Optimum design of artificial rainwater catchment in broken loess plateau in western Shanxi Province

In the broken loess plateau, it has been approved that storing rainwater in wells is an effective way of meeting agricultural water demand. And in the system of storing rainwater in wells, the amounts of the surface runoff yield and silt concentration are related to the benefit and its lifespan. In order to solve the key problem, based on the experiments of artificially simulated rainfall, and assistance with the measures of natural rainfall, the relationships among the surface runoff yield, silt concentration, catching runoff efficiency and the material of surface, slope gradient, rainfall intensity were analyzed systematically. Then, the best slope gradient and material of surface are chosen. Following the principle of economy, convenience and high efficiency, the artificial rainwater catchment of uncovered and tamped loess at a slope of about 5°, is an effective way to utilize the limited local rainwater resources.