Taher Cheikho*(1) and Ahmed Zalita(2) and Linda Droobi

(1). Department of Forestry and Environment, Faculty of Agriculture, Tishreen University, Lattakia, Syria.

(2). Natural Resources Administration (GCSAR), Damascus, Syria.

(3). Scientific Agricultural Research Center, Lattakia, Syria.

(*Corresponding author: E. Linda Droobi. E-mail: linda.droobi@yahoo.com).

Received:17-5-2020 Accepted:18-7-2020

Abstract

A field experiment was carried out at the Samandeel site which belongs to Stkheres Research Station – Scientific Agricultural Research Center in Lattakia during the 2017/2018 rainy season, to study the effect of the space between contour stone bunds on runoff and soil moisture content. For this purpose, three stone bunds with a spacing of 10, 20 and 30 m were constructed along the contour lines. Three runoff plots were established, each was 5 m wide, with variable lengths of 10, 20 and 30 m, resulting in plot catchment areas of 50, 100 and 150 m2, respectively. The results were compared with the control treatment without stones bunds. The results showed an increase in harvested runoff volumes with increasing space between the stone bunds, their mean values were 6, 9.9 and 12.9 m3 for spacing 10, 20 and 30 m, respectively, but this increase was not statistically significant (P > 0.05). Soil moisture content was increased with increasing distance from the stone bunds, their mean values were 24.5, 26.8 and 29.7% for spacing 10, 20 and 30 m, respectively. Significant differences (P  0.05) between soil moisture content of both 10 and 30 m spacing were found. In contrast to the bunds treatments, a decrease in soil moisture content with increasing slope length were recorded at control area, their mean values were 14.1, 13.2 and 12.8% for spacing 10, 20 and 30 m, respectively. By comparing the mean values of soil moisture content of bunds and control treatments for all studied spacing, high significant differences (P  0.001) were found. These findings confirmed the effective role of contour stone bunds in reducing runoff, enhancing water infiltration into the soil and improving water availability during the growing season, thereby protecting crops and trees from dry periods.

Key words: Water harvesting, Contour stone bunds, Runoff, Soil water content, Samandeel- Lattakia.

Full paper in Arabic: PDF