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ARS Home » Midwest Area » Columbia, Missouri » Cropping Systems and Water Quality Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #141573
Title: SOIL HYDRAULIC PROPERTIES INFLUENCED BY STIFF-STEMMED GRASS HEDGES

Author
item RACHMAN, A - UNIV OF MO
item ANDERSON, S - UNIV OF MO
item Alberts, Edward
item GANTZER, C - UNIV OF MO

Submitted to: Agronomy Abstracts
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: 10/31/2002
Publication Date: 11/1/2002
Citation: RACHMAN, A., ANDERSON, S.H., ALBERTS, E.E., GANTZER, C.J. SOIL HYDRAULIC PROPERTIES INFLUENCED BY STIFF-STEMMED GRASS HEDGES. AGRONOMY ABSTRACTS. 2002. CD-ROM. MADISON, WI.

Interpretive Summary:

Technical Abstract: Stiff-stemmed grass hedges planted in narrow rows within a field offer an opportunity for effective erosion control at a reasonable cost. The effectiveness of the hedges, however, may depend on soil hydraulic properties as influenced by a hedge. The objective of this study was to characterize and compare soil hydraulic properties as affected by three different positions with the grass hedge system. The research was conducted on a 5.6-ha watershed located in the deep loess hills region of western Iowa. In 1992, narrow rows of switchgrass hedges were planted at 15.4-m intervals approximately on the contour. In June 2001, infiltration rates were measured within the grass hedges, within the deposition zone 0.5 m above the hedges, and within the row-crop area 5 m above the hedges. Infiltration rates were measured using a single ring infiltrometer inserted to a depth of 15 cm. Coinciding with the infiltration rate measurements, intact soil core samples were collected at 10-, 20-, 30-, and 40-cm depths for measuring saturated hydraulic conductivity (Ksat)in the laboratory. The average steady state infltration rate measured in the grass hedges was 230 mm/hr compared to 12 mm/hr in the deposition zone and 38 mm/hr in the row-cropped area. The Green-Ampt infiltration equation predicted infiltration behavior better than the Horton and Kostiakov equations. Large differences in Ksat values were found among the 3 sampling positions for the 10- and 20-cm depths, with relative differences similar to steady-state infiltration rates. Because only 6% of the field is in grass hedges, it may be difficult to show reductions in surface runoff discharge from the watershed as contrasted to finding major reductions in sediment concentrations and discharges.