Effects of Light Firing on Infiltration, Runoff and Sediment in Rangeland in Kodir Area, Iran

Fire is one of the threats to forest and rangelands which affects different properties of ecosystems. However, effects of fire on infiltration and runoff production and sediment yield have been rarely considered in rangeland. This study was thus conducted to evaluate the influence of surface fire on amount of infiltration, runoff and sediment in rangelands of Kodir area, Iran. Towards this attempt, a rangeland area was selected in Kodir summer area where three 0.5×0.5 m-plot sizes were installed in control (no fire) condition. Threeother plots with the same dimensions were also treated with fire in the same area. The study plots were then subjected to a simulated rain with intensity of about on millimeter per minute and droplet diameter of about one millimeter. The experiments were conducted one monthly basis for one year study period. The infiltration amount and it's variations in study plots were assessed using volume balance technique. The amounts of surface runoff and sediment were also determined in laboratory. The effects of the fire treatment on study variables and their interactions with time were then analyzed using ANOVA test. The results showed that the fire increased runoff and sediment in treated plots located in rangeland area with respective rates of 1.18 and 1.52 whilst a reduction rate of 1.014 was reported for infiltration in comparison to what recorded for untreated plots.