soil and water conservation engineering

493 Pages·2012·10.64 MB·English

SOIL AND WATER
CONSERVATION ENGINEERING
THE FEUBUSON FOUNDATION
AGRICULTURAL ENGINEERING SERIES
ELECTRICITY IN AGRICULTURAL ENGINEERING
TRUMAN E, HIENTOX, DENNIS E. WIANT,
AND ORAL A. BROWN
PRINCIPLES OF FARM MACHINERY
ROY BAINER, E. L. BARGER,
AND R. A. KEPNER
SOIL AND AYATER CONSERVATION
ENGINEERING
R. K, FREVERT, G. 0. SCHWAB,
T. W. EDMINISTER, AND K. K. BARNES
AGRICULTURAL PROCESS ENGINEERING
S. r^I. HENDERSON AND R. L. PERRY
TRACTORS AND THEIR POWER UNITS
E. L. BARGER, W. M. CARLETONJ
E. G. MCKIBBEN, AND ROY BAINER
FARM STRUCTURES
H. J. BARRE AND L. L. SAMMET
SOIL AND WATER
CONSERVATION
ENGINEERING
Richard K. Frevert
DIRECTOR
ANGRAU
AGRICULTURAL EXPERIMENT STATION
^ Cer^tral Library
PROFESSOR OF AGRICULTURAL ENGINEERIN(J
4/5 Hajendranagar UNIVERSITY OF ARIZONA
Glenn 0. Schvval)
PROFESSOR
OF AGRICULTURAL ENGINEERING
OHIO STATE UNIVERSITY
Talcott W. Edminster
AGRICULTURAL ENGINEER
SOIL AND WATER CONSERVATION
RESEARCH BRANCH, ARS, BELTSVILLE, MD.
FORMERLY RESEARCH DIVISION
SOIL CONSERVATION SERVICE
Kenneth K. Barnes
PROFESSOR OP AGRICULTURAL ENGINEERING
IOWA STATE COLLEGE
JOHN WILEY & SONS, INC., NEW YORK
ANGRAU
631.45
N55FRE
Ace No. 7258-
COI^YKIGHT, 1955
BY
JOHN WILEY & SONS, INC.
All Rights Reserved
This book or any part thereof must not
be reproduced in any forrn without the
written permission of the publisher.
FOURTH PRINTING, MAY, 1903
Library of Congress Catalog Card Number: 55-S300
PRINTED IN THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
Preface
The purpose of this book is to provide a professional text for
agricultural engineering students. The science of soil and water
conservation engineering has developed to a j^oint where more
comprehensive text material is needed. Recent research has
been carried out largely by the Soil Conservation Service, Agri
cultural Research Service, Bureau of Reclamation, state agricul
tural experiment stations, and other state and federal agencies.
It is important that material found in professional journals,
bulletins, handbooks, technical pamphlets, books, etc., be brought
together in a form suitable for classroom teaching and field use.
This book includes subject matter on the five engineering
phases of soil and water conservation as well as on hydrolog^^
and soil physics. The first chapter covers the general aspects
of soil and water conservation engineering; Chapters 2 through 4,
hydrology; Chapter 5, soil physics; and Chapters 6 through 22,
erosion and its control, earth dams, flood control, drainage,
irrigation, and land clearing. Although land clearing, irrigation,
and flood control have not been given as much space as erosion
control and drainage, many aspects of these subjects are included
in other chapters. The irrigation chapter is limited primarily to
sprinkler systems because schools that wish to give additional
emphasis to irrigation have adequate textbooks available.
^Xe have assumed in writing this text that the student has
taken such basic courses as surveying, mechanics, hydraulics,
and soils. However, a knowledge of these subjects is not essen
tial for understanding many portions of the text. In presenting
the subject, we have attempted to emphasize the analytical
approach supplemented with sufficient field data to point out
practical ajiplications. Although stressing principles rather than
tables, charts, ar.d diagrams, the text may provide considerable
basic data for ^)racticing engineers as well. CLass problems and
examples have been included to emphasize design principles
and to lacilitate an understanding of the subject matter.
vi PREFACE
Although a thorough review of the literature was made, only
the more important references are included at the end of each
chapter. Where specific information is cited and where material
pertinent to but not included in the text is mentioned, the refer
ence for this material is generally indicated by superscripts.
R. K. Frevert
G- 0. Schwab
T. W. Edminster
K. K. Barnes
Ames J Iowa
January, 1955
Acknowledijment
The authors are deeply indebted to many individuals and
organizations for the use of material. We are especially grateful
to The Ferguson Foundation, Detroit, Michigan, for making
this publication possible by defraying the cost of its develop
ment. Harold E. Pinches of the Ferguson Foundation made
many valuable suggestions and was very helpful in promoting
this project. Iowa State College and Virginia Polytechnic
Institute, especially their libraries and agricultural engineering
departments, were particuharly cooperative in making available
the necessary facilities for the preparation of the manuscript.
The U. S. Soil Conservation Service, including state and regional
offices, was very cooperative in supplying illustrations and data
and in reviewing certain portions of the text. E. L. Barger of
Massey-Harris-Ferguson Inc. offered helpful advice and en
couragement. H. Cunningham and J. I. Davis of the Cater
pillar Tractor Company and J, E. Marson of the Bucyrus-
Erie Company provided assistance and counsel in preparing the
material on land clearing. The following individuals have re
viewed and made valuable suggestions on all or portions of the
book: M. W. Bittinger, C. E. Busby, A. Carnes, Thomas B.
Chambers, E. G. Champagne, James J. Coyle, M. M. Culp,
E. B. Doran, Chester J. Francis, Edwin Freyburger, J. W. Funk,
Harold E. Gray, Robert C. Jones, Don Kirkham, E. A. Olafson,
Frank W. Schalier, D. Harper Simms, Absalom W. Snell, John
G. Sutton, and Austin W. Zingg.
R. K. F. T. W. E,
G. 0. S. K. K. B.
Ames, Iowa
January, 1955

Contents
Abbreviations; Signs and Symbols xi
1 Introduction 1
2 Precipitation 13
3 Infiltration, Evaporation, and Transpiration . . 43
(IC Runoff ^. 56
5 Soil Physics 78
6 Soil Erosion Principles 106
7 Wind Erosion Control 128
8 Contouring, Strip Cropping, and Tillage . . . 144
9 Vegetated Outlets and Watercourses ,.. . . . .162
10 Terracing 175
11 Gully Control 194
12 Embankments and Reservoirs 218
13 Headwater Flood Control 247
14 Field Surface Drainage 270
15 Open Ditches 285
16 Subsurface Drainage Principles 304
17 Subsurface Drainage Design 319
18 Installation and Maintenance of Subsurface Drains . 340
19 Pumps and Pumping . . . . . . .. 357
20 Sprinkler Irrigation 377
21 Land Clearing 400
22 Legal Aspects of Soil and Water Conservation . . 413
Appendix 432
Index 467
ix