Effects of vertical hedge interval of vetiver grass on erosion on steep agricultural lands

Vetiver grass is widely used to reduce soil erosion and has been applied in many areas of the world. However, studies of the effect of vertical hedge intervals on runoff, soil loss and outflow sediment size distribution under a steep slope area are rare. The vetiver grass system (VGS) with three vertical hedge intervals (0·75, 1·5 and 3 m) and no hedgerow were tested at three land slopes (30, 40 and 50 per cent) under three simulated rainfall intensities (60, 85 and 110 mm h⁻¹). It has been observed that vetiver grass (Vetiveria nemoralis) has great potential for reducing runoff and soil loss by about 38·7–68·6 and 56·2–87·9 per cent, respectively. The vetiver strips delayed incipient runoff and reduced peak runoff rate and steady erosion rate. The land slope affected soil loss but did not have a significant effect on runoff. A narrow vetiver hedge interval slightly reduced runoff and soil loss more than a wider one. The soil loss equation obtained in this study revealed that runoff has a higher effect on soil loss. The median sediment size that passed through the vetiver strip increased with rainfall intensity and was mostly dominated by very fine sand, silt and clay. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Soil erosion on Alfisols in Western Nigeria: II. Effects of mulch rates

The effects of four rates of straw mulching on runoff and soil loss were compared with those of no-tillage treatments under natural rainfall conditions using field runoff plots of 25 × 4 m established at 1, 5, 10 and 15% slopes on the International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA) research site near Ibadan, Nigeria. The four rates of straw mulching were 0, 2, 4 and 6 t/ha. The mean annual runoff was 50, 10, 4 and 2% of the total annual rainfall for mulch rates of 0, 2, 4 and 6 t/ha, respectively. Runoff from unmulched treatments was not related to slope. Runoff loss from no-till treatments was only 2% of the rain received. The mean soil losses for the rainstorms greater than 25 mm were 143, 16, 2 and 0.4 kg/ha per mm of rain received for mulched rates of 0, 2, 4 and 6 t/ha, respectively. The soil loss declined exponentially with increasing mulch rate with exponents ranging from approximately ?0.3 to ?0.7. The soil losses from the no-till plots were equal to those from plots that received mulch at the rate of 6 t/ha. Soil erodibility was significantly influenced by time after clearing, with maximum K reached two to three years after forest removal. The nutrient loss in runoff and eroded soil was significant only for unmulched treatments. The maximum annual loss of NO₃-N in runoff was about 15 kg/ha. The maximum annual loss of total N in eroded soil from unmulched plots was about 180 kg/ha, that of P, 5 kg/ha, and that of K, about 14 kg/ha.     

Wheel traffic and tillage effects on runoff and crop yield

Traffic and tillage effects on runoff, soil water and crop production under rainfall were investigated over a period of 6 years on a heavy clay vertosols (vertisols) in Queensland, Australia. A split plot design was used to isolate traffic effects, while the cropping program and treatments were broadly representative of extensive grain production practice in the northern grain region of Australia. Treatments subject to zero tillage and stubble mulch tillage each comprised pairs of 90 m² plots, from which runoff was recorded. A 3 m wide controlled traffic system allowed one of each pair to be maintained as a non-wheeled plot, while the complete surface area of the other received a single annual wheeling treatment from a working 100 kW tractor.

Mean annual runoff from controlled traffic plots was 81 mm (36.3%) smaller than that from wheeled plots, while runoff from zero tillage was reduced by 31 mm (15.7%). Traffic and tillage effects appeared to be cumulative, so the mean annual runoff from controlled traffic and zero tillage plots, representing best practice, was 112 mm (47.2%) less than that from wheeled stubble mulch plots, representing conventional cropping practice. Rainfall infiltration into controlled traffic zero tillage soil was thus 12.0% greater than into wheeled stubble mulched soil. Rainfall/runoff hydrographs show that wheeling produced a large and consistent increase in runoff, whereas tillage produced a smaller increase. Treatment effects were greater on dry soil, but were still present in large and intense rainfall events on wet soil.

