Effect of cultivation techniques on the hydrodynamic and mechanical behaviour of the "Lauragais-terreforts"

The effect of various seed bed preparations on hydrodynamic and mechanical parameters was studied experimentally by simulated rainfall on clayeyloamy soils Lauragais, which had developed on chalky molasse on a slope greater than 12 %. The level of soaked up rain ("pluie d'imbibition", Pi) is closely connected to the inital degree of saturation of the soil ; it varies from 10 to 24 mm when the soil is humid and increases when the soil is dry (14 to 47 mm). But when the soil surface is crusted the Pi is less and seems to be no longer controlled by the degree of water in the soil. Treatments with fine structural elements show the fewest possibilities of infiltration during the soaking up stage…