engleski

Tillage and crop management effects on soil erosion in Central Croatia

On soils of high erosion risk, acceptable tillage practices harmonized with the concept of sustainable land management are the most efficient tool for soil conservation. Erosion risk and erosional drift quantity were recorded during the five-year research project (1994-1999) on Stagnic Luvisols in central Croatia, using typical agricultural crops and six tillage treatments common to this area. The most disastrous erosion risk of all test plots was predicted by USLE (Universal Soil Loss Equation) to occur on the check plots, which involved black fallow - tilled, unsown soil, without any vegetation cover. Indeed, the greatest soil losses each year were recorded on those check plots. Soil loss on these plots was several times higher than tolerant soil loss (T value), estimated at 10 t ha-1 yr-1. When tillage was performed up and down the slope, erosion risk was extreme and erosional drifts higher than tolerance occurred if spring crops were grown (maize and soybean), but it was not the case with winter crops (winter wheat and oil seed rape). On the no-tillage plot, erosion risk was extreme, erosional drift quantity was double the tolerance level in maize (Zea mays L.). On the same plot, high erosion risk and erosional drift quantity slightly higher than tolerant was recorded in soybean (Glycine hyspida L.). Insignificant erosion risk and insignificant soil erosion was recorded in winter wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) ; oil-seed rape (Brassica napus var. oleifera L.), and spring barley (Hordeum vulgare L.) with soybean (1998/99). All treatments involving plowing across the slope, i.e. conventional plowing ; very deep plowing ; and sub soiling + conventional plowing rendered satisfactory efficiency in terms of soil conservation when growing all the studied crops (with the exception of maize grown with very deep plowing). Since erosion did not surpass the tolerant soil loss threshold in these tillage practices, their application is recommended for the general practice. Based on this research, erosion risk can be used as a reliable indicator of sustainable land management.

Water erosion; Erosion risk; USLE; Sustainability; Soil conservation; Coatia

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