The vegetation cover factor, for tree and bush canopies, in models of water erosion

Abstract

The main objective of this work consists on the analyzes of tree and bush canopies behavior, in terms of the rainfall interception process, namely, leave retention, and dripping, and the establishment of a erosion model component to include in to quantify the cover factor (C) of the Revised Universal Soil Loss Equation (RUSLE) for mixed land covered systems with arable crops, in association with trees and bushes.

In the experimental work a rainfall simulator was used and the characteristic values for the diameter of the dripping drops and retention of the leaves from characteristic species of the more common mixed land-use systems in Southern of Portugal, particularly with Cork oak (Quercus suber L.), Holm or evergreen oak (Quercus ilex L. ssp. rotundifolia Lam) and Kermes or wild oak (Quercus coccifera L.), were obtained.

From the obtained results the kinetic energy for different drop heights was estimated and, consequently, correction factors were calculated to be applied to the factor C.