0000000000059917
AUTHOR
Nobuaki Tanaka
Effects of length and application rate of rice straw mulch on surface runoff and soil loss under laboratory simulated rainfall
Abstract Forest land affected by deforestation yields high soil and water losses. Suitable management practices need to be found that can reduce these losses and achieve ecological and hydrological sustainability of the deforested areas. Mulch has been found to be effective in reducing soil losses; straw mulch is easy to apply, contributes soil organic matter, and is efficient since the day of application. However, the complex effects of rice straw mulch with different application rates and lengths on surface runoff and soil loss have not been clarified in depth. The current paper evaluates the efficiency of rice straw mulch in reducing the hydrological response of a silty clay loam soil un…
Evaluating the effects of forest tree species on rill detachment capacity in a semi-arid environment
Abstract The beneficial effects of plant roots in decreasing soil detachment in forest ecosystems exposed to rill erosion are well known. However, these effects vary largely between different plant species. There has been lots of research into the relationship between root-soil systems and rill erodibility with a particular focus on grass species. Conversely, fewer studies are available for tree species, especially in forests of semi-arid or arid environments. Greater knowledge is therefore needed to identify the most effective tree species against rill erosion in these ecosystems, where water availability is the limiting factor for vegetation growth and afforestation is often the only solu…