Surface runoff, soil and nutrient losses from farming systems in the Australian semi-arid tropics

1996 ◽  
Vol 36 (8) ◽  
pp. 1003 ◽  
Author(s):  
M Dilshad ◽  
JA Motha ◽  
LJ Peel
Keyword(s):  
Surface Runoff ◽  
Soil Conservation ◽  
Soil Loss ◽  
Soil Surface ◽  
Farming Systems ◽  
Surface Characteristics ◽  
Control Surface ◽  
Arable Soils ◽  
North West ◽  
Semi Arid

Most soils suitable for dryland agriculture in north-west Australia occur in the Daly Basin. These are sesquioxidic soils which include red, yellow and grey earths, and soils related to yellow and red earths. The potential, for these arable soils to be degraded by highly erosive rainfalls, common to the region, is high. Farming practices strongly influence the soil surface characteristics (vegetation cover, roughness, soil strength), which in turn control surface runoff, and sediment detachment and transport. In studies conducted during 1984-89 in the Daly Basin, conventionally tilled catchments, produced 1.5-2 times more runoff and lost 1.5-6 times more soil than their no-tillage counterparts (all catchments were within soil conservation banks). In these conventionally tilled catchments, soil loss was <8.1 t/ha.year. Other studies in the region have shown that, without soil conservation banks, soil loss can be around 100/ha.year under conventional tillage. Little work, however, has been undertaken on farms in the Australian semi-arid tropics to study the movement of nutrients and herbicides (in ionic and adsorbed forms) and further research is warranted.

REHABILITATION AGRICULTURE SYSTEMS ON DEGRADED SOILS IN THE HUMID ZONE

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Boris Aparin ◽  
Keyword(s):  
Climate Change ◽  
Global Climate Change ◽  
Soil Conservation ◽  
Soil Cover ◽  
Global Climate ◽  
Farming Systems ◽  
Economic Conditions ◽  
Arable Soils ◽  
Conservation Farming ◽  
Agriculture Systems

Most of the arable soils that became deposits at the turn of the 21st century have lowered their agroecological potential. This is due to degradation processes, which manifest in various forms depending on the structure of the soil cover, types of anthropogenic impact, and farming systems used. Assessing theagroecological potential of degraded soils is becoming more complicated due to global climate change. Thus, the problem arises of developing rehabilitation soil-conservation farming systems adapted to climate change and modern socio-economic conditions.

Farming systems in the Australian semi-arid tropics-a recent history

1996 ◽  
Vol 36 (8) ◽  
pp. 915 ◽  
Author(s):  
AL Chapman ◽  
JD Sturtz ◽  
AL Cogle ◽  
WS Mollah ◽  
RJ Bateman
Keyword(s):  
World War Ii ◽  
Agricultural Research ◽  
System Development ◽  
Farming Systems ◽  
Farming System ◽  
Recent History ◽  
North West ◽  
Dryland Farming ◽  
History Of ◽  
Semi Arid

The recent history of dryland farming in the Australian semi-arid tropics is discussed briefly against the background of national and state policies, established following World War II, aimed at increasing the population and development of northern Australia. Some reference is also made to irrigation as a means of overcoming limitations imposed by rainfall and to complement dryland farming systems. The environmental and socio-economic constraints whch have so far limited commercial agriculture in the Australian semi-arid tropics are highlighted. Efforts, particularly in north-west Australia, to develop sustainable farming systems based on legume pasture leys and livestock production in conjunction with annual cropping, as a basis for closer settlement, are reviewed. These attempts, which began in the 1960s and stemmed from earlier post-war agricultural research in the region, initially relied on a pasture legume (Stylosanthes humilis cv. Townsville stylo) and conventional tillage. Farming system development continues today using new legume species (e.g. Stylosanthes hamata cv. Verano and Centrosema pascuorum cv. Cavalcade) and no-tillage cropping technology. This paper documents the history of agricultural and research development, and commercial practice in the Australian semi-arid tropics.

scholarly journals Assessment and Prevention Strategies of Soil Surface Crusting Caused by Rainfall Events: Case Study of Sebeya Catchment Agricultural Land in Rwanda