Plant available water capacity (PAWC) in the 0–500 mm zone increased by 10 mm (11.5%) and mean grain yields increased by 337 kg/ha (9.4%) in controlled traffic plots, compared with wheeled plots. Mean grain yield of zero tillage was 2–8% greater than that of stubble mulch plots for all crops except for winter wheat in 1994 and 1998. Increased infiltration and plant available water were probably responsible for increased mean grain yields of 497 kg/ha (14.5%) in controlled traffic zero tillage, compared with wheeled stubble mulch treatments. Dissipation of tractive and tillage energy in the soil is the apparent mechanism of deleterious effects on the soils ability to support productive cropping in this environment. Controlled traffic and conservation tillage farming systems appear to be a practicable solution.     

百喜草覆盖和敷盖对中国南方红壤坡地径流和产沙的影响

Rainfall,runoff (surface runoff,interflow and groundwater runoff) and soil loss from 5 m × 15 m plots were recorded for 5 years (2001-2005) in an experiment with three treatments (cover,mulch and bare ground) on sloping red soil in southern China.Surface runoff and erosion from the Bahia grass (Paspalum notatum Flugge) cover plot (A) and mulch plot (B) during the 5 years were low,despite the occurrence of potentially erosive rains.In contrast,the bare plot (C) had both the highest surface runoff coefficient and the highest sediment yield.There were significant differences in interflow and surface runoff and no significant difference in groundwater runoff among plots.The runoff coefficients and duration of interflow and groundwater runoff were in the order plot B > plot A > plot C.Effects of Bahia grass cover were excellent,indicating that the use of Bahia grass cover can be a simple and feasible practice for soil and water conservation on sloping red soil in the region.     

北京地区等高草篱防治坡耕地水土流失效果

在北京地区采用自然降雨和模拟降雨相结合的方法,研究了狼尾草和野古草两种等高草篱在不同坡度（5%、10%、15%、20%）下对裸露坡耕地水土流失的影响。结果一致表明,狼尾草和野古草2种草篱均可显著降低坡耕地水土流失,且狼尾草草篱的效果显著好于野古草草篱。在自然降雨下（平均雨强13.3 mm/h）,狼尾草草篱可减少72.7%的地表径流和86.3%的土壤流失,野古草草篱可减少53.8%的地表径流和64.1%的土壤流失;在模拟降雨下（平均雨强49.5 mm/h）,狼尾草草篱可减少80.7%的地表径流和94.5%的土壤流失,野古草草篱可减少59.5%的地表径流和71.5%的土壤流失。另外,2种等高草篱防治水土流失的效果与坡度成显著负相关关系,随坡度增加2种草篱的水土保持功能逐渐减弱,但至20%坡度时,其对径流和土壤流失的降低作用仍维持在40%和50%以上。回归分析结果显示,草篱因素已经超过坡度和雨强,成为控制坡耕地水土流失的首要因素。     

Zum Einfluß von obstbaulichen Bodenpflegemaßnahmen auf Lumbriciden,insbesondere Lumbricus terrestris L .

Influence of orchard soil management on lumbricids, especially Lumbricus terrestris L. In a long-term soil management experiment (apple orchard treated with cultivation methods such as grass mulch, grass harvest, straw mulch, clean cultivation) 6 plots were selected in order to study the abundance and biomass of earthworm populations. The following results were obtained: In all treatments with the exception of straw mulch L. terrestris represented the majority (60.5% on average) of the lumbricid population. Their share in the biomass amounted to 93.3%. The earthworm biomass was the highest in grass mulch; a close correlation was observed between the litter production (grass and leaves) and the biomass of L. terrestris. Added farm yard-manure on plots with grass mulch had no additional positive effect on earthworms. Although a higher earthworm biomass was found under grass mulch in comparison with straw mulch, the species diversity was higher in the latter. Clean cultivation had a highly detrimental effect on all earthworms, especially on the horizontally burrowing species. The annual nitrogen turnover by L. terrestris in mulched orchards was estimated to approx. 50 kg N/ha.     

