A laboratory study is conducted to measure Darcy-Weisbach roughness coefficients for selected gravel and cobble materials. Varying rates of flow are introduced into a flume in which a given size class of gravel or cobble material is securely attached. Roughness coefficients are calculated from measurements of discharge rate and flow velocity. The laboratory data are used to develop regression equations for relating roughness coefficients to surface cover and Reynolds number. Accurate prediction of roughness coefficients for gravel and cobble surfaces will improve our ability to understand and properly model upland flow hydraulics.

Analysis of surface runoff on upland areas requires identification of roughness coefficients. A laboratory study is conducted to measure Darcy-Weisbach and Manning roughness coefficients for corn, cotton, peanut, pine needles, sorghum, soybeans, sunflower, and wheat residue. Varying rates of flow are introduced into a flume in which selected amounts of residue are securely attached. Roughness coefficients are calculated from measurements of discharge rate and flow velocity. The laboratory data are used to derive regression equations for relating roughness coefficients to Reynolds number and either percent residue cover or residue rate. Separate equations are developed for Reynolds number values from 500 to 20,000, and from 20,000 to 110,000. Generalized equations are presented for estimating roughness coefficients for other residue materials not used in this investigation. Accurate prediction of roughness coefficients for residue materials will improve our ability to understand and properly model upland flow hydraulics.

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Small ponds created by crop residue serve to store water on upland areas. The present study is conducted to identify the maximum surface storage provided by crop residue. Equations for estimating surface storage are derived assuming that residue elements were oriented end to end, at uniform intervals, in a direction perpendicular to flow. Separate equations are developed for conditions where average slope was greater than or equal to residue cover, or less than residue cover. Both equations relate average surface-storage depth to residue cover, residue diameter, and average slope. Data to test the reliability of the equations are obtained in a laboratory investigation. Artificial residue elements are glued onto a 1-m 2 test section positioned at slopes of 1%, 10%, or 20%. Four sizes of residue elements and three surface-cover conditions are examined. Surface-storage depth for each experimental condition is measured. Close agreement is found between predicted and measured surface-storage values. Surface storage occurring under field conditions may be substantially less than the estimates obtained using the predictive equations.

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