The hydrologic behavior of agricultural watersheds

Abstract

During the past decade there has been much discussion, pro and con, with regard to the effects of agricultural operations upon the amount and regimen of runoff from watersheds. The problem becomes highly involved on large watersheds, because they are made up of various complexes of soil, cover, topography, and other edaphic features. Some of these features are subject to rapid or seasonal change and others are relatively unchanging. On plots it has been established that great changes can be effected, and many data are available that show qualitative and quantitative differences in volumes of runoff. Intermediate between the plot and the large heterogeneous watershed Is the small single‐cover watershed. For such areas data have been presented indicating trends toward change, but little has been presented that provides a measure of this change. We need to know what change in hydrologic behavior will result from the changing of a given set of circumstances. It was the objective in this study to present a means of evaluation. While this objective has not been fully attained, perhaps enough progress has been made to warrant a reporting at this time, in the hope that it may stimulate others to pursue a similar course to a more definite end.