Soil Surface Crusting and Structure Slumping in Europe

Bresson, L. M.; Bissonnais, Yves Le; Andrieux, Patrick

doi:10.1002/0470859202.ch37

Cited by 7 publications

(3 citation statements)

References 55 publications

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“…Runoff losses in this study were high where there were no terraces because of the crusting and sealing nature of the soil surface. This is supported by a statement by Bresson et al (2006) in their review on soil crusting in Europe that the slumping of the surface layer of hardsetting soils decreases the porosity of the macropores leading to low infiltration and increased erosion. The results show that loss of rain water through runoff in these crusting soils was inevitable when conservation structures were not constructed.…”

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 80%

Assessment of Soil Moisture and Nutrients on Terrace Slope of Hard-Setting Soils in Semi-Arid Eastern Ken

Njiru

Baaru²,

Gachene³

2022

Trop Subtrop Agroecosyst

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Background: Terraces are structures consisting of ditches and embankments used to control erosion and increase land productivity. There is, however, little emphasis on the effects of the ditch dimensions on soil moisture and nutrient dynamics. Objective: To determine the effect of varying ditch depths on soil moisture and nutrient quantities and their variability within the terrace slope on hard-setting soils. Methodology: Soil samples were collected seasonally in 2014 and 2015 from terraces with different ditch depths (60, 30, and 0 [control] cm) for the determination of soil moisture content (SMC). The samples were collected from the upper, middle and lower slope positions of each terrace. Soil from the three slope positions of each terrace was also sampled at the end of the study and analyzed for total nitrogen (%TN), available phosphorous (Av. P), exchangeable potassium (K+) and % organic carbon (OC) contents. Data were subjected to a two-way analysis of variance and differences in means determined at a 95% level of confidence. Results: Significant interactions (P<0.001) in SMC were observed between seasons, ditch depths and slope positions. Higher SMC was found in treatments with 30 and 60 cm ditch depths in all the slope positions and seasons compared to the control. Soil moisture contents in the lower and upper slope positions were significantly different between the terraces with 30 and 60 cm ditch depths when rainfall was high and evenly distributed, but non-significant in poorly distributed rainfall seasons. Significant differences (P ≤ 0.05) in contents of total nitrogen and available phosphorous were found between the upper and lower slope positions of the terraces with ditches. Implications: The effect of ditch depths on moisture, total nitrogen and available phosphorous contents and their variability within the slope depended on the amount and distribution of rainfall. Conclusion: Construction of terraces with shallow ditch depths (of 30 cm) is recommended to conserve soil moisture and nutrients nitrogen and phosphorous on hard-setting soils in the marginal areas of semi-arid Eastern Kenya.

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Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 80%

Assessment of Soil Moisture and Nutrients on Terrace Slope of Hard-Setting Soils in Semi-Arid Eastern Ken

Njiru

Baaru²,

Gachene³

2022

Trop Subtrop Agroecosyst

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“…Plots responded according to disturbance intensity for either run-off or soil loss, although much more expressively in the latter case. Changes in erosion rates, or related soil properties, with time since tillage induced disturbance are reported in literature for many environments, soil use types and management systems, including forests on marginal land (Dissmeyer and Foster 1984;van Wesemael et al 1996;Bresson et al 2006). It seems that structural rearrangements following tillage, as affected by rains falling onto the ground had a much faster consequence to soil particles removal than to run-off generation and development.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Soil loss and run-off in young forest stands as affected by site preparation technique: a study in NE Portugal

