scholarly journals Agricultural Expansion-Induced Infiltration Rate Change in a West African Tropical Catchment

2019 ◽  
Vol 2019 ◽  
pp. 1-9
Author(s):  
Yacouba Yira ◽  
Aymar Y. Bossa

Land use and land cover in the Dano catchment is characterized by a rapid conversion from seminatural vegetation (fallow) to agriculture (cropland). The study compares both the saturated (Ks) and the unsaturated (Kh) hydraulic conductivities under cropland and fallow in the catchment to gain insights into the effect of the current land use on soil water dynamics. Hydraulic conductivity was measured under forty-two (42) pairs of adjacent cropland-fallow plots using a Hood infiltrometer. Ks, Kh, bulk density, and soil texture were further compared using a paired two-tailed Student’s t-test (p=0.05). The results showed that both Ks and Kh are highly variable irrespective of the land use type (coefficient of variation > 100%). The results also showed that Ks was significantly higher (1.16-fold on average) under fallow compared to cropland. As for Kh, the results showed that, from −2 cm to zero tension heads (h), Kh under cropland and fallow is not significantly different; however, as the supplied tension decreases up to the saturation state, Kh under fallow becomes statistically higher compared to cropland. No significant difference was found between soil textures and bulk density under cropland and fallow meaning that the observed differences of Ks and Kh under cropland and fallow were caused by land use and not preexisting difference in texture. These results suggest an increasing risk of erosion, soil fertility reduction, and flood in the catchment because of agricultural land expansion.

2011 ◽  
Vol 8 (4) ◽  
pp. 6993-7015 ◽  
Author(s):  
G. Nyberg ◽  
A. Bargués Tobella ◽  
J. Kinyangi ◽  
U. Ilstedt

Abstract. Soil degradation is commonly reported in the tropics where forest is converted to agriculture. Much of the native forest in the highlands of western Kenya has been converted to agricultural land in order to feed the growing population, and more land is being cleared. In tropical Africa, this land use change results in progressive soil degradation, as the period of cultivation increases. Sites that were converted to agriculture at different times can be evaluated as a chronosequence; this can aid in our understanding of the processes at work, particularly those in the soil. Both levels and variation of infiltration, soil carbon and other parameters are influenced by management within agricultural systems, but they have rarely been well documented in East Africa. We constructed a chronosequence for an area of western Kenya, using two native forest sites and six fields that had been converted to agriculture for varying lengths of time. We assessed changes in infiltrability (the steady-state infiltration rate), soil C and N, bulk density, δ13C, and the proportion of macro- and microaggregates in soil along a 119 yr chronosequence of conversion from natural forest to agriculture. Infiltration, soil C and N, decreased rapidly after conversion, while bulk density increased. Median infiltration rates fell to about 15 % of the initial values in the forest and C and N values dropped to around 60 %, whilst the bulk density increased by 50 %. Despite high spatial variability in infiltrability, these parameters correlated well with time since conversion and with each other. Our results indicate that landscape planners should include wooded elements in the landscape in sufficient quantity to ensure water infiltration at rates that prevent runoff and erosion. This should be the case for restoring degraded landscapes, as well as for the development of new agricultural areas.


2018 ◽  
Vol 37 (1) ◽  
pp. 153-160
Author(s):  
Nugroho Suryoputro ◽  
Widandi Soetopo ◽  
Ery S. Suhartanto ◽  
Lily M. Limantara ◽  

AbstractThe aims of this study were to evaluate five infiltration models for mineral soils in the tropics with different land use types, such as settlements, plantations, rice fields, and forests. The infiltration models evaluated were Green–Ampt, Kostiakov, Kostiakov–Lewis, Philip, and Horton. The research was conducted at the Amprong watershed, Malang, Indonesia. The infiltration rate of the thirteen soil samples was analysed. The infiltration was tested using Turf-Tech infiltrometer. Moreover, each soil sample was tested in terms of the bulk density, specific gravity, porosity, soil moisture, and soil texture. The results of the study indicate that there is no significant difference (α = 5%) in the infiltration rate among the five models of infiltration. The infiltration rate in the study site was considered fast. Three models exhibiting the best performance are Kostiakov, Kostiakov–Lewis, and Horton model, respectively. The highest infiltration rate occurred in the forest land use while the lowest occurred in the rice field land use. The results of this study suggest that the infiltration model parameters correlate closely with the initial infiltration rate (fo) and the final infiltration rate (fc). In other words there is a correlation between the soil's ability to absorb water (representing the capillary force or horizontal flow) at the beginning of the infiltration (fo) and the gravity or the vertical flow upon reaching the final infiltration rate (fc).