2020 ◽  
Vol 3 (2) ◽  
Author(s):  
Félicien Majoro ◽  
Umaru Garba Wali ◽  
Omar Munyaneza ◽  
François-Xavier Naramabuye ◽  
Concilie Mukamwambali
Keyword(s):  
Soil Erosion ◽  
Cover Crops ◽  
Soil Conservation ◽  
Soil Loss ◽  
Field Experiments ◽  
Agricultural Land ◽  
Soil Surface ◽  
Water Infiltration ◽  
Vegetative Cover ◽  
Field Plots

The history of soil erosion is an integral part of the agriculture. All over the world, wherever human being started the agricultural operations, there exists the problem of soil erosion in some extent. Soil erosion leads to the reduction of water infiltration rate and enhances runoff and soil degradation. This study focuses on Sebeya catchment located in the Western part of Rwanda. The main objective of this study was to assess various preventive measures against soil surface crusting and development of runoff coefficients in order to minimize the soil loss in Sebeya catchment agricultural fields. The proposed methodology was much concerned with the efficiency analysis of soil conservation practice of mulching in maize cover crops. The names of the three experimental field plots sited are Maize-Fertilizer-Mulching (MFM), Maize-Fertilizer (MF) and Bare Soil (BS) which were set in Rugerero Sector of Rubavu District. Each of these 3 plots was constructed with its runoff collecting tank and they were under similar conditions except land cover. Samples of soil from field plots and water from runoff collecting tanks were tested for soil classification and soil loss estimation from each plot respectively. The analysis of results showed that soil of the experimental plots is a gravelly sand with (sand:56.27%; clay and silt: 3.24% and gravel: 40.49%). Also, the results showed that the plot coded as MFM, has high moisture content with low runoff and soil loss compared to 2 other plots. This research revealed that soil conservation practices such as surface mulching and vegetative cover reduce runoff, soil loss and are well recommended for preventing and controlling soil surface crusting. Keywords: Soil erosion, mulching, soil crusting, field experiments, Rwanda

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.

A smartphone camera for the structure from motion reconstruction for measuring soil surface variations and soil loss due to erosion

2017 ◽  
Vol 48 (3) ◽  
pp. 673-685 ◽  
Author(s):  
A. Vinci ◽  
F. Todisco ◽  
R. Brigante ◽  
F. Mannocchi ◽  
F. Radicioni
Keyword(s):  
Structure From Motion ◽  
Soil Loss ◽  
Laser Scanning ◽  
Soil Surface ◽  
Surface Characteristics ◽  
Point Clouds ◽  
Minimum Level ◽  
Motion Reconstruction ◽  
Digital Elevation ◽  
First Results

The suitability of a smartphone camera for the structure from motion (SfM) reconstruction for monitoring variations in soil surface characteristics and soil loss originated by a low intensity erosive event was evaluated. Terrestrial laser scanning (TLS) was used to validate the SfM model. Two surveys of the soil surface, one before and one after the rainfall event, were carried out for SfM and TLS. The point clouds obtained by the SfM were compared to the TLS point clouds (used as reference). From the point clouds, digital elevation models (DEMs) (0.01 m × 0.01 m) were obtained. The differences of the DEMs (DoDs) obtained from the two surveys for SfM and TLS were compared. To assess the uncertainty of the DEMs, from the DoDs the minimum level of detection was derived. The soil loss was evaluated from DoDs (for SfM and TLS, respectively) considering negative values as erosion and positive values as deposition. The SfM appears appropriate and sensitive for detecting small soil surface variations induced by low erosive events. The SfM estimated correctly the measured soil loss, while TLS underestimated 26%. Further studies could be carried out to consolidate these first results.

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.

Comparison of no-tillage and conventional tillage in the development of sustainable farming systems in the semi-arid tropics

1996 ◽  
Vol 36 (8) ◽  
pp. 995 ◽  
Author(s):  
K Thiagalingam ◽  
NP Dalgliesh ◽  
NS Gould ◽  
RL McCown ◽  
AL Cogle ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Crop Production ◽  
Crop Residues ◽  
Soil Surface ◽  
Farming Systems ◽  
Conventional Tillage ◽  
Northern Territory ◽  
No Tillage ◽  
Soil Movement ◽  
Dryland Crops ◽  
Semi Arid

