An Evaluation of the Effect of rain water harvesting Systems with Gravel Filter Method on Optimization of Runoff Influence and Increasing Moisture Storage in Arid Areas (Tang Chenar - Yazd Province)

Lack of rainfall in our country has doubled the importance of planning and optimal use of water resources. So that without the use of innovative methods and proper program in arid areas, the establishment of many plants is difficult or fundamentally impossible. On the other hand, rapid population growth, decreasing water resources and climatic changes, especially in arid and semi-arid regions of the world, has led to an investigation of strategies to increase agricultural production and rain garden along with optimal use of water. A significant portion of the Shirkouh lands in the city of Mehriz of Yazd province is used as dry gardens. Many of the fruit trees of the region, especially almonds, are dry farming, and rainy years produce a good crop. But in the warm and dry months of the year, they suffer from drought stress. Years of low rainfall and drought are water shortage problem. In this study, the effect of gravel filter on penetration optimization and its role in increasing the moisture storage of rain water harvesting systems using 72 plats and performing gravel filter treatment on half them were evaluated in a completely randomized design. The soil moisture was measured in 20 and 50 cm depths. According to the statistical analyzed data in 1390 year the gravel filter increased the soil moisture (p> 0.05). The 1391 year showed more significant (p> 0.01). Compared to the average soil moisture with gravel filter with control (natural-no pebble filter) have been increased 37%.