Comparing Infiltration and Runoff Values and Microrelief in Small Plots

Quantitative investigation of effects of range management treatments on different soil and water components in rangeland ecosystems has been rarely taken into account. In the present research, the Kodir Summer Rangeland in the Southeast Nowshahr in Mazandaran Province was selected for studying effects of open grazing and exclosure managements on infiltration, runoff and microrelief. Experimental plots in dimension of 0.5×0.5 meters were applied in order to estimate runoff and subjected to rainfall intensity of 1.6 mm.min-1. The infiltration rate was calculated for each plot as the difference between the applied rainfall to and the runoff collected from each plot. The microrelief was also measured by using a wooden ruler graded in 10 cm steps and adjustable to the plot edges. The results were then compared on storm basis with the help of Tukey test. The results showed that there was a significant difference in infiltration, runoff and microrelief in two study treatments at the confidence level beyond 95%. The amount of total infiltration, runoff and microrelief in open grazing treatment were almost 0.97, 1.48 and 1.50 times to those recorded for short time exclosure treatment, respectively.