干旱区生态环境知识资源中心

This study was carried out to assess runoff and mass sediment (soil losses) from 3 irrigation districts in the southeastern Anatolia Region of Turkey in 2005 and 2006. The total irrigating area was 3582 ha, 10044 ha, and 4758 ha for Cinar-Goksu, Devegecidi, and Kralkizi Districts, respectively. The numbers of samples in the irrigation districts for measurement of runoff and sediment ranged from 2 to 9 depending on the exit of these districts. A volumetric cup was used for discharge of runoff based on time. To estimate sediment in the runoff, water samples were collected using a 1-liter bottle. The total soil loss was estimated using the amount of soil mass lost with runoff per second and per liter. Runoff and mass sediment losses from these irrigation districts ranged from 28.0-42.4% and 98.4-4503.6 tons for one irrigation season, respectively. The reasons for excess runoff and mass sediment might be attributed to excessive flooding of lands and inappropriate irrigation methods. These runoff and soil losses are not acceptable for sustainable irrigation and environmental pollution, and these losses were affected by size of irrigation districts, land slopes, crop pattern, irrigation methods, amount of irrigation water applied, and climatic conditions.