International Soil and Water Conservation Research
Volume 6, Issue 4
Pages 265-340 (December 2018)
Runoff and losses of nutrients and herbicides under long-term conservation practices (no-till and crop rotation) in the U.S. Midwest: A variable intensity simulated rainfall approach
Javier M. Gonzalez
Pages 265-274
Influence of freeze-only and freezing-thawing cycles on splash erosion
Seyed Hamidreza Sadeghi, Mohammad Bagher Raeisi, Zeinab Hazbavi
Pages 275-279
Assessment of soil quality indicators under different agricultural land uses and topographic aspects in Central Vietnam
Tung Gia Pham, Hung Trong Nguyen, Martin Kappas
Pages 280-288
Effect of spatial scale on runoff coefficient: Evidence from the Ethiopian highlands
Tesfaye Mebrate Lemma, Gizaw Desta Gessesse, Asfaw Kebede Kassa, Desalegn Chemeda Edossa
Pages 289-296
A GIS-based approach for identifying potential sites for harvesting rainwater in the Western Desert of Iraq
Ammar Adham, Khamis Naba Sayl, Rasha Abed, Mohamed Arbi Abdeladhim, ... Coen J. Ritsema
Pages 297-304
Integrated soil, water and agronomic management effects on crop productivity and selected soil properties in Western Ethiopia
Teklu Erkossa, Timothy O. Williams, Fanuel Laekemariam
Pages 305-316
Effect of plastic mulch on crop yield and land degradation in south coastal saline soils of Bangladesh
Mohammad Asadul Haque, Muhammad Jahiruddin, Derek Clarke
Pages 317-324
Features of selected benchmark soils along an elevational transect of the northeastern part of the Moldavian Plateau (Romania)
Geanina Bireescu, Carmelo Dazzi, Giuseppe Lo Papa
Pages 325-330
Conserving natural resources through food loss reduction: Production and consumption stages of the food supply chain
Shahla M. Wunderlich, Natalie M. Martinez
Pages 331-339
===================================================
Tesfaye Mebrate Lemma, Gizaw Desta Gessesse, Asfaw Kebede Kassa, Desalegn Chemeda Edossa,
Effect of spatial scale on runoff coefficient: Evidence from the Ethiopian highlands,
International Soil and Water Conservation Research,
Volume 6, Issue 4,
2018,
Pages 289-296,
ISSN 2095-6339,
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.iswcr.2018.08.002.
(http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2095633917302770)
Abstract: The runoff coefficient (RC) is the ratio between the runoff and rainfall amounts and is scale dependent, which is due in part to the heterogeneity of watershed characteristics. This study quantified the spatial scale effects on runoff using long-term rainfall-runoff data on runoff plots and small watersheds. Effect of spatial scale on RC was studied for 12 runoff plots (2?m by 15?m) and three small watersheds (113–477?ha) in the highlands of Ethiopia using a total of 4397 and 13,925 15-day cumulative pairs of rainfall and runoff data at watershed and runoff plot scales, respectively. The observed average RC of runoff plots was extrapolated based on the extent of representation of a particular watershed in terms of slope, land use, cover and soil type. The weighted RC of plots was then compared with the observed RC of the watershed to determine a scale factor for extrapolation. A decrease in RC from plot to the watershed was observed in Anjeni and Andit Tid watersheds, while an increase in RC in Maybar watershed illustrates the role of specific watershed conditions in determining the scale effect. This, in turn, suggests that the variation in scale factor is not well explained by the difference in the area alone. The scale effect of runoff generation was better explained by extrapolating the RC based on the representation of different watershed characteristics. Thus, extrapolation exercises in runoff modeling and scaling efforts of soil and water conservation practices should consider the scale effect cautiously.
Keywords: Runoff coefficient; Spatial scale; Rainfall-runoff relation; Ethiopian highlands
Javier M. Gonzalez,
Runoff and losses of nutrients and herbicides under long-term conservation practices (no-till and crop rotation) in the U.S. Midwest: A variable intensity simulated rainfall approach,
International Soil and Water Conservation Research,
Volume 6, Issue 4,
2018,
Pages 265-274,
ISSN 2095-6339,
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.iswcr.2018.07.005.
