Effectiveness of polyvinyl acetate to decrease runoff and sediment in a marl soil under the same rainfall events

Vaezi, Alireza; Hamidi Nahrani, Somayeh; Mohammadi, Mohammad Hosein; Saba, Jalal

doi:10.22059/ijswr.2012.25054

Effectiveness of polyvinyl acetate to decrease runoff and sediment in a marl soil under the same rainfall events

Authors

Alireza Vaezi

Somayeh Hamidi Nahrani

Mohammad Hosein Mohammadi

Jalal Saba

10.22059/ijswr.2012.25054

Abstract

Polymers are among the proper materials for prevention of runoff and soil loss. The study was conducted to investigate the efficiency of Polyvinyl Acetate (PVAc) in decreasing runoff and sediment formation in a marl soil and in the laboratory conditions. PVAc was applied at five levels consisting of zero (control), 50, 100, 150 and 200 kg ha-1 with three replications in flumes filled with a marl soil. The flumes were exposed to five rainfall events with a constant intensity of 40 mm h-1 for 30 min. Results indicated that the rainfall event and polyvinyl acetate significantly (p<0.01 and p<0.05, respectively) affected the runoff and sediment yield. Runoff production and sediment yield increased from first rainfall event to the forth one due to an increase in soil disruption and decline in infiltration rate. The runoff production and sediment yield values in 50 kg ha-1 of the PVAc application amounted to 16.6% and 38% lower than those in the control treatment, respectively. Polyvinyl acetate of 50 kg ha-1 level was recognized as the most effective treatment for prevention of runoff and sediment production. In the coming studies, the effectiveness of the lower levels of the PVAc on control of runoff and sediment formation, as well as plant stabilization is suggested to be investigated.

Keywords

rainfall event

Rainfall simulator

Runoff production

Sediment yield