侵蚀坡地草被快速恢复与控制水土流失技术

研究了在侵蚀坡地采用条沟一草块的特殊建植草地方法。在治理后的3个月内，用条沟一草块建植草地的小区土壤侵蚀量仅为140kg，比整地未种、原坡面和全垦等高种草的小区分别减少了823k、249kg和670kg。用条沟一草块建植草地的小区当年土壤侵蚀为1500t／km^2，比整地未种、原坡面和全垦等高种草分别减少了10591t／km^2、3514t／km^2和7760t／km^2；第2年以后，条沟一草块草地的土壤侵蚀量均在700t／km^2以下，严重侵蚀区减轻为轻度流失区。治理当年，植被覆盖率由原来的25％提高到85％，能在短期内控制水土流失。治理3年后坡地草被物种由6种发展到16种，促进了良性发展。     

Efficacy of vegetative barriers for rehabilitation of degraded hill slopes in eastern India

Vegetative barriers have assumed greater importance world over for control of erosion as the mechanical measures are constrained by high costs and shorter life. However, performance of such erosion control measures is location specific. Hence, effect of stone bunds and vegetative barriers, viz, local grass sambuta (Saccharum spp.), vetiver (Vetiveria zizanioides) and hill broom (Thysanolaena maxima) on erosion, crop yield and soil properties in degraded hill slopes of Eastern Ghats of India, was studied for three consecutive years (2000–2002). Simultaneously, the morphological parameters of vegetative barriers were also evaluated. The analysis of the experimental data revealed that at 11% slope, sambuta and vetiver barriers reduced runoff and soil loss by 63.4 and 68.6%, respectively, over control (runoff 25.9% and soil loss 14.0 t ha⁻¹). However, the sambuta barriers resulted in increased yield of finger millet (Eleusine coracana), enhanced organic carbon accumulation and available potassium in the soil when compared with rest of the conservation measures. Moreover, plant growth vigour was more in vetiver, root growth was better in sambuta and hill broom was the tallest plant amongst all barriers. Overall binding factor (395) and overall performance index (OPI) (0.9) of sambuta was the highest. The present investigation demonstrated the effectiveness of vegetative barriers in controlling soil erosion, and thereby improving crop yield and restoring soil fertility.     

侵蚀坡地草被快速恢复与控制水土流失技术研究

研究了在侵蚀坡地采用条沟—草块的特殊建植草地方法。在治理后的3个月内,用条沟—草块建植草地的小区其土壤侵蚀量仅为140 kg,比整地但无种植、原坡面和全垦等高种草的小区分别减少了823,249和670 kg。用条沟—草块建植草地的小区当年的土壤侵蚀为1 500 t/km2,比整地但无种植、原坡面和全垦等高种草分别减少了10 591,3 514和7 760 t/km2;第2 a以后,条沟—草块草地的土壤侵蚀量均在700t/km2以下。治理3 a后侵蚀坡地的草被物种由6种发展到16种。在侵蚀坡地治理当年,坡地的植被覆盖率就可达85%,能在短期内控制水土流失。     

利用拉曼光谱-树脂吸附技术检测香根草根部重金属铜含量

植物体内重金属能与树脂内功能基团发生络合作用,所形成的络合物具有拉曼光谱信息,因此可借助该类有机分子基团对植物体内重金属含量作间接检测分析。提出了一种应用拉曼光谱技术快速检测香根草根内重金属铜含量的方法,采用不同光谱预处理方法,结合偏最小二乘法建立了最优香根草根内重金属铜含量定量分析模型。试验结果为,经过一阶微分处理的光谱建模效果较理想,其建立的预测相关系数为0.78,预测均方根误差为23.46%。研究结果表明,基于拉曼光谱技术,并结合D113树脂吸附技术应用于快速定量检测香根草根内重金属铜含量的具有可行性。     

Redistribution and loss of soil organic carbon by overland flow under various soil management practices on the Chinese Loess Plateau

