Factors in conservation farming that reduce erosion

1995 ◽  
Vol 35 (7) ◽  
pp. 969 ◽  
Author(s):  
DK Malinda
Keyword(s):  
Soil Loss ◽  
Soil Surface ◽  
Grain Legumes ◽  
Barley Grain ◽  
Nutrient Loss ◽  
Grain Legume ◽  
Infiltration Capacity ◽  
Stubble Retention ◽  
Conservation Farming ◽  
Runoff And Soil Loss

A medium-term (10 years) stubble x tillage field experiment was established in 1984 on a red-brown earth at Tarlee, 70 km north of Adelaide, to develop a suitable system for sustaining the soil resource. Measurements of infiltration capacity, soil detachment rate, and erosion were taken in summer, autumn, winter, and spring 1989-90. The rotation was wheat-barley-grain legume, and treatments included 3 levels of stubble retention (0.5, 3.0, 5.0 t/ha.year) and 4 types of tillage [no-tillage (NT), direct drill (DD), reduced tillage (RT), conventional cultivation (CC)]. NT was seeded with narrow points (30 mm) and the other tillage treatments with wide shares (150 mm). The Northfield rainfall simulator with an erosive rainfall of 100 mm/h and an energy of 28.6 J/ m2.mm was used to measure runoff and soil and nutrient loss. This paper reports on erosion from this experiment. The results show that runoff was reduced through farming practices such as the retention of adequate stubble residue (about 3-5 t/ha.year of cereals), NT, or a combination of these factors. Increasing the average - - - annual stubble retention decreased runoff and soil loss linearly. The greater the amount of stubble retained annually, the less the runoff and soil loss, whether or not the soil surface was protected. The significant sediment release and soil loss from bared soil is inversely related to soil stability measured by a reduction in soil organic matter. Crop type also influenced erosion; for example, soil was more vulnerable to erosion after peas than after cereal. The amount of stubble after harvest was usually greater with cereals than with grain legumes. Runoff as a percentage of applied rain, and soil loss, ranged from 26 to 60% and 0.52 to 1 .I t/ha for 0.5 t/ha. year stubble (means of all treatments) for April 1989 and August 1990, respectively, and from 5 to 35% and 0.03 to 0.8 t/ha for 5.0 t/ha.year stubble for the same simulation period. Runoff rates in the last 3 min of 18 min simulation ranged from 0.4 to 1.1 mm/min for 5.0 t/ha.year stubble and from 0.8 to 1.7 mm/min for 0.5 t/ha.year stubble. The runoff rates recorded at the 18th minute of simulation ranged from 0.5 to 1.2 mm/min for NT and 0.7 to 1.5 mm/min for CC.

scholarly journals Characterization of Surface Runoff, Soil Erosion, Nutrient Loss and their Relationship for Agricultural Plots in India

2015 ◽  
Vol 10 (2) ◽  
pp. 593-601 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mohan Lal ◽  
Surendra Mishra
Keyword(s):  
Land Use ◽  
Soil Loss ◽  
Indian Subcontinent ◽  
Agricultural Runoff ◽  
Nutrient Loss ◽  
Fallow Land ◽  
Runoff Water ◽  
Monsoon Period ◽  
Natural Rainfall ◽  
Runoff And Soil Loss

The present study was carried out to explore the existence of relationship among rainfall, runoff, soil loss and nutrient losses from the agricultural plots located at Roorkee, Uttarakhand, India. The natural rainfall generated runoff and soil loss from the 12 agricultural runoff plots (with four land uses namely sugarcane, maize, black gram and fallow land and having slope 5%, 3% and 1% for each land use) were recorded during monsoon period (June 2013 to September 2013). The highest grade plot was found to yield the highest magnitude of runoff (i.e. runoff coefficient) for a given land use and soil type. The soil loss from the experimental plots of various characteristics shown that for given rainfall input, on average, the plots with sugarcane land use were found to produce high amount of soil loss followed by Maize, fallow land and Blackgram. The nutrients losses were very low in the sediment as compared to the dissolved losses. Nutrients concentrations in sediment and runoff water were found to be more during the critical period. The higher limit of seasonal sediment yield obtained from the present study is lower than soil loss tolerance limit of 2.5 to 12.5 t/ha /yr for Indian subcontinent.

