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Level Pan System for Spreading and Storing Watershed Runoff
Author(s) -
Mickelson Rome H.
Publication year - 1966
Publication title -
soil science society of america journal
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.836
H-Index - 168
eISSN - 1435-0661
pISSN - 0361-5995
DOI - 10.2136/sssaj1966.03615995003000030025x
Subject(s) - environmental science , surface runoff , watershed , moisture , sorghum , hydrology (agriculture) , agronomy , water content , cropping , forage , seeding , geography , agriculture , ecology , biology , geology , geotechnical engineering , archaeology , machine learning , meteorology , computer science
Level pans were constructed in broad natural waterways to intercept runoff from contributing watersheds for storage and crop use. Stored soil moisture at seeding time in the level pans was as much in a 7‐month period over winter as that stored in unleveled fallow plots during a 19‐ to 21‐month period. Watershed runoff during the growing season provided 3 inches of moisture annually to level pans. The increased moisture supplies in the level pans permitted annual cropping with a 2‐fold or better increase in yields over unleveled dryland areas in either fallow or continuous cropping. Water‐use efficiency of grain and forage sorghums ( Sorghum vulgare 'RS‐610 and ‘FS‐22’) increased with increasing moisture supplies.