Assessing the performance of check dams to control rill-gully erosion: Small catchment scale study

Field experimental study was conducted to observe the effectiveness of check dams for reducing runoff and sediment yield in small gully catchment area. In the first phase of experiment, rill-gullies were mapped based on field survey and rill-gully development were measured; and in the second phase, check dams were constructed in particular interval along the gully to assess its effects since 2010. Check-dams in the gully basin have played a very important role in reducing sediment yield by 41.5 percent through trapping sediment and reducing erosion. Check-dams depressed the sediment yield by reducing the power of concentrated flow to remove materials through raising base level of erosion. The sediment deposited upstream of check dams shows distinct sorting. This trapped deposit facilitated the growth of vegetation which again intensifies the stability of deposit and so check dam is proved to be an efficient method of controlling rill-gully in the present study.