6533b834fe1ef96bd129d72b
RESEARCH PRODUCT
Effects of soil management techniques on soil water erosion in apricot orchards.
Agata NovaraCesar Azorin-molinaAntonio JordánPaulo PereiraPaulo PereiraEric C. BrevikSaskia KeesstraArtemi CerdàLuis Parras-alcántarasubject
Environmental EngineeringAgriculture land managementSoil biodiversity010501 environmental sciencesMediterranean01 natural sciencesSoil managementNo-till farmingEnvironmental ChemistryWaste Management and Disposal0105 earth and related environmental sciencesSoil organic matter04 agricultural and veterinary sciencesBodemfysica en LandbeheerSoil typePE&RCPollutionSettore AGR/02 - Agronomia E Coltivazioni ErbaceeSoil Physics and Land ManagementAgronomy040103 agronomy & agricultureRainfall simulationAgriculture land management; Hydrology; Mediterranean; Rainfall simulation; Soil water erosion; Environmental Chemistry; Pollution; Waste Management and Disposal; Environmental Engineering0401 agriculture forestry and fisheriesEnvironmental scienceSoil fertilityHydrologySoil water erosionSoil conservationSurface runoffdescription
Soil erosion is extreme in Mediterranean orchards due to management impact, high rainfall intensities, steep slopes and erodible parent material. Vall d'Albaida is a traditional fruit production area which, due to the Mediterranean climate and marly soils, produces sweet fruits. However, these highly productive soils are left bare under the prevailing land management and marly soils are vulnerable to soil water erosion when left bare. In this paper we study the impact of different agricultural land management strategies on soil properties (bulk density, soil organic matter, soil moisture), soil water erosion and runoff, by means of simulated rainfall experiments and soil analyses. Three representative land managements (tillage/herbicide/covered with vegetation) were selected, where 20 paired plots (60 plots) were established to determine soil losses and runoff. The simulated rainfall was carried out at 55mmh(-1) in the summer of 2013 (<8% soil moisture) for one hour on 0.25m(2) circular plots. The results showed that vegetation cover, soil moisture and organic matter were significantly higher in covered plots than in tilled and herbicide treated plots. However, runoff coefficient, total runoff, sediment yield and soil erosion were significantly higher in herbicide treated plots compared to the others. Runoff sediment concentration was significantly higher in tilled plots. The lowest values were identified in covered plots. Overall, tillage, but especially herbicide treatment, decreased vegetation cover, soil moisture, soil organic matter, and increased bulk density, runoff coefficient, total runoff, sediment yield and soil erosion. Soil erosion was extremely high in herbicide plots with 0.91Mgha(-1)h(-1) of soil lost; in the tilled fields erosion rates were lower with 0.51Mgha(-1)h(-1). Covered soil showed an erosion rate of 0.02Mgha(-1)h(-1). These results showed that agricultural management influenced water and sediment dynamics and that tillage and herbicide treatment should be avoided.
| year | journal | country | edition | language |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2016-01-01 | The Science of the total environment |