Consequences of using of microcatchment systems on improvement of plant indices in dry farming conditions

  Abstract   Present research has been executed in Chaharmahal va Bakhtiary Province during 5 years in order to develop and establish hillside orchards using rainwater harvesting catchments. The region receives 300 mm of rainfall annually and has a moderate soil texture. Towards this goal, in a rangeland with a slope of 20 percent, microcatchments were made with 5 different treatments including removed surface vegetation with gravelly filter, removed surface vegetation without gravelly filter, isolated surface with gravelly filter, isolated surface without gravelly filter, and natural surface, with 5 replicates and 3 cultivar of almond (Rabi, Mamaei and Shahrood 21). Vegetation indices were measured after cultivation of saplings in the lower part of microcatchments. Statistical analyses show that there is a significant difference between different microcatchments at the 99% confidence level. The results showed that the means of variables are the lowest on the natural surface treatment and the highest in the isolated surface with gravelly filter treatment. The mean value of diameter of stem, height, canopy area, and fruit yield are respectively 40.5 mm, 180 cm, 1.45 m2  and 1233.7 gr in the isolated surface with gravelly filter treatment. Using a system with an isolated surface and a gravelly filter can supply plants’ water needs. So utilization of isolated surfaces with gravelly filters can be recommended in supplying water for hillside orchards in watersheds using rainwater harvesting systems.