水稻强化栽培对稻田土壤生物学特性的影响

采用田间试验,对强化栽培(SRI)和常规水作(TF)条件下稻田土壤微生物数量、微生物量、土壤酶活性及相关养分含量进行了研究。结果表明:与常规水作相比,强化栽培增加了土壤细菌、放线菌、真菌数量,分别提高了53.1%～173.8%、61.7%～229.4%、10.0%～55.9%,统计差异显著(p<0.05)。强化栽培土壤微生物量碳、微生物量氮比常规水作提高了12.2%～43.6%,22.7%～175.4%,统计差异显著(p<0.05)。与常规水作比较,强化栽培提高了分蘖期土壤脲酶、碱性磷酸酶、转化酶、过氧化氢酶活性,分别为12.6%、30.0%、15.1%、13.8%;强化栽培也显著增加了土壤碱解氮含量,但有效磷含量差异不显著。     

连年翻压绿肥对植烟土壤微生物量及酶活性的影响

通过3年田间定位试验,研究连年翻压绿肥对植烟土壤微生物量碳、氮及酶活性的影响。结果表明,连年翻压绿肥能提高土壤微生物量碳、氮及土壤脲酶、酸性磷酸酶、蔗糖酶、过氧化氢酶的活性,且随翻压年限的增加而增加。整个生育期,翻压3年绿肥的处理与对照相比微生物量碳、氮分别提高31.0%~67.1%、23.0%~145.1%;土壤脲酶、酸性磷酸酶、蔗糖酶、过氧化氢酶活性分别提高34.4%~51.9%、11.0%~18.6%、58.0%~172.7%、24.0%~50.0%,表明翻压绿肥后土壤生物过程活跃,利于有机物质的转化和烤烟正常生长所需的营养供应。动态变化特征表明,翻压绿肥1、2、3年的各处理微生物量碳、氮均在团棵期出现峰值,土壤脲酶、酸性磷酸酶、过氧化氢酶均在旺长期出现峰值。在出现峰值时翻压3年的处理与对照相比微生物量碳、氮分别提高67.1%、60.7%;土壤脲酶、酸性磷酸酶、过氧化氢酶活性分别提高51.9%、14.2%、30.6%。此时正值生育旺期,利于烟株生长发育,说明连年翻压绿肥后培肥土壤效果显著。土壤微生物量C、N和酶活性能灵敏反映土壤肥力的变化,可作为评价土壤质量的生物学指标。     

有机、特别与常规栽培对八种蔬菜土壤养分和酶活性的影响

通过田间试验比较了有机、特别与常规栽培对8种蔬菜土壤基本养分和土壤酶活性的影响。结果表明,与常规栽培相比,有机栽培和特别栽培能够提高土壤有机质、全氮、速效磷和速效钾含量,改良酸性土壤,并显著提高了土壤酶活性。有机栽培蔬菜土壤过氧化氢酶、脲酶、转化酶和酸性磷酸酶活性均显著高于常规栽培。特别栽培的各项土壤指标基本介于有机和常规之间。研究表明有机栽培能够提高土壤养分和土壤酶活性。     

设施土壤微生物学特性变化研究

采用定点取样的方法，研究了不同种植年限设施土壤微生物主要类群、生物量碳和5种酶活性的变化特点，结果表明：（1）不同种植年限设施土壤微生物主要类群随季节变化不一致，细菌数量先升后降，高峰出现在6月，10月最低；真菌和放线菌数量均在3月最多，而后逐渐减少。随设施种植年限的延长，微生物总数逐渐增加，但真菌和放线菌占微生物总数的比例却呈下降趋势。与露地相比，设施栽培中真菌增加快于细菌。（2）不同种植年限设施土壤微生物生物量碳在3月和6月含量最高，随设施种植年限的延长，微生物生物量碳含量也增加。（3）不同种植年限设施土壤酶活性季节变化明显，除过氧化氢酶外，脲酶、酸性磷酸酶、中性磷酸酶和转化酶活性高峰主要出现在3月，土壤酶的总体活性随设施种植年限的延长有所下降。     