Field rainfall simulations with intensities of 85 and 170 mm/h were conducted in 2002 and 2005 on a 15-m long slope on a loess soil in Luoyang, Henan Province, P. R. China to study the effects of different soil management practices on the redistribution and loss of soil organic carbon (SOC) by runoff and soil erosion. Field plots under winter wheat ( Triticum aestivum L.) were set up in 2001 and included the following soil management practices: subsoiling with mulch (SSM), no-till with mulch (NTM), reduced tillage (RT) and conventional tillage control (CT). The results showed that SOC for topsoil (0–20 cm) increased in the NTM and SSM plots when compared with results from 2002 and 2005. For all treatments, SOC in the lower part of the plots was higher in 2005 than in 2002. The values from the upper parts of the plots were only lower in 2005 compared with the overall values for 2002 for RT and CT. The enrichment ratio of organic carbon (ER_oc) in runoff sediment varied from 1.01 to 2.24 with a mean of 1.25. During the simulated rainfall events, ER_oc was initially high and then reduced after a short period to reach a steady value at the end of the event, always remaining ≥1. The change in SOC loss rate was more dependent on the sediment loss rate than on the changes in SOC concentration in the sediment. The best results in terms of a reduction in soil and SOC loss were obtained with NTM: no runoff and hence no soil and SOC loss were observed. SOC losses observed for SSM were on average only 4% of those observed for CT. RT resulted in 71% SOC loss compared with CT although the runoff reduction was not pronounced. For farmers, SSM and NTM are the best alternatives in terms of SOC conservation. NTM has the additional advantage that it requires less labour and is more beneficial from economic and environmental perspectives.     

Effects of grass vegetation strips on soil conservation and crop yield under rainfed conditions in the Indian sub‐Himalayas

Vegetation strips (VS) along with conservation tillage, application of organic amendments and weed mulching improve crop yields by reducing run‐off and topsoil erosion. To investigate these issues, an experiment was conducted under rainfed conditions using grass VS for four and a half years (June 2007 to October 2011) at Dehradun, Uttarakhand, in the Indian Himalayan region. VS were incorporated in the experimental plots (Entisols) in a randomized complete block design in permanent 100 × 20 m (2000 m²) plots with a 2% slope to evaluate the effects of vegetation strips on run‐off, soil loss and crop yield. Three treatments were evaluated: (i) without VS with recommended NPK under conventional tillage, (ii) panicum as VS with recommended NPK under conventional tillage and (iii) palmarosa+ that consists of palmarosa as VS along with organic amendments (farmyard manure, vermicompost and poultry manure) and weed mulch under minimum tillage. The results show that soil loss and run‐off were significantly lower (P < 0.05) in plots under palmarosa+ than without VS treatment. Mean soil loss of 3.4, 5.2 and 7.1 t/ha was recorded from palmarosa+, panicum and without VS treated plots, respectively. Mean run‐off was 234, 356 and 428 mm from plots under palmarosa+, panicum and without VS, respectively. Maize yield was lower on the plots under palmarosa+ compared with panicum, but significantly higher (P < 0.05) than without a strip. The succeeding rainfed wheat yield was significantly greater in plots under palmarosa+ than in the initial years. The wheat yield equivalent was significantly higher in plots under palmarosa+ followed by panicum and without VS. Thus, vegetation strips are recommended for wider adoption to reduce run‐off and soil loss and to increase crop yield. The long‐term goal is to achieve a palmarosa+ system (palmarosa as a vegetation strip along with organic amendments, farmyard manure, vermicompost and poultry manure) and weed mulch under minimum tillage.     

Nutritional composition,growth and enzymatic response of vetiver grass grown under crude oil contamination as influenced by gibberellic acid and surfactant

Abstract

Although crude oil contamination is a constraint for crop production, some plants can develop under crude oil contaminated conditions by utilizing crude oil as nutrients after decomposition. A greenhouse trial was conducted to investigate growth, nutritional composition and enzymatic response of vetiver grass in confronting with crude-oil contamination as affected by gibberellic acid (GA) and Tween 80. Application of GA or co-application of GA with Tween 80 significantly increased mean shoot dry weight. Application of Twee 80 alone or in combination with GA significantly increased mean root dry weight as compared to control which was attributed to the effectiveness of Tween 80 alone or in combination with GA on the removal of total petroleum hydrocarbons from polluted soil. Application of crude oil diminished shoot phosphorus, iron, zinc and manganese uptakes. Application of GA and Tween 80, however, compensated the decrease in nutrient uptakes in vetiver grass resulted from crude-oil contamination. Application of crude oil at both 2 and 4% (W/W) levels increased catalase (CAT) activity and proline (PRO) content. Superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity increased only following the application of 2% crude oil level, while addition of all amendments decreased CAT activity. Addition of GA decreased activity of SOD. None of the studied amendments had a significant effect on PRO content. Application of a combination of GA and Tween 80 under crude oil contamination are recommendable since such treatments not only inhibited adverse effect of crude oil on nutrients uptake but also caused that vetiver grass tolerated high level of crude oil contamination.     

