Runoff and sediment production from burned forest sites in the Georgia Piedmont

Shahlaee, A.K.; Nutter, W.L.; Burroughs, E.R., Jr.; Morris, L.A. 1991. Runoff and sediment production from burned forest sites in the Georgia Piedmont. Water Resources Bulletin, June 1991, 27(3): 485-493.

Keywords: runoff, sediment production, hydrophobicity, burning, Georgia Piedmont

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Abstract: Runoff and sediment production was measured under simulated and natural rain from 1x5 m plots established on a cutover and burned mixed pine-hardwood site in the Georgia Piedmont. Trees on the study site were cut and removed without mechanical disturbance. Slash was removed, kiln dried and replaced on the slope, and burned prior to plot installation. Three slopes, two rainfall intensities, three rainfall simulations representing three soil moisture conditions, and two replicate plots were used. The experiment was repeated four times during the period July 1989-July 1990 to investigate the effects of temporal changes in surface conditions and particularly root mat and residual forest floor decomposition. Runoff and sediment production from natural rainfall events was also measured from these plots from the period February-October 1990. Results of all measurements indicate that runoff and sediment production were generally low because of the protection afforded by the residual forest floor following burning. However, temporary hydrophobic conditions caused by a dry organic layer produced relatively high runoff rates and high sediment for the first few minutes of runoff for some of the simulated rainfall applications.

Moscow FSL publication no. 1991i