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.

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

<p>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<sup>2</sup> 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, <em>Thysanolaena latifolia</em> (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<sup>-2</sup>, respectively. Runoff coefficient and soil loss for TLU were 35% and 1115 g m<sup>-2</sup>, respectively. We observed the highest runoff coefficient and soil loss under TNU (60%, 5455 g m<sup>-2</sup>) 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.</p>

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.

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).

scholarly journals Effects of Slope Gradient on Runoff and Sediment Yield on Machine-Induced Compacted Soil in Temperate Forests

Forests ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 12 (1) ◽  
pp. 49
Author(s):  
Meghdad Jourgholami ◽  
Sara Karami ◽  
Farzam Tavankar ◽  
Angela Lo Monaco ◽  
Rodolfo Picchio
Keyword(s):  
Critical Point ◽  
Sediment Yield ◽  
Surface Runoff ◽  
Soil Loss ◽  
Temperate Forests ◽  
Runoff Coefficient ◽  
Slope Gradient ◽  
Runoff And Soil Loss ◽  
Runoff And Sediment Yield ◽  
Runoff Plot

There has been a severely negative impact on soil water resources in temperate forests caused by the introduction of the type of heavy machinery in the forestry sector used for forest harvesting operations. These soil disturbances increase the raindrop impact on bare mineral soil, decrease infiltration rate, detach soil particles, and enhance surface flow. According to several studies, the role of slope gradient influence on runoff and soil loss continues to be an issue, and therefore more study is needed in both laboratory simulations and field experiments. It is important to define and understand what the impacts of slope gradient in harvesting practices are, so as to develop guidelines for forest managers. More knowledge on the key factors that cause surface runoff and soil loss is important in order to limit any negative results from timber harvesting operations performed on hilly terrains in mountainous forests. A field setting using a runoff plot 2 m2 in size was installed to individualize the effects of different levels of slope gradient (i.e., 5, 10, 15, 20, 25, 30, 35, and 40%) on the surface runoff, runoff coefficient, and sediment yield on the skid trails under natural rainfall conditions. Runoff and sediment yield were measured with 46 rainfall events which occurred during the first year after machine traffic from 17 July 2015 to 11 July 2016 under natural conditions. According to Pearson correlation, runoff (r = 0.51), runoff coefficient (r = 0.55), and sediment yield (r = 0.51) were significantly correlated with slope gradient. Results show that runoff increased from 2.45 to 6.43 mm as slope gradient increased from 5 to 25%, reaching to the critical point of 25% for slope. Also, further increasing the slope gradient from 25 to 40% led to a gradual decrease of the runoff from 6.43 to 4.62 mm. Runoff coefficient was significantly higher under the plot with a slope gradient of 25% by 0.265, whereas runoff coefficient was lowest under the plot with a slope gradient of 5%. Results show that sediment yield increased by increasing the slope gradient of plot ranging 5% to 30%, reaching to the critical point of 30%, and then decreased as the slope gradient increased from 35% to 40%. Runoff plot with a slope gradient of 30% (4.08 g m−2) ≈ plot length of 25% (3.91 g m−2) had a significantly higher sediment yield, whereas sediment yield was lowest under the plot with a slope gradient of 5% and 10%. A regression analysis of rainfall and runoff showed that runoff responses to rainfall for plots with different slope gradients were linearly and significantly increased. According to the current results, log skidding operations should be planned in the skid trails with a slope gradient lower than the 25 to 30% to suppress the negative effect of skidding operations on runoff and sediment yield.

