Soil erosion prediction under banana-pineapple intercropping using revised universal soil loss equation RUSLE

Jamal Talib, . and Almas M.A., . and Wan Sulaiman Wan Harun, . (1998) Soil erosion prediction under banana-pineapple intercropping using revised universal soil loss equation RUSLE. [Proceedings Paper]

Soil erosion prediction is a powerful tool for soil conservation planning. The most widely used model is the USLE Universal Soil Loss Equation which has been revised and updated to RUSLE Revised Universal Soil Loss Equation. The applicability of RUSLE model to estimate soil erosion was studied under Malaysian climate and soil type. Four unit erosion plots were prepared on a 9 slope of an Ultisol. One was planted with banana second with pineapple and third with intercrop of banana and pineapple whereas one plot was kept as bare with regular cultivation every fortnight. Measurements of soil loss from the plots were made after every daily erosive rainfall. Under the same conditions soil loss was predicted using the RUSLE model. Measured and predicted soil loss data were then compared. Results showed that during pre-establishment period RUSLE overestimated soil loss from bare and intercrop plots and underestimated for the pineapple plot. During the establishment period the opposite occurred where soil loss from the bare and intercrop plots was underestimated and that from pineapple plot was overestimated. Whereas for banana plot there was no difference between measured and predicted soil loss during both the pre-establishment and the establishment periods. During the early maturity period RUSLe underestimated soil loss from bare and banana plots and overestimated those from intercrop and pineapple plots. Over the whole experimental period of nine months results showed under-estimation of soil loss from bare intercrop and pineapple plots but no difference was shown between measured and predicted soil loss from the banana plot. Statistical analysis showed that there was no significant difference between the measured and predicted soil loss from all plots and the average deviation was less than 10. The findings indicate that there is potential for RUSLE model to be applied in Malaysia to estimate soil erosion for planning conservation practices an assessing erosion impacts in agricultural lands.

Full text available from:

Abstract

Soil erosion prediction is a powerful tool for soil conservation planning. The most widely used model is the USLE Universal Soil Loss Equation which has been revised and updated to RUSLE Revised Universal Soil Loss Equation. The applicability of RUSLE model to estimate soil erosion was studied under Malaysian climate and soil type. Four unit erosion plots were prepared on a 9 slope of an Ultisol. One was planted with banana second with pineapple and third with intercrop of banana and pineapple whereas one plot was kept as bare with regular cultivation every fortnight. Measurements of soil loss from the plots were made after every daily erosive rainfall. Under the same conditions soil loss was predicted using the RUSLE model. Measured and predicted soil loss data were then compared. Results showed that during pre-establishment period RUSLE overestimated soil loss from bare and intercrop plots and underestimated for the pineapple plot. During the establishment period the opposite occurred where soil loss from the bare and intercrop plots was underestimated and that from pineapple plot was overestimated. Whereas for banana plot there was no difference between measured and predicted soil loss during both the pre-establishment and the establishment periods. During the early maturity period RUSLe underestimated soil loss from bare and banana plots and overestimated those from intercrop and pineapple plots. Over the whole experimental period of nine months results showed under-estimation of soil loss from bare intercrop and pineapple plots but no difference was shown between measured and predicted soil loss from the banana plot. Statistical analysis showed that there was no significant difference between the measured and predicted soil loss from all plots and the average deviation was less than 10. The findings indicate that there is potential for RUSLE model to be applied in Malaysia to estimate soil erosion for planning conservation practices an assessing erosion impacts in agricultural lands.

[error in script]

Item Type:	Proceedings Paper
AGROVOC Term:	INTERCROPPING
AGROVOC Term:	CROPS
AGROVOC Term:	EROSION
AGROVOC Term:	STATISTICAL METHODS
AGROVOC Term:	SOIL CONSERVATION
AGROVOC Term:	MALAYSIA
Geographical Term:	MALAYSIA
Depositing User:	Ms. Norfaezah Khomsan
Last Modified:	24 Apr 2025 05:27
URI:	http://webagris.upm.edu.my/id/eprint/16231

Actions (login required)

View Item