有机无机肥配施对麦-稻轮作系统土壤微生物学特性的影响

采用盆栽试验研究了不同比例有机无机肥配施对连续4茬麦-稻轮作后土壤微生物学特性的影响。结果表明,与对照相比,单施化肥处理促进了土壤微生物生物量碳、氮和微生物熵的增加,提高了土壤蔗糖酶、蛋白酶、脲酶活性,降低了过氧化氢酶活性,提高了放线菌的数量,但对土壤细菌、真菌数量的影响不明显;有机无机肥配施处理的土壤微生物生物量碳、微生物生物量氮、微生物熵、土壤酶活性及3大类土壤微生物数量显著高于单施化肥及对照处理;土壤微生物生物量碳、微生物生物量氮、微生物熵和3大类微生物数量随着有机肥配施比例的提高而增加,以配施30%有机肥处理的最高;土壤酶活性综合指数以配施20%有机肥处理的最高。可见,化肥配施有机肥特别是配施中高量有机肥更有利于改善土壤微生物学特性,提高土壤生产能力。     

不同栽培方式对菜地土壤养分和生物学特性的影响

通过田间小区试验,以芹菜、西兰花、生菜和胡萝卜为供试作物,分析比较了有机栽培、安全环境质量栽培、特别栽培和常规栽培对土壤养分和生物学特性的影响.结果表明,有机栽培、安全环境质量栽培和特别栽培下土壤有机质、全氮、碱解氮、速效磷和速效钾含量比常规栽培均不同程度地增加.有机栽培、安全环境质量栽培和特别栽培均显著提高了土壤微生物量碳含量,比常规栽培分别提高48.6％、42.9％和26.6％,并达到显著(P＜0.05)或极显著(P＜0.01)差异.土壤过氧化氢酶和脲酶活性在有机栽培、安全环境质量栽培和特别栽培下比常规栽培显著提高17.4％ ～38.8％,且过氧化氢酶活性达到显著(P＜0.05)或极显著(P＜0.01)差异.有机栽培、安全环境质量栽培下土壤转化酶活性比常规栽培有所提高,但是没有达到显著差异.不同栽培方式对土壤养分和生物学特性影响作用的大小为有机栽培＞安全环境质量栽培＞特别栽培＞常规栽培.     

有机和常规生产模式下菜田土壤酶活性差异研究

通过对露地及温室环境下有机和常规蔬菜栽培土壤采样,测定分析了5种参与土壤碳氮循环的酶活性,及其与土壤相关理化性质之间的关系。结果显示:温室及露地土壤EC值在有机生产中相应低于常规生产12%和16%;有机生产土壤微生物碳氮含量显著高于常规生产;不同生产模式下土壤酶活性差异显著,有机生产土壤中的蛋白酶、脲酶、脱氢酶、β-葡糖苷酶活性高于常规生产,而硝酸还原酶活性较常规生产低;有机与常规栽培对蛋白酶活性影响极显著(P=0.006 8),对脲酶活性影响程度达显著水平(P=0.012 4)。除脱氢酶以外,不同栽培模式环境对土壤中另外4种酶活性均有显著影响,温室栽培环境中的蛋白酶、脲酶和硝酸还原酶活性高于露地。除硝酸还原酶外,其他4种酶活性与可溶性全氮、微生物碳、微生物氮相关系数达到显著水平。分析表明,土壤酶活性受到栽培方式以及环境的影响,并且有机生产能够提高参与土壤碳氮循环的酶活性。土壤蛋白酶、脲酶、脱氢酶和β-葡糖苷酶活性能够作为表征土壤碳氮循环以及微生物活性的指标。     

红壤水稻土累积酶活性及养分对长期不同施肥处理的响应

本研究基于鹰潭农田生态系统国家野外科学观测研究站24年的长期定位试验,揭示对照(不施肥,CK)、有机肥(C)、化学氮磷钾肥(NPK)、化学氮磷钾肥+有机肥(NPKC)等不同施肥处理对红壤水稻土酶活性及土壤养分的影响。于晚稻收获后采集各小区耕层土壤,测定红壤水稻土中转化酶、脲酶活性(测定时并设加0.5 ml甲苯与不加甲苯处理)及转化酶动力学特征,同时测定土壤养分含量及微生物生物量碳,分析酶活性与养分含量及微生物生物量碳间的关系,明确土壤中累积酶活性及土壤养分对长期不同施肥处理的响应。结果发现,与对照相比,施肥处理下土壤转化酶活性显著提高了31.3%~131.7%,微生物生物量碳显著提高了84.9%~125.1%;在没有甲苯抑制微生物活性下,施肥处理的转化酶底物蔗糖转化速率增加量提高了89.5%~153.7%,脲酶底物尿素转化增加量提高了59.2%~98.9%,表明微生物显著影响两种累积酶表观酶活性;转化酶活性、脲酶活性与微生物生物量碳呈显著正相关。与对照处理相比,施肥处理显著增加了土壤有机碳(30.1%~36.3%)、全磷(28.6%~102.9%)、速效磷(62.2%~445.0%)、碱解氮(35.9%~56.4%)含量;统计分析显示,转化酶活性、脲酶活性均与碱解氮、有机碳含量显著正相关。与对照相比,各施肥处理土壤的转化酶米氏常数(Km)差异并不显著,而转化酶表观活性(Vmax)及转化系数(Vmax/Km)均显著增加。长期施肥处理增加了土壤养分含量和微生物生物量碳,提高了土壤中累积酶的活性。     

