The effects of vegetative and mechanical practice on runoff in different land use characteristics

In this study, the effects of runoff plots on Elazığ Hamzabey micro watershed on soil conservation and erosion were investigated. In this study, field measurements were carried out in 2017. The effects of vegetative and mechanical practices carried out under different land use conditions were measured under natural rainfall conditions using surface runoff plots. In order to measure the amount of rainfall in the field where the plots are installed, a pluviograph has been placed. In order to determine the effect of vegetative and mechanical practices on runoff, three plots were installed in the soil conservation area. These plots are located on the field which land use is the only terraces, terraces and sapling and the control area. On the other hand, three runoff plots were placed in the forested area to reveal the effect of vegetative practices on surface flow. These plots consist of the ones placed on the clear-cutting and thinning areas and the control plot which placed in the open forest area. All the plots on the field were 20 meters long and 4 meters wide. Precipitation and surface runoff data for 2017 were determined using automatic measuring instruments in the field. The amount of precipitation in the Hamzabey micro watershed in 2017 was 316.4 mm. Surface flow rate of precipitation was 15.87% in terraces and saplings planted soil conservation plots, whereas it was determined as 18.39% in soil conservation plots which were terraces only. The total precipitation that generated surface runoff was 30.66% in the control plot placed in the soil conservation area. Surface flow rate of precipitation was determined as 21.57% and 7.57% respectively in the plots where clear-cutting and trimming were performed in the oak forest area. Surface flow rate of precipitation in oak control plot was realized as 19.48%.