Soil management for alfisols in the semiarid tropics: erosion, enrichment ratios and runoff

Cogle, A L and Rao, K P C and Yule, D F and Smith, G D and George, P J and Srinivasan, S T and Jangawad, L S (2002) Soil management for alfisols in the semiarid tropics: erosion, enrichment ratios and runoff. Soil Use and Management, 18 (1). pp. 10-17. ISSN 1475-2743

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Abstract

Continuous cultivation of soils of the semiarid tropics has led to significant land degradation.Soil erosion and nutrient loss caused by high runoff volumes have reduced crop yields and contributed to offsite damage. We compared a number of soil management practices (tillage, mulch and perennial/annual rotational based systems) for their potential to improve crop production and land resource protection in an Alfisol of the semiarid tropics of India. Runoff and soil erosion were monitored and surface soil and sediment were analysed for nitrogen and carbon to determine enrichment ratios. Amelioration of soils with organic additions (farmyard manure, rice straw) or rotating perennial pasture with annual crops increased soil carbon and nitrogen contents and reduced runoff, soil erosion and nutrient loss. Soil erosion totalled less than 7 t ha±1, but enrichment ratios were often greater than 2 resulting in up to 27 kgNha±1 and 178 kgC ha±1 being lost in sediment. Up to an extra 250mm of water per year in®ltrated the soil with organic additions and was available for crop water use or percolation to groundwater. The results show that there are good opportunities for reducing degradation and increasing productivity on farms

Item Type:	Article
Divisions:	UNSPECIFIED
CRP:	UNSPECIFIED
Uncontrolled Keywords:	Erosion;runoff;nutrient loss;soil management;Alfisols;semiarid zones;tropics;India
Subjects:	Others > Soil Science Others > Land Degradation
Depositing User:	Mr B K Murthy
Date Deposited:	13 Dec 2011 12:56
Last Modified:	13 Dec 2011 12:56
URI:	http://oar.icrisat.org/id/eprint/4909
Official URL:	http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/j.1475-2743.2002.tb00044...
Projects:	UNSPECIFIED
Funders:	UNSPECIFIED
Acknowledgement:	UNSPECIFIED
Links:	Author

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