添加木醋液对沙地土壤微生物生物量和酶活性的影响

[目的]探讨沙地添加木醋液后土壤微生物生物量和酶活性的变化,为沙地土壤生物学质量的改良提供理论依据。[方法]采用盆栽植草培养法,以添加自来水为对照,对沙地添加不同稀释倍数(200,150,100,50,20)木醋液后的土壤可溶性有机碳、氮和酚,土壤微生物生物量碳氮以及土壤酶活性进行研究。[结果]向沙土添加木醋液可以显著降低土壤pH值,显著提高土壤易氧化碳、土壤水溶性碳氮、土壤可溶性酚以及无机氮的含量。在添加木醋液稀释高于50倍范围内,随木醋液稀释倍数降低,土壤微生物生物量碳氮增加以及β-糖苷酶、碱性磷酸酶和脱氢酶活性提高。添加稀释20倍的木醋液,导致土壤微生物生物量碳氮以及β-糖苷酶、碱性磷酸酶和脱氢酶活性有所降低。在高于20的稀释倍数范围内,随着施用木醋液稀释倍数的降低,α-糖苷酶、亮氨酸氨基肽酶、酸性磷酸酶和酚氧化酶的活性有显著增加的趋势。[结论]添加不同稀释倍数的木醋液会影响沙地土壤微生物生物量和酶活性。     

紫云英与化肥配施对安徽沿江双季稻区土壤生物学特性的影响

【目的】紫云英-水稻轮作生产体系是近年来为解决大面积冬闲田而提出的水稻生产新模式。研究紫云英-水稻轮作模式下,不同量紫云英与化肥配施对稻谷增产效果及稻田土壤生物学特性的影响,为合理施用紫云英,有效改善稻田土壤微生态环境、提高土壤质量、保证水稻高产稳产提供理论支撑。【方法】以安徽省农科院土壤肥料研究所2008年设置的紫云英-稻-稻定位试验为平台,分析了5种不同施肥模式下[不施紫云英和化肥(CK)、100%化肥不施紫云英以及70%化肥分别配施紫云英7500、15000、30000 kg/hm2])稻田耕层土壤(0—20 cm)微生物量碳、微生物量氮(SMBC、SMBN)和土壤酶活性的变化,及土壤生物学特性与土壤养分的相关性,并以水稻农艺性状和产量检验了土壤生产力。【结果】1)施用紫云英绿肥能够显著提高水稻籽粒产量,增加水稻单位面积的有效穗数和水稻结实率。尤其是70%化肥配施紫云英15000 kg/hm2处理,稻谷产量达7604.53 kg/hm2,比未施肥处理和单施化肥处理分别增产228.06%和36.29%,差异达显著水平。2)与对照相比,单施化肥处理土壤微生物量碳、氮增加,脲酶、酸性磷酸酶活性提高,过氧化氢酶活性降低;70%化肥的条件下,配施紫云英处理土壤微生物量及土壤酶活性显著高于单施化肥及对照处理,且随紫云英施用量的提高而增加。整个生育期,与对照相比,施紫云英处理土壤微生物量碳、氮分别提高21.03%~142.33%、19.97%~83.91%,土壤脲酶、酸性磷酸酶、过氧化氢酶活性分别提高10.12%~100.33%、10.22%~43.23%、0.14%~7.28%。土壤微生物量及脲酶、酸性磷酸酶与土壤有机质、全氮、碱解氮呈显著或极显著正相关;过氧化氢酶与土壤养分之间无明显相关性。【结论】紫云英绿肥与化肥长期配合施用可显著提高水稻产量、土壤微生物量及土壤酶活性,改善稻田土壤的微生态环境。本试验条件下,在70%化肥施用量的前提下,紫云英施用量以15000~30000 kg/hm2的综合效果较好。故适量紫云英与化肥配施有利于提高土壤生产能力,是安徽沿江双季稻区稻田增产和培肥地力的有效途径。     

