HR: 0800h
AN: H41D-0435    [Abstracts]
TI: Hydrodynamic Characterization and Deep Drainage Dynamics of Two Contrasting Semi-arid Sites Subjected to Shrub Clearing
AU: * Kizito, F
EM: fred.kizito@oregonstate.edu
AF: Department of Crop and Soil Science, Oregon State University, ALS Building 3017, Corvallis, OR 97331 United States
AU: Dragila, M I
EM: maria.dragila@oregonstate.edu
AF: Department of Crop and Soil Science, Oregon State University, ALS Building 3017, Corvallis, OR 97331 United States
AU: SŠne, M
EM: modousen@refer.sn
AF: Science du Sol, Institut Senegalais de Recherches Agricoles (ISRA)/CERAAS, Thies-Escale, Senegal, THIES, B.P 3320 Senegal
AU: Kane, M
EM: mariamekane@yahoo.fr
AF: Institut des Sciences de la Terre Universit‚ Cheikh Anta Diop de Dakar, Dakar, Senegal, Dakar, SEN BP 2006 Senegal
AU: Selker, J
EM: selkerj@engr.orst.edu
AF: Department of Bioengineering, Oregon State University, Water Resources Engineering, Gilmore Hall Rm. 116, OR, Corvallis, 97331, United States
AU: Lufafa, A
EM: abel.lufafa@oregonstate.edu
AF: Department of Crop and Soil Science, Oregon State University, ALS Building 3017, Corvallis, OR 97331 United States
AU: Diedhiou, I
EM: ibrahima_diedhiou2003@yahoo.fr
AF: Institut Senegalais de Recherches Agricoles, (ISRA)/CNRA, Bambey, BP 53, Senegal
AU: Dick, R P
EM: richard.dick@oregonstate.edu
AF: Department of Crop and Soil Science, Oregon State University, ALS Building 3017, Corvallis, OR 97331 United States
AB: Vegetation clearance can potentially alter ecosystem water dynamics. In the Sahel, native shrubs in the landscape are subjected to continuous removal yet their role on the hydrological cycle has received little attention. Results from two field campaigns using the instantaneous profile method revealed higher infiltration rates below shrubs than bare soil areas. Hydraulic properties of the unsaturated sandy soils where estimated using the van Genuchten function from changes in both water content and matric potential. Shrub sites were associated with higher unsaturated hydraulic conductivity than bare soil areas. Deep drainage losses for bare soil areas were almost twofold those from shrub areas. Shrub presence had a considerable impact on water infiltration and storage in the upper 1.2 m. The study indicated that long-term average drainage rates could be reduced by 60% in these sandy drainage-prone soils by re-vegetating them with semi-arid shrub perennials. This would imply a potential for utilization of some of the captured drainage water for improved crop productivity in these fragile dryland agro-ecosystems.
DE: 0402 Agricultural systems
DE: 1632 Land cover change
DE: 1655 Water cycles (1836)
DE: 1813 Eco-hydrology
DE: 1838 Infiltration
SC: Hydrology [H]
MN: Fall Meeting 2005