Exploring Optimum Management Practices in Rainfed Areas to Reduce Soil erosion and Nutrient Losses

Sheikh, Aziz and Hassan, Javaid and Ijaz, Shahzada Sohail and Zaman, Anwar and Alam, Tajwar and Ali, Sajid and Suliman, Muhammad and Aslam, Asad and Ullah, Habib and Khan, Janas (2023) Exploring Optimum Management Practices in Rainfed Areas to Reduce Soil erosion and Nutrient Losses. Malaysian Journal of Soil Science (MJSS) (Malaysia), 27. pp. 164-178. ISSN 1394-7990

The global sustainability of agroecosystems is severely hindered by soil erosion. Globally, agricultural production and the sustainability of natural ecosystems are at risk from soil erosion due to heavy rainfall, posing a severe threat to environmental conservation. Diverse nutrients, transferred along with sediments during detachment and transport by water, affect soil fertility and productivity. The effects of management practices and nutrient losses on soil erosion have remained undefined. A field experiment was conducted at University Research Farm, Koont Chakwal Road in the Pothwar Plateau, during the monsoon season from mid-July to mid-September, 2019 in which fallow-based cropping systems used in conservation tillage systems were compared to double cropping and green manuring systems. There were eight treatments and three replications with a split-plot arrangement design. The 900 m² plot having 3% slope was split into two major plots for the tillage treatments: conventional tillage and reduced tillage. Each main plot was then divided into four subplots for the summer crops: (i) fallow, (ii) soybean, (iii) maize fodder, and (iv) sesbania green manure. A plastic drum was installed at the bottom of each sub plot to collect runoff and sediment. The amount of sediment, nutrient concentration, and soil organic matter was collected and measured in runoff water. In contrast to cropped plots, the results showed that fallow plots had a higher rate of runoff water. Maize fodder and sesbania were among the cropping systems with the lowest sediment losses. Reduced tillage (chisel) showed less sediment loss than mouldboard plough. Overall, nutrient losses varied between crops and tillage systems. However, there was no significant difference in organic matter loss between tillage systems, but there was significant difference among crop systems with fallow plots showing the highest and maize plots having the lowest organic matter loss in different rainfall events. In conclusion, reduced tillage (chisel plough) in combination with summer crops, specifically maize fodder, can considerably reduce water erosion and soil losses in the Pothwar region.

Full text available from: Official URL: https://www.msss.com.my/mjss/Full%20Text/vol27/V27...

Abstract

The global sustainability of agroecosystems is severely hindered by soil erosion. Globally, agricultural production and the sustainability of natural ecosystems are at risk from soil erosion due to heavy rainfall, posing a severe threat to environmental conservation. Diverse nutrients, transferred along with sediments during detachment and transport by water, affect soil fertility and productivity. The effects of management practices and nutrient losses on soil erosion have remained undefined. A field experiment was conducted at University Research Farm, Koont Chakwal Road in the Pothwar Plateau, during the monsoon season from mid-July to mid-September, 2019 in which fallow-based cropping systems used in conservation tillage systems were compared to double cropping and green manuring systems. There were eight treatments and three replications with a split-plot arrangement design. The 900 m² plot having 3% slope was split into two major plots for the tillage treatments: conventional tillage and reduced tillage. Each main plot was then divided into four subplots for the summer crops: (i) fallow, (ii) soybean, (iii) maize fodder, and (iv) sesbania green manure. A plastic drum was installed at the bottom of each sub plot to collect runoff and sediment. The amount of sediment, nutrient concentration, and soil organic matter was collected and measured in runoff water. In contrast to cropped plots, the results showed that fallow plots had a higher rate of runoff water. Maize fodder and sesbania were among the cropping systems with the lowest sediment losses. Reduced tillage (chisel) showed less sediment loss than mouldboard plough. Overall, nutrient losses varied between crops and tillage systems. However, there was no significant difference in organic matter loss between tillage systems, but there was significant difference among crop systems with fallow plots showing the highest and maize plots having the lowest organic matter loss in different rainfall events. In conclusion, reduced tillage (chisel plough) in combination with summer crops, specifically maize fodder, can considerably reduce water erosion and soil losses in the Pothwar region.

[error in script]

Item Type:	Article
AGROVOC Term:	erosion
AGROVOC Term:	nutrient depletion
AGROVOC Term:	conservation tillage
AGROVOC Term:	green manures
AGROVOC Term:	runoff water
AGROVOC Term:	soil organic matter
AGROVOC Term:	maize
Geographical Term:	Pakistan
Depositing User:	Mr. Khoirul Asrimi Md Nor
Date Deposited:	19 May 2025 07:15
Last Modified:	19 May 2025 07:15
URI:	http://webagris.upm.edu.my/id/eprint/2788

Actions (login required)

View Item