scholarly journals Effect Of Rice Straw Mulch on Surface Runoff and Soil Loss in Agricultural Land Under Simulated Rainfall

2021 ◽  
Vol 930 (1) ◽  
pp. 012007
Author(s):  
R Haribowo ◽  
R Asmaranto ◽  
L T W N Kusuma ◽  
B G Amrina
Keyword(s):  
Rice Straw ◽  
Sediment Yield ◽  
Surface Runoff ◽  
Soil Loss ◽  
Agricultural Land ◽  
Soil Surface ◽  
Sediment Yields ◽  
Straw Mulch ◽  
The Difference ◽  
Runoff And Soil Loss

Abstract Installation of mulch on agricultural land, besides reducing weed growth, can also protect the soil surface from rain and erosion. This study aims to determine the effectiveness of rice straw mulch in reducing surface runoff and soil loss before entering the river. The experimental soil materials were similar to those in Sumber Brantas village, Bumiaji Sub-District, Batu. Runoff modelling utilized the Armfield S12 Rainfall Simulator - Advanced Environmental Hydrology System, with rainfall of 1 and 1.7 l/min. Land with rice straw mulch was compared to land without mulch. The land slope was adjusted to study area conditions, with mild (9%) and steep (15%) slopes. The three-Way ANOVA method was utilized for statistical analysis. In all the experimental runs, it was found that straw mulch effectively reduced the sediment yields that could enter the river area by more than 50%. The results of ANOVA analysis on sediment yield also showed that the significance value of the interactions between slope, rain intensity, and mulch usage was 0 (p<0.05). These results show that the difference in variations in these three factors determines the sediment yield that occurs. In the future, comparing straw mulch with other materials to cover agricultural land should be conducted.

scholarly journals The Use of Various Rainfall Simulators in the Determination of the Driving Forces of Changes in Sediment Concentration and Clay Enrichment

Water ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 12 (10) ◽  
pp. 2856
Author(s):  
Judit Alexandra Szabó ◽  
Csaba Centeri ◽  
Boglárka Keller ◽  
István Gábor Hatvani ◽  
Zoltán Szalai ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Soil Loss ◽  
Driving Forces ◽  
Surface States ◽  
Soil Surface ◽  
Sediment Concentration ◽  
Driving Factors ◽  
Rainfall Simulation ◽  
Soil Conditions ◽  
Runoff And Soil Loss ◽  
Field And Laboratory Conditions

Soil erosion is a complex, destructive process that endangers food security in many parts of the world; thus, its investigation is a key issue. While the measurement of interrill erosion is a necessity, the methods used to carry it out vary greatly, and the comparison of the results is often difficult. The present study aimed to examine the results of two rainfall simulators, testing their sensitivity to different environmental conditions. Plot-scale nozzle type rainfall simulation experiments were conducted on the same regosol under both field and laboratory conditions to compare the dominant driving factors of runoff and soil loss. In the course of the experiments, high-intensity rainfall, various slope gradients, and different soil surface states (moisture content, roughness, and crust state) were chosen as the response parameters, and their driving factors were sought. In terms of the overall erosion process, the runoff, and soil loss properties, we found an agreement between the simulators. However, in the field (a 6 m2 plot), the sediment concentration was related to the soil conditions and therefore its hydrological properties, whereas in the laboratory (a 0.5 m2 plot), slope steepness and rainfall intensity were the main driving factors. This, in turn, indicates that the design of a rainfall simulator may affect the results of the research it is intended for, even if the differences occasioned by various designs may be of a low order.

scholarly journals Effectiveness of Polyacrylamide in Reducing Runoff and Soil Loss under Consecutive Rainfall Storms

