Effects of Rain Water Harvesting (RWH) on Hydrological Properties of Soil in Semi-Arid Regions of Central Iran

چکیده مقاله

RWH techniques are among the approaches that are used to meet the increasing need for water in the watersheds. Some of these techniques do not have much effect on the living and non-living elements of the ecosystem; however, some of them can affect the physical and biological properties of ecosystem. Hydrological characteristics of the soil are among of the most important causes of hydrological events, such as floods and landslides movements. In the present study different RWH treatments were carried out in various watersheds in semi-arid and sub-humid regions of central Iran and factors such as bulk density of the soil, moisture content of the saturated soil, percentage of stone and gravel, texture, structure, and permeability were measured and the results were analyzed statistically. There were quite significant and meaningful differences in the permeability, bulk density of the soil, liquid limit, and plastic limit of the soil in various RWH treatments. RWH treatment has changed the physical and hydrological properties of soil and has altered the potential of the soil and vegetation in protecting the soil and preventing excessive sediment production; consequently, it has affected other features of ecosystem.