华北地区有机种植与常规种植土壤质量比较研究

为探讨有机种植与常规种植两种不同种植方式对土壤质量的影响,本文在华北地区选取典型的有机种植基地与附近相似条件的常规种植地块,比较了不同种植方式下土壤体积质量、土壤中水稳性团聚体及土壤中各养分含量和土壤中7种重金属含量。结果表明:相比常规种植,有机种植降低了土壤体积质量,提高土壤中水稳性大团聚体数量,提高了土壤中水稳性团聚体的MWD值和GMD值,降低了分形维数D,提升了土壤水稳性团聚体稳定性,提高了土壤抗侵蚀的能力。有机种植方式下土壤中有机质含量相比常规种植提高了20%~80%,土壤中速效磷、速效钾、碱解氮和全氮、全磷等养分含量也显著提高,说明有机种植有利于土壤培肥,提高土壤肥力。与土壤背景值相比,土壤中重金属含量有不同程度的增加和积累,曹县有机基地As含量超过土壤环境质量国家一级标准,肃宁有机基地土壤中Cu、Zn含量接近国家一级标准。在调查地区,有机种植降低了土壤中Cr、Cd、Hg污染的威胁,但由于施入有机肥的质量差异,存在重金属Cu、Zn、As富集的风险。相比常规种植,有机种植有利于改善土壤结构,提高土壤综合肥力,土壤中重金属污染的风险主要与施入的有机肥质量有关,有机种植应加强对有机肥源的监控,合理施肥。     

华北地区有机种植和常规种植模式下土壤重金属含量及污染评价

为探讨有机种植与常规种植两种不同种植方式对土壤重金属含量和污染特性的影响,本文在华北5个地区选取典型的有机蔬菜和有机小麦种植基地及附近相似条件的常规种植地块,比较了土壤中Cu、Zn、Pb、Cr、Cd、As共6种重金属含量的差异,并采用不同评价方法对不同种植方式下土壤中重金属的污染程度进行了评价。结果表明:与常规种植相比,有机种植减轻了土壤酸化和盐渍化,提高了土壤有机质含量和阳离子交换量,在一定程度上有利于降低土壤中重金属的生物有效性。与土壤背景值相比,所有调查地区的土壤重金属均有不同程度的增加和积累。与常规种植相比,有机种植模式能有效降低土壤中Cd、Cr含量,有机小麦种植地块因长期施用大量有机肥导致土壤中Cu、Zn、As大量富集;而常规温室菜田同时施用大量的有机肥、化肥及农药,土壤中Cu、Zn、As富集的风险比有机种植模式高;露天蔬菜有机种植地块土壤中Cu、Zn、As含量与常规地块差异不明显。综合污染指数评价结果显示,调查地区土壤均属于轻污染程度,主要贡献因子为Cd、Cu、Zn,有机种植降低了土壤中重金属的综合污染水平;地累积指数法评价结果表明,调查地区处于无污染到中等污染水平,最明显的污染元素是Cd,有机种植降低了土壤中重金属污染的程度和风险;潜在生态危害指数评价结果表明,所调查地块存在轻微潜在生态风险,其中产生较大生态危害的是Cd,表现出轻微生态危害程度。本研究表明,有机种植减轻了土壤中重金属综合污染水平和污染风险,并减轻了土壤重金属的潜在生态危害。     

Modeling spatial variation in productivity due to tillage and water erosion

The advent of precision farming practices has heightened interest in managing field variability to optimize profitability. The large variation in yields across many producer fields demonstrated by yield–monitor–equipped combines has generated concern about management-induced causes of spatial variation in soil productivity. Soil translocation from erosion processes may result in variation in soil properties across field landscape positions that produce long-term changes in soil productivity. The objective of this study was to examine the relationships between soil redistribution caused by tillage and water erosion and the resulting spatial variability of soil productivity in a soil catena in eastern South Dakota. An empirical model developed to estimate tillage erosion was used to evaluate changes expected in the soil profile over a 50-year period on a typical toposequence found in eastern South Dakota and western Minnesota. Changes in the soil profile due to water erosion over a 50-year period were evaluated using the WEPP hillslope model. The tillage erosion model and the WEPP hillslope model were run concurrently for a 50-year period to evaluate the combined effect of the two processes. The resulting changes in soil properties of the root zone were evaluated for changes in productivity using a productivity index model. Tillage erosion resulted in soil loss in the shoulder position, while soil loss from water erosion occurred primarily in the mid to lower backslope position. The decline in soil productivity was greater when both processes were combined compared to either process acting alone. Water erosion contributed to nearly all the decline in soil productivity in the backslope position when both tillage and water erosion processes were combined. The net effect of soil translocation from the combined effects of tillage and water erosion is an increase in spatial variability of crop yields and a likely decline in overall soil productivity.     