2020 ◽  
Vol 12 (4) ◽  
pp. 1597 ◽  
Author(s):  
Birhanu Kebede ◽  
Atsushi Tsunekawa ◽  
Nigussie Haregeweyn ◽  
Amrakh I. Mamedov ◽  
Mitsuru Tsubo ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Soil Loss ◽  
Soil Surface ◽  
Infiltration Rate ◽  
Solution Viscosity ◽  
Combined Application ◽  
Significant Difference ◽  
Short Rains ◽  
Two Phases ◽  
In The Beginning ◽  
Runoff And Soil Loss

The use of anionic polyacrylamide (PAM) as a soil conditioner could help prevent soil loss by water. In this study, we determined the effective granular PAM rate that best reduces runoff and soil loss from Oxisols. Furthermore, the effectiveness of the selected PAM rate was tested by applying it in a mixture with gypsum (G) or lime (L). The study was conducted in two phases: (i) Dry PAM rates of 0 (C), 20 kg ha−1 (P20), 40 kg ha−1 (P40), and 60 kg ha−1 (P60) were applied onto soil surface and run for six consecutive rainfall storms of 70 mm h−1 intensity for 1 h duration, and the effective PAM rate was selected; and (ii) G (4 t ha−1) or L (2 t ha−1) were applied alone or mixed with the selected PAM rate. The P20 was found to be effective in reducing runoff in the beginning while P40 and P60 were more effective starting from the third storm through the end of the consecutive storms, but with no statistically significant difference between P40 and P60. Hence, P40 was selected as the most suitable rate for the given test soil and rainfall pattern. On the other hand, the mixed application of P40 with G or L increased infiltration rate (IR) in the first two storms through improving soil solution viscosity. However, effectiveness of the mixtures had diminished by various degrees as rain progressed, as compared to P40 alone, which could be attributed to the rate and properties of G and L. In conclusion, the variation in effectiveness of PAM rates in reducing runoff with storm duration could indicate that the effective rates shall be selected based on the climatic region in that lower rates for the short rains or higher rates for elongated rains. Moreover, combined application of PAM with L could offer a good option to both fairly reduce soil erosion and improve land productivity especially in acidic soils like Oxisols, which requires further field verification.

scholarly journals Understory Limits Surface Runoff and Soil Loss in Teak Tree Plantations of Northern Lao PDR

Water ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 12 (9) ◽  
pp. 2327 ◽  
Author(s):  
Layheang Song ◽  
Laurie Boithias ◽  
Oloth Sengtaheuanghoung ◽  
Chantha Oeurng ◽  
Christian Valentin ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Soil Erosion ◽  
Surface Runoff ◽  
Soil Loss ◽  
Management Practices ◽  
Lao Pdr ◽  
Soil Surface ◽  
Tree Plantations ◽  
Runoff Coefficient ◽  
Teak Tree ◽  
Runoff And Soil Loss

Many mountainous regions of the humid tropics experience serious soil erosion following rapid changes in land use. In northern Lao People’s Democratic Republic (PDR), the replacement of traditional crops by tree plantations, such as teak trees, has led to a dramatic increase in floods and soil loss and to the degradation of basic soil ecosystem services such as water filtration by soil, fertility maintenance, etc. In this study, we hypothesized that conserving understory under teak trees would protect soil, limit surface runoff, and help reduce soil erosion. Using 1 m2 microplots installed in four teak tree plantations in northern Lao PDR over the rainy season of 2017, this study aimed to: (1) assess the effects on surface runoff and soil loss of four understory management practices, namely teak with no understory (TNU; control treatment), teak with low density of understory (TLU), teak with high density of understory (THU), and teak with broom grass, Thysanolaena latifolia (TBG); (2) suggest soil erosion mitigation management practices; and (3) identify a field visual indicator allowing a rapid appraisal of soil erosion intensity. We monitored surface runoff and soil loss, and measured teak tree and understory characteristics (height and percentage of cover) and soil surface features. We estimated the relationships among these variables through statistics and regression analyses. THU and TBG had the smallest runoff coefficient (23% for both) and soil loss (465 and 381 g·m−2, respectively). The runoff coefficient and soil loss in TLU were 35% and 1115 g·m−2, respectively. TNU had the highest runoff coefficient and soil loss (60%, 5455 g·m−2) associated to the highest crusting rate (82%). Hence, the soil loss in TBG was 14-times less than in TNU and teak tree plantation owners could divide soil loss by 14 by keeping understory, such as broom grass, within teak tree plantations. Indeed, a high runoff coefficient and soil loss in TNU was explained by the kinetic energy of rain drops falling from the broad leaves of the tall teak trees down to bare soil, devoid of plant residues, thus leading to severe soil surface crusting and soil detachment. The areal percentage of pedestal features was a reliable indicator of soil erosion intensity. Overall, promoting understory, such as broom grass, in teak tree plantations would: (1) limit surface runoff and improve soil infiltrability, thus increase soil water stock available for both root absorption and groundwater recharge; and (2) mitigate soil loss while favoring soil fertility conservation.

