Reduction of Water Consumption in Landscape Using Organic Mulches

In arid and semi-arid regions, evaporation from the soil surface represents the major water balance component that causes losses of water. Urban landscape (particularly grass cover) consumes a large amount of water in urban areas. Using mulch is a proper method to reduce the cost and volume of irrigation. This experiment was completely randomized blocks design with four treatments and three replications. The experiment consisted of grass clipping, wood chips, and leaf pine mulches of 2 cm thickness. Three pots had no mulch (control) and the remaining 9 pots were covered with mulches. The soil evaporation rate is daily measured using an electronic balance. Results indicated that the treatments with mulches had the best performance on saving water. The grass clipping, wood chips and leaf pine mulch decreased the cumulative soil evaporation, 51.8%, 57.3 %, and 61%, respectively compared to the control plot (no mulch). The relationship between cumulative soil evaporation under four treatments and time was well fitted by linear equation.

کلیدواژه ها:

Evapotranspiration ، Landscape ، Mulches