engleski

Effects of land abandonment on soil properties and reduction of soil water erosion in Mediterranean climate

The aim of this study is to determine land abandonment effects on soil properties as well as on soil erosion in two treatments ; Abandoned land (AL) and Tilled cropland (TCL) located in Polača, Croatia (44° 0' N, 15°31' E ; 81 m asl) on a 3° slope. Eight plots per treatment (0.785 m2) were subjected to rainfall simulations (58 mm/h for 30 min). All analyzed properties were significantly different between AL and TCL plots. AL plots had higher (p < 0.05) SWC (52.34 %), MWD (3.67 mm), WSA (61.87 %), CaCO3 (28.26 %), organic matter (2.99 %), P2O5 (237.8 mg / 1 kg soil), K2O (430.0 mg / 1 kg soil), but lower water runoff (40.14 m3 / ha), sediment loss (38.64 kg / ha) compared to TCL. Conversely, TCL plots had lower SWC (24.54%), MWD (2.74 mm), WSA (46.69 %), CaCO3 (22.27 %), organic matter (0.87 %), P2O5 (95.6 mg / 1 kg soil), K2O (187.7 mg / 1 kg soil), but higher water runoff (123.53 m3 / ha), sediment loss (1430.51 kg / ha) and phosphorus loss (152.81 g / ha) in addition to AL. Observed results indicate that intensive crop production alongside tillage has deteriorated soil physical properties which have resulted in increased water runoff (3.08 times more), sediment loss (37.02 times more), and phosphorus loss (26. 63 times more). On the contrary, land abandonment appears to have rejuvenated soil health in Mediterranean intensive production cropland, which in return has decreased soil erosion.

land management ; land abandonment ; soil erosion ; rainfall simulation

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