Effects of Polyacrylamide on Soil Erosion, Runoff, and Infiltration in Different Slopes, Using Rainfall Simulator

Document Type : Research Paper

Authors

1 Faculty of Water Engineering , Water and soil Faculty, University of Zabol;

2 MSc. Student, department of Irrigation and Drainage, Water and soil Faculty, University of Zabol

Abstract

Polyacrylamide (PAM) is a soil additive that increases the absorption of water and nutrients in the soil and provides an appropriate plant growth medium by reducing water losses and the cost of irrigation. In this study, the effect of different amounts of PAM was evaluated in controlling runoff, erosion and infiltration on sloping land following two sequential irrigation events. PAM (0, 3, 6, and 9 gr/kg) was applied to a clay loam soil under rainfall simulator in the laboratory. This study was performed on three slopes: 2.5%, 5%, and 10%. The results showed that runoff and soil erosion were reduced when PAM application rate was increased and the reduction in runoff and soil erosion in the second irrigation was much more than the first irrigation. On 5% slope, the maximum reduction in runoff in the second irrigation corresponding to 6 and 9 gr/kg PAM application was 74%. The maximum reduction in soil erosion was 63.8% and 84.3% in the first and second irrigation events, respectively, and belonged to 9 gr/kg PAM treatment. The final soil infiltration rate was increased by increasing PAM application rate in the two irrigation events.

Keywords

Journal of Water Research in Agriculture
Volume 27, Issue 2
April 2013
Pages 279-288

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