Sediment Budgeting in Laboratory Plots under Rainfall Simulation

Document Type : Research

Authors

1 Associate Professor, Department of Watershed Management, Faculty of Natural Resources, Tarbiat Modares University, Noor, Mazandaran, Iran

2 Professor, Department of Watershed Management, Faculty of Natural Resources, Tarbiat Modares University, Noor, Mazandaran, Iran

3 Professor, Department of Soil Science, Faculty of Agriculture, Tarbiat Modares University, Tehran, Iran

4 Associate Professor, Soil Conservation and Watershed Management Research Institute (SCWMRI), Agricultural Research, Education and Extension Organization (AREEO), Tehran, Iran

Abstract

Sediment production at each stage of erosion and its redistribution vary at different scales in a watershed, a slope and even a plot. The preparation of sediment budgets on watershed and slope scales have been considered in the two preceding decades, and a review of this tool on a plot scale can also help to better understand the process of sediment production, redistribution and delivery. The present study was conducted to budget sediments in laboratory plots with sandy-loamy soil and under rainfall simulation with the intensities of 30, 50, 70 and 90 mm h-1. Sediment tracing was performed on the surface of the plots by measuring the changes in the density of synthetic color-contrast aggregates using image processing. The results indicated the ability of this method to prepare sediment budgets on a plot scale. The contribution of interrill erosion in sediment production was increased with an increase in the rainfall intensity; however, the proportion of sediment redistribution within the plot was decreased. The average sediment delivery ratios for the rainfall intensities of 30, 50, 70 and 90 mm h-1 were 7.30, 8.54, 11.74 and 15.64%, respectively. The insignificance of this ratio on a plot scale was emphasized due to the short period of the experiment and should be considered in laboratory research projects.

Keywords

References

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History

  • Receive Date: 21 October 2018
  • Revise Date: 24 June 2020
  • Accept Date: 20 September 2020

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