Emerald Irrigation Erosion Study effect of furrow length on soil erosion by rain and flood irrigation
1991
Carroll, C. | Halpin, M. (Queensland Dept. of Primary Industries, Emerald (Australia). Land Management Research Branch) | Mollison, J. (Queensland Dept. of Primary Industries, Brisbane (Australia). Land Conservation Branch) | Secombe, D. (Queensland Water Resources Commission, Brisbane (Australia))
Two instrumented sites were established in 1986-87 to evaluate the effect of furrow length on soil erosion. Two treatments were compared, a Short Furrow Length (SFL) and a Long Furrow Length (LFL), with 241 and 482 m at one site, and 151 and 278 m at the other. During the project period rainfall caused 80 percent of the season's soil erosion compared with 20 percent caused by irrigation. The SFL treatments reduced soil loss due to rainfall by 20 to 26 percent. The converse was the case for irrigation with higher soil loss from the SFL treatment. Sediment concentration from both rainfall and irrigation declined through the cotton season after cultivation ceased and crop cover increased. Sediment delivery into the main drains was determined by soil cover, soil water deficit, taildrain gradient and catchment layout. The construction of farm silt traps should be encouraged to reduce soil movement into main drains and natural water courses.
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