Lelon, J.K.Muya, E.M.Nganga, J.K.Kimani, P.K.2015-07-292015-07-292007Lelon, J. K., Muya, E. M., Ng'ang'a, J. K. and Kimani, P. K. (2007). Water Use Efficiency and Biomass Assessment of Vallerani Micro-catchments at Laisamis Acacia Operation Project (AOP) Site 2007. Kenya Agricultural Research Institute. https://kalroerepository.kalro.org/handle/0/7092https://kalroerepository.kalro.org/handle/0/7092The Acacia Operation Project attempts to develop agro-silvo-pastoral systems in arid and semi-arid lands and improvement of the production of gums and resins, through a Mechanized Water Harvesting Technology (The Vallerani System). Natural gums and resins in sub-Saharan Africa may contribute to rural livelihoods of local communities in terms of food security, income generation and foreign exchange earnings. The main concern of these micro-catchments is whether they harvest adequate capacity of water and also store enough within the root zone at a level that will meet the crop water requirements throughout the growing season; and at the same time, check the run-off speed to a non-erosive value. The broad objective of the study is to rehabilitate the degraded areas of the project sites using Acacia senegal in a Vallerani micro-catchment system. Specific Objectives are: 1) To establish the experimental plot for monitoring and evaluating the effect of the micro-catchments in relation to the tree growth performance in the project site. 2) To evaluate and assess biomass production, water balance and water use efficiency in shallow, moderately deep and deep soil units in relation to good and poor oriented microcatchments. 3) To assess the extent and the degree of soil erosion in the experimental plot.enhttp://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/Report20Water balanceWater use efficiencySoil erosionRainfallData