Evaluation of the effects of traditional rainwater harvestinh structures on soil conditions improvement (Case study: Bandsars in south Sabzevar)

Water shortage in arid and semi-arid regions has caused development of specific measures for utilization of floodwater by farmers of these regions, which Bandsar is one of these measures widly used in Razavi Khorasan and South Khorasan provinces of Iran. In this research, the effects of flood harvesting on Bandsar’s soil organic mater as well as texture has been evaluated. For this purpose, 5 sites were selected in the research area in south Sabzevar. In eatch site, three soil profiles inside the Bandsars and also three soil profiles outside the Bandsars (as observation plots) were excavated with 60 cm depth, and soil samples were collected from depths of 0-20 cm, 20-40 cm and 40-60cm. totally 90 soil samples were transported to the laboratory for analysis and measurement of organic mater content, and also sand, silt and clay percentage. The results were analysed using SPSS software. Results show that the percentage of organic mater inside the Bandsars is greater than the related outside plots, and the difference is statistically mraningful. The highest values of organic mater is 1. 75% and belongs to inside Bandsars in site 4, and the lowest values of this parameter is 0. 48% measured outside of Bandsars in sites 2 ansdd 5. The highest value of sand is 82. 32% measured outside the Bandsars in site 2, but the highest value of silt (52. 86%) belongs to inside the Bandsarsin site 4 and also the highest percentage of clay (52. 93%) was measured inside the Bandsars in site 5. Overally, Bandsars have increased the organic mater content of the soil and also caused finer soil texture.