Permeable rock dams consist of long, low rock walls with level crests along the full length across valley floors. This causes runoff to spread laterally from the stream course. This is a floodwater harvesting technique that spreads and retains floodwater runoff for improved crop growth, as well as controls gulley erosion. Permeable rock dams can be considered a form of ‘terraced wadi’, though the latter term is normally used for structures within watercourses in more arid areas.
堆石透水坝Permeable Permeable rock dams provide a more effective and popular technique for controlling gully erosion than gabions. Permeable rock dams, in addition to the effective control of gullies, have resulted in considerable crop yield increases behind the dams. Gullies are rehabilitated by the deposition of silt behind the dams, increasing the depth and quality of the soil immediately behind the dam as a result of the deposition of fertile silt. They have also improved the amount of moisture available for crops. Yields of sorghum from land restored with permeable rock dams range up to 1.9 t/ha compared with a yield of 1 t/ha from equivalent, untreated land. Other crops planted behind permeable rock dams include rice (on heavy soils), pearl millet and peanuts.
===Suitable conditions===