Changes in hydrologic components from a mid-sized plots induced by rill erosion due to cyanobacterization

Abstract

Runoff components are the most important factors in explaining the hydrological behaviour of a system. So that the proper understanding of the runoff processes may effectively help managers and decision-makers adopt appropriate measures. In this regard, there are variety of approaches to handle runoff generation, but the application of environmentally friendly, biologic-based and cost-effective approaches such as soil microorganisms has been seldom reported. The study has therefore tried to investigate the role of inoculation of cyanobacteria on runoff components under rain simulation conditions at the mid-sized (i.e., 6×1m) plots installed at ≈ 30 % slope steepness. The treated plots were subjected to a simulated rainfall with an intensity of 50 mm h-1 and an initial duration of 30 min with three replications. A simulated runoff of 2.18 ± 0.32 Lmin-1 was also performed simultaneously on the onset of starting surface runoff. The results showed significant differences (P<0.021) in hydrological behaviours in control and treated plots. So that no surface runoff was produced in treated plots up to the end of the initial duration of 30 min of simulated rainfall. The results revealed that cyanobacterization by secretion of exopolysaccharides not only postponed runoff generation but also effectively inhibited runoff components even if the rainfall incident extended for longer periods. The positive effect of cyanobacterization on increasing infiltration and potential storage of water beneath the soil was also verified in the present study, which suggests the profitable application of cyanobacteria for regulating hydrologic components.