Comparison of the effect of riprap, herbaceous textile and grass cover on reduction of sediment yield from the ditch of forest roads

Document Type : Complete scientific research article

Authors

1 Department of Forestry, Faculty of Forest Science, Gorgan University of Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources, Gorgan, Iran

2 Department of Arid Zones Management, Gorgan University of Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources, Iran

Abstract

Background and Objectives: Lateral ditches which are constructed to drain surface flow and protect the road structure under the sever rainfall are eroded by runoff velocity and then sediment as suspended load are transmitted to the river and aquatic ecosystem. Therefore, use of the cost effective, efficient and environmental techniques is essential for protecting ditches. The objective of this research was to compare the effect of different protective treatments on reduction of sediment yield from the ditch of forest roads as well as the assessing the effect of flow intensity on sediment concentration.
Materials and Methods: At first a segment of lateral ditch with a length of 50 meters was selected along the roads of district one in Bahramnia forestry plan. The longitudinal slope and soil type (texture, porosity and moisture) of selected segments were same. Five plots each of with the length of 10 meters were considered for establishing the protective treatments including riprap, grass cover by Festuca, cotton geotextile, picket and wattle by local slash and control. Runoff simulation was done for ten minutes at two intensities of 5 and 10 L S-1 using a tank with capacity of 6000 liters equipped with motor-pump. Sediment sampling from the runoff was carried out at the end of each plot and at each minute. Samples were transported to the laboratory and there sediment concentration was calculated in gram per liter. Runoff flow velocity in different treatments was measured using electromagnetic micro molinet.
Results: Sediment concentration and runoff velocity in treatments of riprap, grass cover by Festuca, cotton geotextile, picket and wattle by local slash was significantly lower than that of control. Conversion of flow intensity from 5 L S-1 to 10 L S-1 didn’t cause the significant change in sediment concentration (except for control and riprap treatments) and runoff velocity (except for control and cotton textile treatments). Sediment yield from riprap and control treatments under the flow intensity of 10 L S-1 was significantly more than that of 5 L S-1. Moreover, runoff velocity from cotton textile and control treatments under the flow intensity of 10 L S-1 was significantly more than that of 5 L S-1.
Conclusion: Riprap, grass cover by Festuca, cotton geotextile, picket and wattle treatments can be used in ditch of fores roads with flow intensity less than 5 L S-1 and picket and wattle treatment can be used in flow intensity more than 5 L S-1 because of their high efficiency in reducing sediment yield and runoff velocity.

Keywords

References

1.Afzalimehr, H., and Dey, S. 2009. Influence of bank vegetation and gravel bed on velocity and Reynolds stress distributions. Int. J. Sed. Res. 24: 2. 236-246.
2.Appelboom, T.W., Chescheir, G.M., Skaggs, R.W., and Hesterberg, D.L. 2002. Management practices for sediment reduction from forest roads in the coastal plains. Trans. ASAE. 45: 2. 337-344.
3.Broda, J., Gawlowski, A., Rom, M., Laszczak, R., Mitka, A., and Przybylo, S. 2016. Innovative Geotextiles for Reinforcement of Roadside Ditch. Tekstilec. 59: 2. 115-120.
4.Cao, L., Zhang, K., and Zhang, W. 2009. Detachment of road surface soil by flowing water. Catena. 76: 155-162.
5.Cerdá, A. 2001. Effects of rock fragment cover on soil infiltration, interrill runoff and erosion. Europe. J. Soil Sci. 5: 2. 59-68.
6.Demir, M., and Hasdemir, M. 2005. Functional planning criterion of forest road network system according to recent forestry development. Turk. J. Eng. Environ. Sci. 1: 2. 8-22.
7.Foltz, R.B., Copeland, N.S., and Elliot, W.J. 2009. Reopening abandoned forest roads in Northern Idaho, USA: Quantification of runoff, sediment concentration, infiltration, and interrill erosion parameters. J. Environ. Manage. 90: 2542-2550.
8.Hamed, Y., Albergel, J., Pepin, Y., Asseline, J., Nasri, S., Zante, P., Betndtsson, R., El-Niazy, M., and Balah, M. 2002. Comparison between rainfall simulator erosion and observed reservoirsedimentation in an erosion-sensitive semiarid catchment. Catena. 50: 1-16.
9.Javadi, P., Roohipour, H., and Mahboubi, A. 2005. Effect of rock fragment cover on erosion and overland flow using the flume and rainfall simulation. Iran. J. Range. Des. Res. 12: 3. 288-310. (In Persian)
10.Lang, A.J. 2016. Soil Erosion from forest haul roads at stream crossings as influenced by road attributes. Ph.D. thesis in Forest Resources and Environmental Conservation, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, USA, 158p.
11.Luce, C.H., and Black, T.A. 1999. Sediment production from forest roads in western Oregon. Water Res. Res. 35: 8. 2561-2570.
12.Lyle, W.M., and Smerdon, E.T. 1965. Relation of compaction and other soil properties to erosion resistance of soils. Trans. ASAE. 8: 419-422.
13.Megahan, W.F. 1972. Logging, erosion, sedimentation: Are they dirty words? J. For. 70: 5. 403-407.
14.Nearing, M.A., Bradford, J.M., and Parker, S.C. 1991. Soil detachment by shallow flow at low slopes. Soil Sci. Soc. Amer. J. 55: 339-344.
15.Parsakhoo, A. 2015. Forest road construction and maintenance. GorganUniversity of Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources Press. 243p. (In Persian)
16.Robichaud, P.R., and Brown, R.E. 2002. Silt fences: an economic technique for measuring hillslope soil erosion. USDAForest Service General Technical Report RMRS-GTR-95, Rocky Mountain Research Station, Fort Collins, CO, 24p.
17.Sheridan, G., Noske, P., Lane, P., and Sherwin, C. 2008. Using rainfall simulation and site measurements to predict annual inter rill erodibility and phosphorus generation rates from unsealed forest roads: Validation against in-situ erosion measurements. Catena. 73: 49-62.
18.Shixiong Cao, C., Chen, L., Gao, W., Chen, Y., and Yan, M. 2006. Impact of planting grass on terrene roads to avoid soil erosion. Landscape & Urban Plan. 78: 205-216.
19.Tague, C., and Band, L. 2001. Simulating the impact of road construction a forest harvesting on hydrological response. Earth Surf. Proc. Landform. 26: 131-151.
20.Wang, X., Li, Z., Cai, C., Shi, Z., Xu, Q., Fu, Z., and Guo, Z. 2012. Effects of rock fragment cover on hydrological response and soil loss from Regosols in a semi-humid environment in South-West China. Geomorphology. 151: 234-242.
21.Zhou, Z.C., and Shangguan, Z.P. 2007. The effects of ryegrass roots and shoots on loess erosion under simulated rainfall. Catena. 70: 350-355.
Journal of Water and Soil Conservation
Volume 25, Issue 6
March and April 2019
Pages 255-267

Files

Share

How to cite

Statistics