Effect of fallowing practices on runoff and soil erosion in south-eastern Australia

1985 ◽  
Vol 25 (3) ◽  
pp. 628 ◽  
Author(s):  
JW Cooke
Keyword(s):  
Soil Erosion ◽  
Rough Surface ◽  
Soil Loss ◽  
Soil Surface ◽  
North Central ◽  
Central Victoria ◽  
South Eastern ◽  
Eastern Australia ◽  
Chemical Fallow ◽  
Runoff And Soil Loss

The effect on runoff and soil loss of four methods of preparation of fallow was investigated at each of three sites in north-central Victoria. There was a chemical fallow treatment (uncultivated) and three scarified treatments (smooth, medium and rough cultivation). When the results from the three sites were combined, there was 10.7 mm runoff from the uncultivated treatment, 5.1 mm from the smooth, 0.8 mm from the medium and 0.3 mm from the rough scarified treatments. Soil loss from the uncultivated treatment was 103 g/m2 compared with 87 g/m2 from the smooth, 22 g/m2 from the medium and 13 g/m2 from the rough treatment. The concentration of sediment in the runoff was negatively correlated (R2 = -0.56 to -0.98) with runoff. It ranged from 1.21% (w/w) for the uncultivated to 5.06% (w/w) for the rough scarified treatment. The results show that a regimen of minimum scarification to produce a rough surface, and then use of herbicides to control weeds, reduces soil loss compared with either an uncultivated or a smoothly cultivated soil surface.

The effect of furrow length on rain and irrigation-induced erosion on a vertisol in Australia

Soil Research ◽  
1995 ◽  
Vol 33 (5) ◽  
pp. 833 ◽  
Author(s):  
C Carroll ◽  
M Halpin ◽  
K Bell ◽  
J Mollison
Keyword(s):  
Soil Erosion ◽  
Soil Loss ◽  
Soil Surface ◽  
Sediment Concentration ◽  
Canopy Closure ◽  
Surface Cover ◽  
Soil Movement ◽  
Runoff Rate ◽  
Peak Runoff ◽  
Runoff And Soil Loss

Runoff and sediment movement were measured from irrigated furrows of different lengths on a Vertisol in central Queensland. Two farm properties (Denaro's and Roberts') were used to compare a short furrow length (SFL) and a long furrow length (LFL). At Denaro's farm, furrows were 241 and 482 m long, and at Roberts' farm they were 151 and 298 m long, with gradients of 1.0% and 1.3% respectively. Runoff and soil loss were measured from six furrows. At Denaro's farm, soil movement off the farm was measured at a taildrain outlet. Sediment concentration from both rainfall and irrigation declined when cultivation had ceased, soil in the furrows had consolidated and when the cotton canopy provided surface cover. Total soil loss from rainfall and irrigation was approximately 4-5 t ha-1. Rainstorms caused most of the seasonal soil loss, typically 3-4 t ha-1. The critical soil erosion period was between pre-plant irrigation and canopy closure. Soil surface cover, peak runoff rate and furrow length explained 97% of variance in soil loss caused by rainfall. Furrow length was not significant in the soil loss model for irrigation (r2 0.59).