Crop yield and soil fertility response to reduced tillage under organic management

Conservation tillage (no-till and reduced tillage) brings many benefits with respect to soil fertility and energy use, but it also has drawbacks regarding the need for synthetic fertilizers and herbicides. Our objective was to adapt reduced tillage to organic farming by quantifying effects of tillage (plough versus chisel), fertilization (slurry versus manure compost) and biodynamic preparations (with versus without) on soil fertility indicators and crop yield. The experiment was initiated in 2002 on a Stagnic Eutric Cambisol (45% clay content) near Frick (Switzerland) where the average annual precipitation is 1000 mm. This report focuses on the conversion period and examines changes as tillage intensity was reduced. Soil samples were taken from the 0–10 and 10–20 cm depths and analysed for soil organic carbon (C_org), microbial biomass (C_mic), dehydrogenase activity (DHA) and earthworm density and biomass. Among the components tested, only tillage had any influence on these soil fertility indicators. C_org in the 0–10 cm soil layer increased by 7.4% (1.5 g C_org kg⁻¹ soil, p < 0.001) with reduced tillage between 2002 and 2005, but remained constant with conventional tillage. Similarly, C_mic was 28% higher and DHA 27% (p < 0.001) higher with reduced than with conventional tillage in the soil layer 0–10 cm. In the 10–20 cm layer, there were no significant differences for these soil parameters between the tillage treatments. Tillage had no significant effect on total earthworm density and biomass. The abundance of endogeic, horizontally burrowing adult earthworms was 70% higher under reduced than conventional tillage but their biomass was 53% lower with reduced tillage. Wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) and spelt (Triticum spelta L.) yield decreased by 14% (p < 0.001) and 8% (p < 0.05), respectively, with reduced tillage, but sunflower (Helianthus annuus L.) yield was slightly higher with reduced tillage. Slurry fertilization enhanced wheat yield by 5% (p < 0.001) compared to compost fertilization. Overall, C_org, C_mic, and DHA improved and yields showed only a small reduction with reduced tillage under organic management, but long-term effects such as weed competition remain unknown.     

Effects of traditional and biodynamic farmyard manure amendment on yields,soil chemical,biochemical and biological properties in a long-term field experiment

We studied the effects of applications of traditionally composted farmyard manure (FYM) and two types of biodynamically composted FYM over 9 years on soil chemical properties, microbial biomass and respiration, dehydrogenase and saccharase activities, decomposition rates and root production under grass-clover, activity and biomass of earthworms under wheat, and yields in a grass-clover, potatoes, winter wheat, field beans, spring wheat, winter rye crop rotation. The experiment was conducted near Bonn, on a Fluvisol using a randomised complete block design (n=6). Our results showed that plots which received either prepared or non-prepared FYM (30 Mg ha^–1 year^–1) had significantly increased soil pH, P and K concentrations, microbial biomass, dehydrogenase activity, decomposition (cotton strips), earthworm cast production and altered earthworm community composition than plots without FYM application. Application of FYM did not affect the soil C/N ratio, root length density, saccharase activity, microbial basal respiration, metabolic quotient and crop yields. The biodynamic preparation of FYM with fermented residues of six plant species (6 g Mg^–1 FYM) significantly decreased soil microbial basal respiration and metabolic quotient compared to non-prepared FYM or FYM prepared with only Achillea. The biodynamic preparation did not affect soil microbial biomass, dehydrogenase activity and decomposition during 62 days. However, after 100 days, decomposition was significantly faster in plots which received completely prepared FYM than in plots which received no FYM, FYM without preparations or FYM with the Achillea preparation. Furthermore, the application of completely prepared FYM led to significantly higher biomass and abundance of endogeic or anecic earthworms than in plots where non-prepared FYM was applied.     