The results of 5 short-term (4-8 years) experiments and farm demonstrations in which no-tillage technology was compared with conventional or reduced tillage in the semi-arid tropics of the Northern Territory and Far North Queensland, during the mid 1980s to mid 1990s, are reviewed. In the Douglas-Daly and Katherine districts of the Northern Territory, dryland crops of maize, sorghum, soybean and mungbean sown using no-tillage with adequate vegetative mulch on the soil surface have produced yields comparable with, or higher than (especially in drier years), those obtained under conventional tillage. The importance of a surface mulch in ameliorating soil temperature, moisture and fertility, and in reducing soil movement and loss in crop production in the semi-arid tropics was confirmed. Management of mulch (pasture, crop residues and weeds) will be crucial in the application of no-tillage technology to the development of mixed dryland crop and livestock enterprises in the semi-arid tropics.

scholarly journals Evaluation of Infiltration Improvement and Surface Reduction Using Various Soil Conservation Techniques in Coffee Agroforestry Systems in Sumbermanjing Wetan

2022 ◽  
Vol 9 (1) ◽  
pp. 13-19
Author(s):  
Dina Ananda Harfia ◽  
Sugeng Prijono
Keyword(s):  
Surface Runoff ◽  
Soil Conservation ◽  
Soil Surface ◽  
Agroforestry Systems ◽  
Water Infiltration ◽  
Soil Infiltration ◽  
Infiltration Capacity ◽  
Dry Land ◽  
Coffee Agroforestry ◽  
Land Farming

The uneven distribution and intensity of rain cause a shortage and excess of water in dry land farming. It appears that the problem of soil conservation in principle is the regulation of the relationship between rainfall intensity, infiltration capacity, and runoff adjustment. To improve the physical properties of the soil, and the hydrological function of the land use it cannot only be stressed on the coffee plant. Other factors such as soil surface management, such as providing organic matter, covering the soil surface with understory plants, making absorption holes, terraces, waterways and so on, can improve the hydrological function of the land. Rainwater management can be carried out through controlling surface runoff, harvesting rainwater, increasing soil infiltration capacity, managing soil, controlling evaporation and seepage, lining waterways. The use of silt pit parallel is considered quite effective because it is able to produce the lowest surface runoff and sufficient water storage. Silt pit parallel can produce 0.6% of rainfall into surface runoff and also can store water as much as 62.35% of the rainfall that enters the plot. The functions of a silt pit are to increase water infiltration into the soil. On dry land, silt pit functions as a place for harvesting rainwater and surface runoff. Based on the correlation regression test, the amount of surface runoff is closely influenced by the intensity of rain or rainfall.

scholarly journals Rehabilitation of critical land by Implementing complex agroforestry at the prioritized subwatersheds in the Muria Region

2020 ◽  
Vol 17 (1) ◽  
pp. 63
Author(s):  
Maria Theresia Sri Budiastuti ◽  
Djoko Purnomo ◽  
Hendy Hendro ◽  
Untung Sudjianto ◽  
Budi Gunawan
Keyword(s):  
Organic Matter ◽  
Surface Runoff ◽  
Soil Conservation ◽  
Diversity Index ◽  
Quantitative Description ◽  
Agroforestry System ◽  
Control Surface ◽  
Vegetation Diversity ◽  
Coffee Tree ◽  
Cropping Patterns

<pre>The prioritized  subwatersheds are comprised of seven subwatersheds that have been declared critical within the 52 subwatersheds in the Muria Mountains. An area of approximately 11,000 ha, the topography of the prioritized  subwatersheds is wavy—the typical slope ranges from 25 to 45%—and susceptible to erosion. The purpose of this research was to evaluate agroforestry cropping patterns to support soil conservation and reclamation on critical lands. This study is a quantitative description of research conducted through survey. The results show that most of the researched area has Inceptisols soil type with sandy, clay, and loam textures. The nitrogen, phosphate, potassium, C-organic, and organic matter contents are relatively low while the vegetation Diversity Index is categorized as medium. Sengon trees dominate in the prioritized  subwatersheds area, followed by mahogany, coffee, and teak with average Importance Values of 89.57, 60.24, 78.40, and 21.03, respectively. This research shows that an agroforestry system comprised of sengon trees and coffee is ideally applied in the prioritized  subwatersheds. Coffee requires shade and reduces rain-induced erosion; sengon trees function as a shade while at the same time contributing to the soil as a source of nutrients. During rains, this combined agroforestry system is able to control surface runoff and soil erosion. A sengon/coffee-tree based agroforestry system is ecologically friendly and appropriate for development in the prioritized  subwatersheds.</pre>

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