2011

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Soil loss rates currently recorded in forests are very low. Nevertheless, that may not be the case during stand installation and early tree growth stage, when soil is disturbed and scarcely covered. Site preparation techniques, performed to improve soil conditions for plant growth, should help reducing this erosion potential. In this study, several site preparation techniques were applied prior to installing a mixed stand (Pseudotsuga mensiezii and Castanea sativa) and a subsequent monitoring scheme of run-off and soil loss ran for 2 years in order to compare their effectiveness for erosion control. The experimental area, near Macedo de Cavaleiros, NE Portugal, at 700 m elevation, with annual means of 656 mm rainfall and 12°C temperature, has Mediterranean climatic conditions. Experimental design comprised three blocks, corresponding to different topographical positions (near flat plateau, moderate slope shoulder and steep mid-slope), where eight treatments were randomly distributed in plots with 375 m 2 area: (1) Original soil control (no intervention on the original abandoned field); (2) No subsoiling, no ploughing, plantation with hole digger; (3) Subsoiling over the whole area, with covering shovel; (4) No subsoiling, contour bunds shaped by two plough passes; (5) Subsoiling in future plantation rows, contour bunds shaped by two plough passes; (6) Subsoiling over the whole area, contour bunds shaped by two plough passes; (7) Subsoiling over the whole area, contour ploughing over the whole area; and (8) Potential erosion (subsoiling over the whole area, ploughing downhill). Sediment and water exported from small plots (2.5 m 2 average area), two replicates per treatment and block, were collected after each rainfall erosion event, in a total of 21, summing 1,876-mm precipitation in 2 years. Mean annual run-off and soil loss in the original soil were 3.4 mm and 11.6 g m -2 , respectively. In treatments 2-7, values were higher 3-7 times, for run-off, and 5-12 times, for soil loss. Potential erosion averages 2.3 t ha -1 year -1 . Soil loss and run-off tend to increase with tillage intensity associated with site preparation technique, even though average two-year losses, in all cases, are below tolerable rates. Soil loss and run-off rates decreased with time, becoming globally negligible after 2 years. Slight and moderate soil disturbance intensity site preparation techniques reduce erosion rates to 30% of potential erosion, halving the critical period when above tolerance rates may occur.

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“…On drying, the soils acquire high soil strength and crusting properties and the upper layer gets compacted [3]. Repeated cycles of sealing, crusting and compaction results in the hard-setting nature [1,3,4]. The crusting, compaction, ponding and hardness limit crop emergence, development of plant roots and infiltration and increases surface erosion [1,5].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Fanya juu Terraces Improve Maize (Zea mays L.) and Bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L) Grain Yields on Hardsetting Soils of Semi-arid Eastern Kenya

Njiru

Gachene²,

Baaru³

2022

IJPSS

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Aims: Fanya juu terraces are constructed by digging a ditch and throwing the soil up-slope with the sole purpose of maintaining an embankment to slow down runoff flow. The effect of the terraces on crop yields along the slope varies with the soil type. The aim of this study was to determine the effect of Fanya juu terraces on maize (Zea mays L.) and bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) yields and how these yields differ with slope positions and depth of the ditches. Study Design: Split-split plot design with four replications. Place and Duration of Study: The trial was established on Luvisols in Mua location, Machakos County in Eastern Kenya at 37o15’E 1o29’S and 37o15’E 1o29’S during both long rain (LR) and short rain (SR) seasons of 2014 and 2015 (February 2014 to March 2015). Methodology: Treatments consisted of three ditch depths (60 cm, 30 cm and 0 cm (control)) in the main plots and three cropping systems (maize/bean intercrop, sole maize and sole bean) in the sub plots. Grain yields were compared across the seasons at the upper, middle and lower slope positions of the terraces using analysis of variance and means separated using least significant difference at P≤0.05. Results: There were significant differences in maize grain yields in the interactions of ditch depth and slope position (P=0.004) and ditch depth and season (P<0.001). Higher maize yields were realized when ditches were constructed than in the control. Yields increased from the lower to the upper slope position of the terraces with 30 cm ditch by 49.8% and in the 60 cm by 41.6%. Average yields from treatments with 30 cm ditch were significantly higher than from the control but non-significant from those in the 60 cm ditch. Significant differences (P=0.037) in bean grain yields were observed in interactions of ditch depth and slope position. Higher yields were obtained from the lower position of the 30 cm ditch than the middle and upper positions. Significant differences (P=0.033) were also found in interactions of ditch depths, cropping systems and seasons. Conclusion: The results indicate that Fanya juu terraces had a significant effect on crop yields on hardsetting soils. The study recommends construction of Fanya juu terraces with a ditch depth of 30 cm and intensive management of the lower slope position for improved maize and bean production on hardsetting soils in marginal areas.

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Soil Surface Crusting and Structure Slumping in Europe

Cited by 7 publications

References 55 publications

Assessment of Soil Moisture and Nutrients on Terrace Slope of Hard-Setting Soils in Semi-Arid Eastern Ken

Assessment of Soil Moisture and Nutrients on Terrace Slope of Hard-Setting Soils in Semi-Arid Eastern Ken

Soil loss and run-off in young forest stands as affected by site preparation technique: a study in NE Portugal

Fanya juu Terraces Improve Maize (Zea mays L.) and Bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L) Grain Yields on Hardsetting Soils of Semi-arid Eastern Kenya

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