Effect of Polyvinyl Acetate on Hydraulic Conductivity, Runoff and Sediment Production in a Marl Soil

آب و خاک

Article 13, Volume 27, Issue 4, September 2013, Pages 792-801   

Document Type: Research Article

DOI: 10.22067/jsw.v0i0.28153

Authors

S. Hamidi Nehrani^* ; A.R. Vaezi

Abstract

Marls have been recognized as susceptible formations against water erosion. Polyvinyl acetate (PVAc) is a biodegradable polymer which can be currently applied in soil conservation programs. The study was conducted to investigate effect of the PVAc on hydraulic conductivity and runoff and sediment production in a marl soil. The PVAc was applied in soil surface at five levels consists of zero (control), 50, 100, 150 and 200 kg ha-1 with three replications. The polymerized soils were putted into fifteen flumes with a dimension of 0.5m × 1m and 15cm depth. The flumes were placed in 9% slope and affected by five simulated rainfall events (40 mm h-1 in intensity and 30 min duration) with seven days interval. Based on the results, soil infiltration and hydraulic conductivity significantly affected by the PVAc application with a statistical level of 0.05 and 0.01, respectively. Analysis of runoff and sediment data showed that the runoff and sediment production was remarkably influenced by the PVAc application. There was found that 50 kg per hectare of the PVAc have the highest effect in improving infiltration rate and hydraulic conductivity, and consequently decreasing runoff and sediment production. The infiltration rate in 50 kg per hectare of the PVAc was 16.6% higher than zero treatment (control). The study reveled that the PVAc can be successfully used in the marl areas to improve soil structure and control runoff and sediment

Keywords

Hydraulic conductivity; Rainfall event; Rainfall simulator; Soil infiltration