Runoff and soil and nutrient losses from an improved pasture at Ginninderra, Southern Tablelands, New South Wales

1980 ◽  
Vol 31 (3) ◽  
pp. 533 ◽  
Author(s):  
AB Costin
Keyword(s):  
Water Conservation ◽  
Surface Runoff ◽  
Soil Loss ◽  
Ground Cover ◽  
Nutrient Losses ◽  
Infiltration Capacity ◽  
Runoff And Soil Loss ◽  
High Infiltration ◽  
Soil Losses ◽  
Improved Pasture

Plot and catchment measurements of runoff and of soil and nutrient losses were carried out on a moderately to heavily grazed (12-30 sheep/ha) phalaris-subterranean clover pasture at Ginninderra. The effects of an intense summer storm were examined by applying artificial rains of 20 mm/ 15 min on 5.6 m2 runoff plots in 1964. The pasture topsoils had high infiltration capacities (50-75 mm/h), and when dry could absorb more than 40 mm of water. Surface runoff and soil loss were inversely related to cover (as pasture, detached litter, and sheep dung). Cover values less than about 70% were associated with some large increases in runoff and soil loss, whereas at higher cover values there was relatively little reduction in runoff and soil loss. Most soil losses were small (< 5 g m-2) when runoffs were less than about 15 %, but increased rapidly with increasing runoff. Acceptable conditions of ground cover were mostly maintained on the improved pasture but their potential for soil and nutrient losses was greater than on native pasture. Pasture renovation substantially reduced surface runoff. The effects of natural rains on runoff and soil and nutrient losses were measured from 1966 to 1971 on a 88 ha experimental catchment. The amount of runoff varied with the amount and season of rainfall, from less than 1 mm (0.2% of rainfall) in a dry year to 51 mm (7%) in a wet year, with an average of 29 mm (4%) per year. Most runoffs in autumn and summer were relatively small, reflecting the high infiltration capacity of the surface soil when topsoil moisture storage was available. In spring and winter, when the topsoil was mostly wet, runoffs were greater, reflecting the much lower infiltration capacities (c. 5 mm/h) of the subsoil. Soil losses were related to the runoffs. They ranged from 4 kg to 376 kg/ha/year, with an average of 179 kg. Most of the soil was in fine suspension, little as bed load or coarse floating debris. Losses of nitrogen, phophorus, potassium and sulfur were at average rates of 0.62, 0.12, 1.93 and 0.06 kg/ha/year. The present rate of soil loss is less than the estimated past rate of topsoil development, and the rates of loss of nitrogen, phosphorus and sulfur are less than the inputs from fertilizers and legumes. With management to retain adequate ground cover, the Ginninderra pasture effectively controls runoff and soil and nutrient losses, and could be used in similar environments as a standard for soil and water conservation, as well as livestock production.

Effect of soil wetting conditions on seal formation, runoff, and soil loss in arid and semiarid soils—a review

Soil Research ◽  
2008 ◽  
Vol 46 (3) ◽  
pp. 191 ◽  
Author(s):  
Meni Ben-Hur ◽  
Marcos Lado
Keyword(s):  
Kinetic Energy ◽  
Soil Properties ◽  
Soil Loss ◽  
Aggregate Stability ◽  
Clay Content ◽  
Soil Surface ◽  
Infiltration Rate ◽  
Runoff And Soil Loss ◽  
Arid And Semiarid ◽  
Raindrop Impact