Deriving tillage-controlled runoff patterns for agricultural fields

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Thomas Brunner ◽  
Anna Zeiser ◽  
Andreas Klik ◽  
Peter Strauss
Keyword(s):  
Sediment Transport ◽  
Soil Erosion ◽  
Best Management Practices ◽  
Surface Runoff ◽  
Soil Loss ◽  
Agricultural Fields ◽  
Decision Algorithm ◽  
Topographic Slope ◽  
Flow Directions ◽  
Runoff And Soil Loss

&lt;p&gt;On agricultural fields, management (especially tillage) operations with a distinct orientation often lead to a corresponding preferred orientation of surface runoff and associated sediment transport. When deriving surface properties like flow directions and slope for runoff modelling from digital elevation model (DEM) data with grid sizes larger than 1m, these features of the surface will usually remain undetected and by default predict runoff and sediment transport patterns based on the topographic slope and flow directions alone.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;A methodology proposed by (Takken et al., 2001) involves calculating 1) topographic slope and flow directions and 2) slope and flow directions assuming that surface runoff takes place exclusively along the tillage orientation. A decision algorithm then decides for each grid cell, whether 1) or 2) is to be used, based on cell slope, oriented roughness and the angle between topographic and tillage-controlled flow directions. An exception is made for distinct thalweg situations, where 1) is always used.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;For larger areas, where the manual assignment of the management direction of individual fields (e.g. based on orthophotos) is not feasible, automatic estimation of a field&amp;#8217;s tillage orientation is done using field geometry parameters and assuming tillage taking place in the direction of the longest field extent.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;The output of the methodology is to be used subsequently in grid-based soil erosion modelling and is expected to provide more realistic results of surface runoff and soil loss patterns. Initial tests using the output flow directions and slope of the method as input for an MMF (Morgan-Morgan-Finney) based soil erosion model in a small experimental catchment (0.7 km&amp;#178;) show surface runoff and soil loss concentrating on the field borders (headlands) for some fields, potentially leading to a shift of priority for protection of either whole individual fields or particularly affected portions of fields.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;The improved modelling results can in some situations be significant for decisions on the placement of best management practices (BMP) that intend to limit either soil loss from the field or sediment input into adjacent surface water bodies (e.g. vegetated filter strips, grassed waterways or the feasibility of contouring), since these measures might be rendered useless, when their placement is based on topographic flow directions alone, as is the default practice.&lt;/p&gt;

scholarly journals Soil erosion in sloping vineyards under conventional and organic land use managements (Saar-Mosel Valley, Germany)

2017 ◽  
Vol 43 (1) ◽  
pp. 119 ◽  
Author(s):  
M. Kirchhoff ◽  
J. Rodrigo-Comino ◽  
M. Seeger ◽  
J.B. Ries
Keyword(s):  
Soil Erosion ◽  
Soil Loss ◽  
Management Practices ◽  
Conventional Tillage ◽  
Erosion Processes ◽  
Natural Rainfall ◽  
Total Runoff ◽  
Lack Of Information ◽  
Steep Slopes ◽  
Runoff And Soil Loss

German vineyards are one of the land uses most prone to soil erosion. Due to their placement on mainly steep slopes and non-conservative cultivation practices, runoff and soil loss are a serious problem for wine growers. In the Saar-Mosel valley (Rhineland-Palatinate, Germany), there is a tendency towards organic management of vineyards with protective grass cover in the inter-rows. Since there is a lack of information about organic-conventional tillage in German vineyards related to soil erosion processes, this study presents a comparison between these two soil management practices. For this purpose, 22 rainfall simulations were performed as well as a medium-term monitoring by using 4-paired Gerlach troughs in two experimental sites in the Saar-Mosel valley. The mean simulated runoff coefficient and suspended sediment load in conventional vineyards amounted up to 23.3% and 33.75 g m-2, respectively. In the organic site, runoff and soil loss were only recorded in one out of the 11 simulations. Runoff and sediment was collected in the Gerlach troughs for 33 natural rainfall events. In the conventional vineyard, the total measured soil loss was 3314.63 g m-1 and 6503.77 g m-1 and total runoff volumes were 105.52 L m-1 and 172.58 L m-1. In the organic site, total soil losses reached 143.16 g m-1 and 258.89 g m-1 and total runoff was 21.65 L m-1 and 12.69 L m-1. When soil loss was measured without corresponding runoff or precipitation, soil erosion was activated by tillage or trampling. Finally, the conventional vineyard showed a higher variability in soil loss and runoff suggesting less predictable results.

