Evaluation of Rainfall Interception by Vegetation Using a Rainfall Simulator

Thiago Augusto Mendes, Roberto Dutra Alves, Gilson de Farias Neves Gitirana, Sávio Aparecido dos Santos Pereira, Juan Félix Rodriguez Rebolledo and Marta Pereira da Luz
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Thiago Augusto Mendes: Federal Institute of Education, Science and Technology of Goias, Aparecida de Goiânia 74968-755, Brazil
Roberto Dutra Alves: School of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Federal University of Goias, Goiânia 74605-220, Brazil
Gilson de Farias Neves Gitirana: School of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Federal University of Goias, Goiânia 74605-220, Brazil
Sávio Aparecido dos Santos Pereira: Federal Institute of Education, Science and Technology of Goias, Aparecida de Goiânia 74968-755, Brazil
Juan Félix Rodriguez Rebolledo: Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Technology College, University of Brasilia, Brasília 70910-900, Brazil
Marta Pereira da Luz: Eletrobras, Furnas Centrais Elétricas S.A., Aparecida de Goiânia 74923-650, Brazil

Sustainability, 2021, vol. 13, issue 9, 1-16

Abstract: Interception by vegetation is one of the main variables controlling hydrological and geo-environmental problems such as erosion, landslides and floods. Interception, along with precipitation and evapotranspiration, is required for the modeling of infiltration, percolation and runoff. Unfortunately, the measurement of interception in the field is time consuming, burdensome and subject to testing parameters with relatively high variability. In this context, experiments using rainfall simulators (RSs) have the potential to provide an alternative approach that addresses most of the limitations of field experiments. This paper presents a new approach to evaluate interception that combines a RS and the monitoring of the wetting front using pore-water pressure instrumentation at specific locations of the specimen. Two specimens are required, one with and another without vegetation. The proposed approach was applied to Paspalum notatum (bahiagrass) and a tropical soil. The results indicated an average interception of 5.1 mm of the simulated rainfall for a slope at 15 degrees, rainfall intensity of 86 mm h −1 , and duration of 60 min. Furthermore, the vegetation decreased the surface runoff that contributes to erosion. The proposed method will enable studies on the interception mechanisms and the various involved variables, with benefits to the modeling of soil-vegetation-atmosphere interaction.

Keywords: rainfall interception; interception loss; grass; physical modeling (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2021
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (2)

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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:13:y:2021:i:9:p:5082-:d:547509

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