Effect of different tillage methods on maize growth on a tropical inceptisol with impeded drainage

Two trials to compare the effect of coventional, minimum and zero tillage on maize growth on a lowland tropical clay soil with impeded drainage were carried out during the rainy season of 1980 in Trinidad. During the first trial where low levels of nitrogen (50 kg/ha) and grass mulch (2 t/ha) were used, the mean fresh weight yield of ears from conventional tillage was 5.64 t/ha. Zero and minimum tillage treatments yielded about 40% less. Conventional tillage also produced significantly taller plants and more stem and leave dry matter (P = 0.05) than the other two tillage methods. The growth and yield of maize resulting from minimum and zero tillage were not significantly different.During the second trial where rainfall was heavy and higher levels of nitrogen (85 kg/ha) and grass mulch (6 t/ha) were used, seedling emergence was reduced but yields were at least 100% higher than those from the first trial and the fresh weight yield of ears from zero tillage was only 19% less than conventional tillage. Yields from zero tillage plots which had been tilled conventionally for the previous trial were only 1% higher than yields from continuous zero tillage. This improved performance of the zero tillage treatment indicates its potential for maize production on this fine textured soil and suggests the need for further studies with accompanying economic analysis.     

非洲狗尾草防治坡耕地水土流失效应的研究

为定量研究优良牧草纳罗克非洲狗尾草带的水土保持效应,于2001~2002年在云南昆明进行了研究。试验设纳罗克非洲狗尾草草带(A)、迈洛克高羊茅草带(B)和无草带种植(C)三个处理,坡度在13.2~14°之间;每个处理上部等高种植9 m×2 m玉米,基部种植0.5 m宽的草带,底部设径流收集池。结果表明,三个处理的水土流失量为C>B>A,与对照C相比,处理A的年均径流量、侵蚀量分别减少75.9%、96.4%,处理B分别减少59.2%、88.2%;与B处理相比,处理A减少了40.9%、69.2%,说明结合农作物种植纳罗克非洲狗尾草草带,是一种很好的防治水土流失方法,在云南及南方地区的坡耕地上有着广泛的应用前景。     

Nutrients in runoff from a clay loam soil protected by narrow grass strips

Nutrient loss from water erosion is a major contributor to negative nutrient balance in most sub-Saharan African countries. Due to their low-cost, narrow grass strips are becoming popular as means of controlling soil erosion. There is a need to study the effectiveness of narrow grass strips in controlling nutrient loss due to water erosion. Performance of narrow strips of Vetiver (Vetiveria zizanioides) and Napier (Pennisetum purpureum) grass in controlling nutrient loss and runoff was determined on a clay loam soil in Kenya. Grass strips were planted in March 2000, and nutrient loss and runoff measurements were carried out from June 2000 to August 2001 (15 months). Compared with the control, Napier grass reduced PO₄-P, NO₂-N, NO₃-N and NH₄-N by 55, 70, 45 and 47%, respectively, while Vetiver grass reduced them by 11, 35, 11 and 0%, respectively. Napier grass and Vetiver grass reduced runoff by an average of 54 and 12%, respectively. Napier grass was more effective, since it formed a barrier faster than Vetiver grass.     

不同治理措施在红壤坡耕地的水土保持效益

在云南省抚仙湖流域澄江尖山河小流域坡耕地建立了野外标准径流小区,并布设了1.2m宽等高反坡阶和2.0m宽草带两种坡耕地水土保持措施,观测次降雨的地表径流量和土壤流失量,并与原状坡耕地进行对比,分析两种措施的水土保持效益。结果表明:(1)两种措施之间的地表径流量和土壤流失量差异性均显著。修筑等高反坡阶的地表径流深为113.64mm,比原状坡耕地减少了61.9%,土壤流失量为714.7t/km2,比原状坡耕地减少了77.4%;布设草带的地表径流深为82.76mm,比原状坡耕地减少了72.2%,土壤流失量为370.1t/km2,比原状坡耕地减少了88.3%。(2)两种措施之间的减流和减沙效益差异性均显著,等高反坡阶的减流和减沙效益指数平均分别达0.57和0.97,草带的减流和减沙效益指数平均分别达0.79和0.76。(3)两种措施均大幅削减了地表径流和泥沙的氮、磷养分输出总量,发挥了较好的保肥作用。与原状坡耕地相比,等高反坡阶对总氮削减率为81.9%,对总磷削减率为44.3%;草带对总氮削减率为74.7%,对总磷削减率为83.7%。     

