the current prices, this is no longer possible. It needs changes. The best option coconut farmers have to improve their livelihood is to diversify their farms. Fortunately, common coconut farms allow the integration of many other crops
or even livestock. In this regard, the coconut palm is an exception among the plantation crops.

The practice of intercropping is common in coconut farms in many countries, especially in Indonesia, Malaysia, Sri Lanka, and India. In the Philippines, where coconuts occupy about one fourth of the arable land, the ground in many coconut farms is still underutilized. One reason is the commodity approach of research institutions and the government agencies. For example, during the last decade the Philippine Coconut Authority (PCA) has focused its work on a fertilization program with the aim to increase the production of coconuts. Looking at the current price of copra, the main coconut product, it is questionable if such an approach really helps the farmers. Hence, there is a need for more information on options to improve coconut farms. Because of the decreasing profitability, farmers tend to cut down coconut palms and replace them with other cash crops, usually planted as monocrop. Ecologically and economically, this might be unwise considering the potentials of coconut farms.

The Eave Trough Garden - 19/5/1993

The goal of ECHO's rooftop gardening project is to develop gardens that are:

• exceptionally lightweight
• inexpensive
• uncomplicated to build and maintain

African Farm Management - 19/1/1988

Farm management is the study and application of the principles of economics, management, and agriculture to farm production within a particular environment.  A farm management text written for an African audience, therefore, includes management and economic principles and applications from the African cultural system.

Permaculture in Humid Landscapes - 19/1/1981

The humid landscape is water controlled, and unless it is an extremely new landscape- volcanic or newly faulted--it has softly rounded outlines. When you are walking up the valley, or walking on the ridge, observe that there is a rounded 'S' shaped profile to the hills.

Where the landscape turns from convex to concave occurs a critical point that we call a keypoint.*

Outlines of perennial crop breeding in the tropics - 19/1/1969

In predominantly agricultural tropical countries the need to raise the production of good-quality foodstuffs and raw material is today greater than ever. The rise in production efficiency, so essential for our very existence, can be obtained only partly by improved cultural practices, increased use of fertilizers and better plant protection. It is now generally recognized that local varieties adapted to traditional cultural methods often fail to respond favourably to improved growing conditions. Therefore plant breeders have a most important part to play in the total effort. The greatest challenges and opportunities await them in the tropics. There the developments in agriculture and horticulture could be dramatic, provided that the planting material which is made available to the grower consists of genotypes giving the best results under the new conditions.

In tropical agriculture and horticulture perennial crops occupy an important place. In several of them, especially in plantation crops, much effort has been given to improve the plants by careful selection and breeding. Some breeding programmes have been going on for many years and have considerably increased the yield and improved the quality of the product.