Investigation of impact of semi-isolated and natural surfaces in moisture variations of optimized microcatchment systems

Present research has been executed in Chaharmahal va Bakhtiary Province during 5 years in order to investigation of impact of optimized microcatchment systems in moisture storage of soil profile for establishment and development of hillside orchards. Essential hypothesis in this research is the practicability of moisture storage in soil profile by using microcatchment systems. Towards this attempt, in a rangeland of 20 percent slope, microcatchments were made with 5 different treatments including natural surface, removed surface with gravelly filter, removed surface without gravelly filter, isolated surface with gravelly filter and isolated surface without gravelly filter, with 5 replicates and 3 cultivar of almond. Soil moisture was measured in the times of, one day after rainfall, one day befor irrigation, one day after irrigation and once in each 5 days by TDR in depth of 25, 50 and 75 centimeters of soil profile of cultivated ditch. Comparison of means of soil moisture showed that in depth of 25 centimeters of soil profile, different treatments had not effective role in soil moisture variations. In depth of 50 centimeters, the means of moisture value had significant difference between different treatments. In depth of 75 centimeters, the means of moisture value had significant difference between removed surface with gravelly filter and removed surface without gravelly filter(p<0.05) and also between isolated surface with gravelly filter and isolated surface without gravelly filter(p<0.04). So utilization of optimized microcatchment systems especially isolated surfaces with gravelly filter can be recommended for increasing of moisture storage of soil profile in hillside orchards