Effect of the Gravel Filters and Plastic Cover on Improving Water Infiltration Process and Increasing Moisture Storage of Rainwater Harvesting Systems in Sloping Lands
Abstract Rainwater harvesting is a suitable method to plant seedlings in sloping lands in arid and semi-arid regions. In this research, a combination of plastic coating and gravel filter has been used to penetrate water into the soil. In this method, water is stored in the soil during the rainy months and the plant uses these waters in the warm months of the year. For this purpose, five treatments (with three replications) including control treatment, system vegetation removal with filter, system vegetation removal without filter, semi-insulated system with filter and semi-insulated system without filter are considered. Two sensors are installed in each of the treatments at a depth of 20 cm and 60 cm of soil, which will record moisture in seven-day periods. Apricot seedlings have been planted in all treatments. The information obtained was analyzed through a completely randomized block design. The results showed that the semi-insulated treatment with gravel filter stored significant moisture in the soil rather than other treatments and stored more moisture in the warm months of the year. The results showed that semi-insulated treatment with gravel filter is a suitable solution to increase soil moisture in the warm months of the year (June, July, August and September).