1999 ◽  
Vol 79 (3) ◽  
pp. 399-409 ◽  
Author(s):  
J. M. Cisneros ◽  
J. J. Cantero ◽  
A. Cantero

Land use and grazing regime can influence the dynamic of soil water and salt in humid areas. In Central Argentina, more than 2 ×106 ha are subjected to either permanent or cyclical processes of land salinization, alkalinization, flooding and sedimentation. In this region, the natural vegetation is the principal resource on which most systems of animal production are based. The objective of this study was to evaluate the effects of plant cover and grazing over some hydrophysical properties of three saline-sodic soils (two Gleic Solonetz in duripan phase and one Mollic Solonetz in fragipan phase), within a catena sequence. The effects on bulk density, saturated hydraulic conductivity, infiltration runoff, superficial salt accumulation and soil salinity distribution were determined in both bare and covered soil conditions, inside and outside of grazing exclosures. The results showed increased bulk density of topsoil for bare conditions, while saturated hydraulic conductivity did not show significant differences. In soils without any cover, the infiltration decreased significantly. Consequently, the runoff coefficient and salinity were greater, as indicated by significant salt accumulation in the topsoil. The soil profile salinity was reduced as a function of exclosure time, showing a trend toward desalinization resulting from a combined effect of soil cover and changes in intensity of land use. A conceptual model of salt and water dynamics in the soil profile for the landscape scale is postulated. The role of vegetation in regulating water and salt movement in poorly drained areas is emphasised as a basis for the development of management strategies. Key words: Saline and sodic soils, infiltration, runoff, grazing, exclosure, model


2004 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
pp. 63-69
Author(s):  
Barbara Stojek

Abstract The purpose of this paper was the estimate of the substratum compaction in various soil types and under various conditions of use. The compaction characteristics were performed on the basis of bulk density of soil. It was performed on various types of soil, built of various materials, occurring in the vicinity of Płock. The soils are farming land. The greatest sub-stratum compaction was observed in arable lands, built of light loam, silt and loamy sand. The difference in bulk density between the layer at the depth of 25 – 35 cm and the adjacent horizons reaches 0.3 Mg per cubic metre. In soils used for green crops the substratum layer does not show a large difference between the adjacent layers, but the values of bulk density are equal to about 1.6 – 1.8 Mg per cubic metre already near the surface. Higher values of bulk density at the depth of 25 – 35 cm were observed in 68% of soils under investigation.


2020 ◽  
Vol 38 (1) ◽  
pp. 57
Author(s):  
Salvador Lozano-Trejo ◽  
Jaime Olazo Aquino ◽  
María Isabel Pérez-León ◽  
Ernesto Castañeda-Hidalgo ◽  
Gustavo Omar Díaz-Zorrilla ◽  
...  

Changes in the land use of a basin area affects the infiltration and surface water runoff directly, altering the balance of the hydrological cycle. Therefore, estimating parameters of water infiltration and runoff for each type of land use and vegetation (USV) is fundamental to differentiate the impact caused by a change of land use over the hydrical balance of a given area. The objective of this study was to estimate cumulative inf iltration (F), basic inf iltration rate (Ti), constant inf iltration rate (fc) and inf iltration decay coeff icient (k); as well as inf iltration and runoff coefficients in mountainous cloud forest (BMM), (SMSPC), pine-oak forest (BPQ), oak forest (BQ), induced grassland (PI), pine forest (BP), agricultural land in use (TC) and fallowed agricultural land (TCD). Thirty-eight simulated rain experiments were carried out at an average intensity of 100 mm h-1 with a hand-portable single nozzle rainfall simulator. The exponential model was employed to estimate fc and k and the Horton semi-empirical model to estimate Ti and F. The analysis of variance was performed by the generalized linear model (GML) to evaluate the effects of USV and texture type, and the analysis of covariance was employed to determine the effects of slope, mulch depth, organic matter % of total variability content, sand, mud and clay content, and bulk density. The exponential model fitted more than 80% of total variability (R2) at all USV. Agricultural land in use and TCD showed the lowest F and Ti and the highest k (P < 0.001), BMM exhibited the highest infiltration capacity (F) and lowest decay rate (k). The bulk density of the soil, and content of mud and organic matter were the variables positively associated to infiltration (P < 0.01).


2008 ◽  
Vol 53 (No. 7) ◽  
pp. 314-319 ◽  
Author(s):  
R. Naghdi ◽  
I. Bagheri ◽  
M. Akef ◽  
A. Mahdavi

In forest harvesting operations usually after using skidding machinery (skidders), traces of soil damage in the form of soil compaction and wheel and logs ruts can be seen in the forest soil. Soil bulk density, which represents soil compaction, decreases soil porosity, infiltration rate and aeration and these in turn increase runoff and water erosion in the harvested area. On the other hand, a decrease in soil aeration prevents root growth and decreases the vegetative cover. In this study the changes in soil bulk density and relative soil compaction due to a different number of wheeled skidder passes from stump to landing for two soil types (clay soil with high and low liquid limits, CH, CL) are analyzed. The results showed that the effect of skidder traffic on an increase in soil bulk density at sample locations was significant (&alpha; = 0.05). The range of soil bulk density increases in sample pits due to a different number of machinery passes was from 15.8% to 62.6% compared to the control area. The findings of this research showed that the interaction effect of skidder traffic and soil type on soil bulk density changes was not significant. Also the highest significant increase in soil bulk density occurred at the first 11 passes in skidding trails and from this number of passes onwards there was no significant difference in the soil bulk density increase in sample locations.