Soil surface sealing is one of the main causes for low infiltration rate (IR) and high runoff and soil loss under raindrop impact conditions in arid and semiarid regions. Many studies have focused on the effects of soil properties on seal formation under fast wetting conditions. However, in the field, soils can be exposed to different wetting conditions, before an intense rainfall event, which can affect the role of the soil properties on seal formation. The present paper reviews the effects of different initial wetting conditions and their interactions with soil properties on seal formation, IR, runoff, and soil loss in smectitic soils. Fast wetting of soil causes aggregate slaking, which enhances seal formation, runoff, and soil loss under rainfall, mainly in soils with > 40% clay content. An increase in clay content of the soil increases aggregate strength, but at the same time increases the slaking forces. Hence, in soils with low clay content (<40%) and low aggregate stability, raindrop impact alone was sufficient to break down the aggregates and to develop a seal. In contrast, in soils with > 40% clay content and high aggregate stability, slaking plays an important role in aggregate breakdown and seal formation. An increase of raindrop kinetic energy, from 8 to 15.9 kJ/m3, decreased the effect of the slaking forces on seal formation and runoff. It was suggested that the effects of raindrop kinetic energy and of the slaking forces on aggregate disintegration and seal formation are complementary. An increase in soil exchangeable sodium percentage (ESP), from 0.9 to 20.4%, decreased the effect of slaking forces on seal formation and runoff production under rainfall with 15.9 kJ/m3 kinetic energy. Probably, increasing the ESP increased the soil dispersivity, and therefore diminished the effect of the slaking forces on aggregate disintegration and seal formation. Aging (the time since wetting) of soil increased the stability of soil structure, decreased the seal formation, maintained high IR, and diminished soil loss amounts. These effects of soil aging depend on both the prewetting rate of the soil and soil texture.

Understorey vegetation drives surface runoff and soil loss in teak plantation-based system of Northern Laos

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Layheang Song ◽  
Laurie Boithias ◽  
Oloth Sengtaheuanghoung ◽  
Chantha Oeurng ◽  
Christian Valentin ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Surface Runoff ◽  
Soil Loss ◽  
Management Practices ◽  
Soil Surface ◽  
Runoff Coefficient ◽  
Wet Season ◽  
Tree Plantation ◽  
Teak Tree ◽  
Runoff And Soil Loss ◽  
Soil Losses

&lt;p&gt;Humid tropical mountainous area experiences serious soil erosion due to rapid changes in landuse, sometimes implying erosion prone management practices. In this study, we hypothesized that keeping understorey in teak tree plantation would protect soil and avoid soil erosion. We assessed the effects of 4 management practices in teak tree plantation area on water and soil losses using 6 replicated 1-m&lt;sup&gt;2&lt;/sup&gt; microplots in four plantations situated in Northern Laos during the wet season of 2017. The landuses in the four plantations were teak without understorey (TNU), teak with low density of understorey (TLU), teak with high density of understorey (THU), and teak with broom grass, &lt;em&gt;Thysanolaena latifolia&lt;/em&gt; (TBG). During the wet season of 2017, we monitored surface runoff and soil loss for 22 rainfall events. We also measured some of the teak tree and understorey characteristics (i.e. height and percentage of cover) and the percentage areas of soil surface features (i.e. litter, free aggregates, crusting, etc.). Relationships among these variables was estimated through multiple statistics and regression analyses. We found that runoff coefficient and soil loss were the smallest for THU and TBG: runoff coefficient was 23% for both treatments, and soil losses were 465 and 381 g m&lt;sup&gt;-2&lt;/sup&gt;, respectively. Runoff coefficient and soil loss for TLU were 35% and 1115 g m&lt;sup&gt;-2&lt;/sup&gt;, respectively. We observed the highest runoff coefficient and soil loss under TNU (60%, 5455 g m&lt;sup&gt;-2&lt;/sup&gt;) associated to the highest crusting rate (82%). High runoff coefficient and soil loss under TNU was explained by the kinetic energy of rain drops falling from the broad leaves of the tall teak trees down to bare soil, devoid of plant residues, thus leading to severe soil surface crusting and detachment. Overall, promoting understorey such as broom grass in teak tree plantations would (1) limit surface runoff and improve soil infiltrability, thus increase the soil water stock available for both root absorption and groundwater recharge, and (2) mitigate soil loss and favour soil fertility conservation.&lt;/p&gt;

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