草被减流减沙效应及其力学机制分析

 利用人工模拟降雨试验,定量研究不同降雨强度下20°坡面草地的减流减沙效应,探讨草被坡面固土作用的力学机制。结果表明:在45、87和127mm/h降雨强度下,草地坡面土壤的平均入渗率是裸地坡面入渗率的2.1～4.2倍;与裸地相比,草地径流流速减少77.3%～79.8%,径流量减少51.9%～99.1%,产沙量减少93.6%～99.2%;从力学角度分析坡面土壤颗粒的受力情况,建立的坡面产沙量与径流切应力的关系模型可用于草被坡面土壤流失量预测;试验条件下,草地临界径流切应力值为2.857N/m2,裸地临界径流切应力值为0.861N/m2,坡面产沙量随径流切应力的增大而增大。研究结果对定量评价草被减流减沙作用和深化土壤侵蚀力学过程有一定的参考意义。     

Soil erosion on alfisols in Western Nigeria: I. Effects of slope,crop rotation and residue management

The effect of slope, crop rotation and residue management on runoff and soil loss was investigated using field runoff plots of 25 m × 4 m on natural slopes of 1, 5, 10 and 15% on an Alfisol on the International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA) research site near Ibadan, Nigeria. The soil and crop management treatments consisted of conventionnally plowed bare fallow, maize-maize (conventionally plowed and mulched), maize-maize (conventionally plowed), maize-cowpeas (zero-tillage), and cowpeas-maize (conventionally plowed). The effect of two contour lengths of 12.5 and 37.5 m was also investigated for the maize-cowpeas rotation.Soil erosion under slopes of 5, 10 and 15% is severe for these soils and if not controlled can limit crop growth.Mulching and no-till treatments had negligible runoff and soil loss. During 1973 the annual runoff losses from the 15% slope were 36, 2 and 2% of the total annual rainfall for the bare-fallow, mulched and no-till treatments, respectively. Annual soil losses during 1973 from the 15% slope were 230 t/ha from bare-fallow, 0.0 t/ha from maize-maize (mulched), 41 t/ha from maize-maize (conventional plowing), 0.1 t/ha from maize-cowpeas (no-till) and 43 t/ha from cowpeas-maize (plowed). Significant soil erosion was associated with only a few extremely intense storms. The soil loss during a single rainstorm increased exponentially with an increase in slope gradient. There was no definite relationship between contour length and runoff or soil loss.     

Soil erosion on Alfisols in Western Nigeria: IV. Nutrient element losses in runoff and eroded sediments

Nutrient element losses in runoff and eroded sediments were monitored during 1972 on different slopes and under different soil and crop management treatments. The experiments were conducted on 25 × 4 m field runoff plots, established on natural slopes of 1, 5, 10 and 15%. The soil and crop management treatments consisted of bare fallow (plowed), maize-maize (plowed and mulched), maize-maize (plowed), maize-cowpeas (no-till), and cowpeas-maize (plowed).Total loss of nutrient elements in runoff and eroded soil materials was significantly affected by slope and by soil and crop management treatments. Total annual nutrient element losses in runoff were 55 kg/ha for bare-fallow, 17 kg/ha for maize-maize (plowed), 12 kg/ha for cowpeas-maize (plowed), 2.3 kg/ha for maize-maize (plowed and mulched) and 4.3 kg/ha for maize-cowpeas (no-till). The concentration of nitrate in seepage water was two or three times higher than in surface water. Nutrient losses in eroded soil materials from the mulched and no-till treatments were negligible. From the plowed treatments, greatest losses were of organic matter and total nitrogen. The enrichment ratios were 2.4 times for organic carbon, 1.6 times for N, and 5.8 times for available phosphorus.