Jurnal Solum ◽  
2007 ◽  
Vol 2 (1) ◽  
pp. 34
Author(s):  
Syafrimen Yasin ◽  
Herviyanti Herviyanti ◽  
David David

A reseach about determination land degradation on several plantation ecosystems in Dharmasraya Regency, West Sumatra. This research was aimed to study types of perennial crops (trees) which contributes to alleviate land degradation. The work was conducted in Sungai Rumbai Dystrict, Dharmasraya regency and in Soil Science Laboratory, Agriculture Faculty Andalas University. Soil samplings were taken at Ultisols having 0-8% slope (flate-undulating). Land use type being considered was original forest, oil palm, rubber, coffee, and cocoa plantation. Composite soil samples were taken for four replications on 1-20 cm depth. At each sampling site was accompanied by five drilling soils. Then, four undisturbed soil was also sampled at the same depth with disturbed soil samples for determining soil bulk density values. The data collected were analyzed statistically by using analyses of variance, and then continued by using Least Significant Difference (LSD) at 5% level. The result showed that rubber and cacao plantation contributed to better soil ecology value than oil palm and coffee land use. It could be proved from organic carbon (OC) and bulk density (BV) of the soils which were alsmost the same as those from forest land use. Key Words: Land degradation, plantation crops


2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kieran Osbiston ◽  
Anne Oxbrough ◽  
Lorena Teresa Fernández-Martínez

Although soil is one of the largest microbial diversity reservoirs, the processes that define its microbial community dynamics are not fully understood. Improving our understanding of the levels of antibiotic resistance in soils with different land uses in Great Britain is not only important for the protection of animal health (including humans), but also for gaining an insight into gene transfer levels in microbial communities. This study looked at the levels of antibiotic-resistant bacteria (ARB) able to survive inhibitory concentrations of chloramphenicol, erythromycin and vancomycin, as well as subinhibitory (10 µg ml−1) erythromycin concentrations. Soils from nine different sites across Great Britain with three distinct land uses (agricultural, urban and semi-natural) were sampled and the percentage of ARB was calculated for each site. Statistical analyses confirmed a significant difference in the level of ARB found in agricultural land compared to urban or semi-natural sites. The results also showed that resistance levels to vancomycin and chloramphenicol in the agricultural and urban sites sampled were significantly higher than those for erythromycin, whilst in semi-natural sites all three antibiotics show similar resistance levels. Finally, although the levels of resistance to a subinhibitory (10 µg ml−1) erythromycin concentration were significantly higher across land use types when compared to the levels of resistance to an inhibitory (20 µg ml−1) concentration, these were much less marked in soil from agricultural land compared to that from urban or semi-natural land use soil.


2009 ◽  
Vol 33 (5) ◽  
pp. 1097-1104 ◽  
Author(s):  
Vanderlei Rodrigues da Silva ◽  
José Miguel Reichert ◽  
Dalvan José Reinert ◽  
Edson Campanhola Bortoluzzi

Soil water properties are related to crop growth and environmental aspects and are influenced by the degree of soil compaction. The objective of this study was to determine the water infiltration and hydraulic conductivity of saturated soil under field conditions in terms of the compaction degree of two Oxisols under a no-tillage (NT). Two commercial fields were studied in the state of Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil: one a Haplortox after 14 years under NT; the other a Hapludox after seven years under NT. Maps (50 x 30 m) of the levels of mechanical penetration resistance (PR) were drawn based on the kriging method, differentiating three compaction degrees (CD): high, intermediate and low. In each CD area, the infiltration rate (initial and steady-state) and cumulative water infiltration were measured using concentric rings, with six replications, and the saturated hydraulic conductivity (K(θs)) was determined using the Guelph permeameter. Statistical evaluation was performed based on a randomized design, using the least significant difference (LSD) test and regression analysis. The steady-state infiltration rate was not influenced by the compaction degree, with mean values of 3 and 0.39 cm h-1 in the Haplortox and the Hapludox, respectively. In the Haplortox, saturated soil hydraulic conductivity was 26.76 cm h-1 at a low CD and 9.18 cm h-1 at a high CD, whereas in the Hapludox, this value was 5.16 cm h-1 and 1.19 cm h-1 for the low and high CD, respectively. The compaction degree did not affect the initial and steady-state water infiltration rate, nor the cumulative water infiltration for either soil type, although the values were higher for the Haplortox than the Hapludox.


2020 ◽  
Vol 21 ◽  
pp. e00875
Author(s):  
Larba Hubert Balima ◽  
Blandine Marie Ivette Nacoulma ◽  
Philippe Bayen ◽  
François N’Guessan Kouamé ◽  
Adjima Thiombiano

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