Runoff sampler for small agricultural watersheds

Abstract

Development and testing of a simple runoff sampler which can be used to monitor the quantity of sediment carried by runoff from small agricultural watersheds is presented. The sampler uses the rapidly fluctuating flow nature to account for the temporal variation in sediment concentration. Intensive laboratory testing was carried out for sampler efficiencies at various flow and sediment conditions. Overall efficiency obtained was in the range of 87 to 98%. The sediment catching efficiencies for clay, silt, fine sand and coarse sand particles were 96%, 87%, 75% and 60%, respectively. The sampler has been in use for the last 4 years in the field and its general performance has been satisfactory