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ARS Home » Midwest Area » Columbia, Missouri » Cropping Systems and Water Quality Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #124994
Title: EFFECT OF POLYACRYLIMIDE ON EROSION FOR VARIOUS RAINFALL KINETIC ENERGIES

Author
item THOMPSON, ALLEN - UNIV OF MO
item GHIDEY, FESSEHAIE - UNIV OF MO
item Alberts, Edward

Submitted to: American Society of Agricultural Engineers Meetings Papers
Publication Type: Other
Publication Acceptance Date: 8/2/2001
Publication Date: 8/2/2001
Citation: THOMPSON, A.L., GHIDEY, F., ALBERTS, E.E. EFFECT OF POLYACRYLIMIDE ON EROSION FOR VARIOUS RAINFALL KINETIC ENERGIES. AMERICAN SOCIETY OF AGRICULTURAL ENGINEERS MEETINGS PAPERS. 2001. ST. JOSEPH, MI. PAPER 012153.

Interpretive Summary: Soil amendments such as polyacrylimides (PAM) have shown promise for increasing infiltration into the soil and reducing sediment losses under a variety of applications. The objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of PAM on infiltration, runoff, and erosion on a bare silt loam claypan soil as a function of kinetic energy (KE). The study was conducted din the laboratory using a stationary rainfall simulator, which closely approximated the size distribution of natural rainfall. PAM application rates were 0, 2.5, and 9.9 kg/ha. Time to initiation of runoff was increased by 50% for the 9.9 kg/ha treatment relative to the control. Afer runoff initiated, the cumulative runoff volume during the first hour was 72, 68, and 62% of the total rainfall for the 0, 2.5, and 9.9 kg/ha PAM application rates, respectively. PAM application rates of 2.5 and 9.9 kg/ha reduced sediment losses by 10 and 31% compared to the control. This study showed the impact of different PAM application rates on time to initiation of runoff, total runoff, and total sediment loss. Additional research will focus on the impact of PAM on runoff and erosion from disturbed soils associated with construction sites. The results of this study will be useful to urban and farm erosion control specialists, city planners, construction companies, and others who must control the amount of offsite sediment movement from non-vegetated soils.

Technical Abstract: The effects of polyacrylimide (PAM) on infiltration, runoff, and erosion for a silt loam claypan soil were quantified as a function of rainfall kinetic energy. Infiltration and sediment transport processes were investigated using an air-dry soil bed with bare surface conditions at a rainfall rate of approximately 6.4 cm/h using a stationary rainfall simulator. The rainfall simulator produced terminal velocities and drople size distributions similar to natural rainfall. Treatments included PAM application rates of 0, 2.5, and 9.9 kg/ha. Time to initiation of runoff was increased by 50% on the soil that received the high PAM rate compared to the control. Infiltration prior to runoff increased at a rate of 0.07 cm of water for each kg/ha of PAM applied. Runoff depth was greatest for the bare soil with no PAM. Cumulative runoff volume during the first hour after runoff began was 72, 68, and 62% for the 0, 2.5, and 9.9 kg/ha PAM application rates, respectively, relative to total rainfall applied. PAM applications of 2.5 and 9.9 kg/ha decreased sediment losses by 10 and 31%, respectively, compared to the control.