ASSESSMENT OF SOIL EROSION IN VINH LINH, QUANG TRI USING RMMF MODEL (REVISED MORGAN - MORGAN - FINNEY)

2013 ◽  
Vol 83 (5) ◽  
Author(s):  
Nguyễn Quang Việt ◽  
Trương Đình Trọng ◽  
Hồ Thị Nga
Keyword(s):  
Soil Erosion ◽  
Land Cover ◽  
Soil Loss ◽  
Soil Particle ◽  
Transport Capacity ◽  
Gis Technology ◽  
Particle Detachment ◽  
Sediment Transport Capacity ◽  
Northern District ◽  
Runoff And Soil Loss

Vinh Linh, the northern district of Quang Tri province is characterized by a diversified topography with a large variety of elevations, high rainfall, and decreasing land cover due to forest exploiting for cultivation land. Thus, there is a high risk of erosion, soil fertility washout. With the support of GIS technology, the authors used the rMMF model to measure soil erosion. The input data of model including 15 coefficients related to topography, soil properties, climate and land cover. The simulations of rMMF include estimates of rainfall energy, runoff, soil particle detachment by raindrop, soil particle detachment by runoff, sediment transport capacity of runoff and soil loss. The result showed that amount of soil loss in year is estimated to vary between 0 kg/m2 minimum and 149 kg/m2 maximum and is divided into 4-classes of erosion. Light class almost covers the region researched (75.9% of total area), while moderate class occupies 8.1% of total area, strong classes only hold small area (16% of total area). Therefore, protection of the forest floor in sloping areas is one of the most effective methods to reduce soil erosion.

scholarly journals Prioritization of Sub-Watersheds to Sediment Yield and Evaluation of Best Management Practices in Highland Ethiopia, Finchaa Catchment

Land ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 10 (6) ◽  
pp. 650
Author(s):  
Wakjira Takala Dibaba ◽  
Tamene Adugna Demissie ◽  
Konrad Miegel
Keyword(s):  
Soil Erosion ◽  
Best Management Practices ◽  
Sediment Yield ◽  
Soil Loss ◽  
Crop Production ◽  
Management Practices ◽  
Assessment Tool ◽  
Swat Model ◽  
Sediment Yields ◽  
Soil And Water

Excessive soil loss and sediment yield in the highlands of Ethiopia are the primary factors that accelerate the decline of land productivity, water resources, operation and function of existing water infrastructure, as well as soil and water management practices. This study was conducted at Finchaa catchment in the Upper Blue Nile basin of Ethiopia to estimate the rate of soil erosion and sediment loss and prioritize the most sensitive sub-watersheds using the Soil and Water Assessment Tool (SWAT) model. The SWAT model was calibrated and validated using the observed streamflow and sediment data. The average annual sediment yield (SY) in Finchaa catchment for the period 1990–2015 was 36.47 ton ha−1 yr−1 with the annual yield varying from negligible to about 107.2 ton ha−1 yr−1. Five sub-basins which account for about 24.83% of the area were predicted to suffer severely from soil erosion risks, with SY in excess of 50 ton ha−1 yr−1. Only 15.05% of the area within the tolerable rate of loss (below 11 ton ha−1yr−1) was considered as the least prioritized areas for maintenance of crop production. Despite the reasonable reduction of sediment yields by the management scenarios, the reduction by contour farming, slope terracing, zero free grazing and reforestation were still above the tolerable soil loss. Vegetative contour strips and soil bund were significant in reducing SY below the tolerable soil loss, which is equivalent to 63.9% and 64.8% reduction, respectively. In general, effective and sustainable soil erosion management requires not only prioritizations of the erosion hotspots but also prioritizations of the most effective management practices. We believe that the results provided new and updated insights that enable a proactive approach to preserve the soil and reduce land degradation risks that could allow resource regeneration.

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