Soil phosphorus status of organic farming in Flanders: an overview and comparison with the conventional management

Abstract. A number of organic farms in Flanders were sampled to investigate the general phosphorus (P) status and degree of P saturation (P_sat) of the soils. Where possible, the soil P status was compared to that in conventional agriculture and related to farm characteristics: agricultural land use, soil texture, fertilization intensity and time since conversion. Generally, the P status of the organic farms was high, and similar to that of conventional farms in Flanders, which is due to the restricted time since conversion to organic farming on most farms. The average soil P_sat was slightly lower (37%) than the average value for East Flanders (39%) taken over the soil profile to 90 cm. However, a large proportion of the field areas on organic farms still had a P_sat greater than 30% (critical P_sat value), which may be an indication that P saturation will continue to be a problem for these farms.     

Effects of soil mesofauna and farming management on decomposition of clover litter: a microcosm experiment

The effects of soil mesofauna and different farming systems on decomposition of clover (Trifolium repens) litter were investigated in a laboratory experiment. Microcosms were incubated for 16 weeks with fine and coarse litterbags in soils from three types of management systems: fallow, integrated farming and organic farming, the latter two cropped with wheat. The effects were studied by analysing litter mass loss, C and N content, DOC, nitrate and pH in soil leachate, and CO₂ production, as well as mesofauna. Mesofauna significantly accelerated mass loss and C and N release from clover litter in all three soils. With mesofauna access, at the end of the experiment average clover mass loss was almost twice as high and clover C and N content were 60% lower than without mesofauna. Farming systems influenced the decomposition through affecting both element turnover and mesofauna. Although in the first weeks less N was leached from organic farming than from integrated farming soil, cumulative N leaching did not differ between these soils. However, more than 20% less N was leached from the fallow soil than from the field soils. CO₂ production was highest in fallow soil. Here, mesofauna had no effect on this variable. In soil with integrated farming, mesofauna reduced cumulative CO₂ production by 10% whereas in soil from organic farming it increased CO₂ production by 20%. Our data suggest that differences in C and N turnover in different management systems are strongly mediated by soil mesofauna.     

不同蔬菜生产模式对日光温室土壤质量的影响

有机农业作为常规农业的一种替代模式,其对土壤及作物的影响研究逐渐受到学术界的关注。该文通过对日光温室有机、无公害和常规生产模式的比较试验,分析有机生产模式对土壤养分、土壤微生物碳氮以及土壤酶活性的影响。结果表明,经过6年的试验,有机生产模式可显著提高土壤全碳、全氮含量以及土壤微生物量碳、氮含量,并提高土壤主要酶的活性,各项指标均表现为有机模式优于无公害模式优于常规模式。有机生产模式能够显著提高土壤质量,有利于土壤的可持续利用。3种生产模式下夏茬番茄产量有机模式高于无公害模式高于常规模式,且随着种植年限的增加有机模式秋茬作物产量呈增加趋势。     

Processes of soil movement on steep cultivated hill slopes in the Venezuelan Andes

Erosion from cultivated lands continues to threaten the sustainability of commercial and subsistence agriculture around the world. Although most erosion is attributed to rainfall-induced runoff, other processes were observed which may account for a large portion of soil movement on sloping farm lands. Soil movement was measured on 15 parcels cultivated by subsistence farmers in the Venezuelan Andes as part of a broader study on adoption of soil conservation practices. Sediment traps were installed at the outlet of fields with slopes ranging from 33% to 78%. Based on the type of material found in the traps—clods, stones and some consolidated earth-soil movement was attributed to plowing, weeding, concentrated flows entering the field from above and, to a lesser extent, rainfall. Soil flux ranged from 1.5 to 58.7 kg m⁻¹ yr⁻¹ with an average of 31.1 kg m⁻¹ yr⁻¹. Three parcels underwent low flux, 1.5 to 5.7 kg m⁻¹ yr⁻¹ and 12 showed a higher flux, 16.7 to 58.7 kg m⁻¹ yr⁻¹. This study served to identify a number of soil erosion mechanisms not often considered when designing soil conservation programs targeted for areas with steep slopes. Tillage translocation and weeding within parcels contributed considerably more to soil and stone movement than did rainfall. The findings suggest that, when designing soil conservation programs for such areas, emphasis should be placed on methods devised to minimize soil disturbance. Among the practices that may be promoted are minimum or zero-tillage, the use of ground covers to control weeds and the installation of stone or grass barriers to retard the downward movement of soil.