(http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2095633917302344)
Abstract: The U.S. Farm Bill includes conservation practices that benefit both the environment and the farmer. The USDA Conservation Effects Assessment Project (CEAP) is a multi-agency effort to assess the efficiency of conservation practices to minimize non-point source pollution. This is follow-up study of a 28-year experiment design to assess the influence of the conservation practices of no-till and crop rotation systems (corn [Zea mays]-soybean [Glycine max]), compared to chisel tillage and monocropping systems (continuous corn) on soil health and water quality. In this study, changes on soil C and N, soil water content, runoff, and losses of ammonium-N, nitrate-N, soluble reactive P (SRP), atrazine, metolachlor, and glyphosate were compared to determine the influence of no-till and corn-soybean rotation systems, relative to chisel tillage and continuous corn, on plots planted with corn using variable intensity rainfall simulations. The long-term no-till systems had a positive impact on soil C and N, soil water, runoff, and losses of ammonium-N and nitrate-N; however, no effect was observed on losses of SRP, atrazine, metolachlor, and glyphosate. The corn-soybean rotation negatively influenced, compared to the continuous corn, soil C and N, soil water content, and increased runoff and the losses of all nutrients and herbicides measured in this study. These results suggest that additional conservation practices, in conjunction with no-till and corn-soybean rotations are needed to reduce surface losses of nutrients and pesticides while improving soil health.
Keywords: No-till; Crop residue; Nutrients; Herbicides; Runoff
Teklu Erkossa, Timothy O. Williams, Fanuel Laekemariam,
Integrated soil, water and agronomic management effects on crop productivity and selected soil properties in Western Ethiopia,
International Soil and Water Conservation Research,
Volume 6, Issue 4,
2018,
Pages 305-316,
ISSN 2095-6339,
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.iswcr.2018.06.001.
(http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2095633917302289)
Abstract: Land degradation is a major challenge limiting crop production in Ethiopia. Integrated soil and water conservation is widely applied as a means to reverse the trend and increase productivity. This study investigated the effects of such integrated approaches at two sites, Jeldu and Diga, in Western Ethiopia. A split plot design with physical soil and water conservation in the main plots and agronomic practices in the sub plots was employed. Maize (Zea mays L.) followed by groundnut (Arachis hypogaea L.) at Diga, and wheat (Triticum aestivum) followed by faba bean (Vicia faba L.) were the test crops. Surface soils were sampled before sowing and after the crop harvest, and analyzed for selected parameters. Soil moisture content during the growing period was also monitored. The use of soil bund increased soil moisture content, and significantly (P?<?0.05) increased days to flowering and maturity, kernel weight and harvest index, grain yield of the test crops, with the exception of maize. The improved agronomic practices (intercropping, fertilization and row planting) significantly (P?<?0.05) increased grain yield of all the test crops. The effect of the treatments on soil parameters may require longer time to be evident. Although the increase in crop yield due to soil bund and the improved agronomic practices is eminent, economic analysis is necessary before recommending the widespread use of the improved options.
Keywords: Land degradation; Soil bund; Inter-cropping; Improved crop varieties; Crop-livestock systems
Tung Gia Pham, Hung Trong Nguyen, Martin Kappas,
Assessment of soil quality indicators under different agricultural land uses and topographic aspects in Central Vietnam,
International Soil and Water Conservation Research,
Volume 6, Issue 4,
2018,
Pages 280-288,
ISSN 2095-6339,
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.iswcr.2018.08.001.
(http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2095633918300947)
Abstract: Soil quality assessment is valuable for agricultural production. In this research, 155 soil samples at two soil depths were collected from four land use types in an agricultural area of the A Luoi district in the Central Vietnam. Differences of soil organic carbon, total nitrogen in soil and soil pH under different land use types and topographic aspects were compared. Soil organic carbon contents in arable land and plantation forest are higher than those in natural forest and grassland (p?<?0.05). Conversely, the total nitrogen in natural forest was significantly lesser in comparison to other land use types. Meanwhile there were no significant differences of the total nitrogen content (p?<?0.05) among arable land, plantation forest, and grassland. The soil of grassland, natural and plantation forests land use types were more significantly acidic than those of the soils of the arable land use type. Soil organic carbon and total nitrogen showed a decreasing trend while soil depth increased in all land use types. The soil pH in plantation forest and arable land use types showed no significant change in relation to soil depth. Significant differences were not found in topographic aspects and soil organic carbon content; however, the different changing trends of soil organic carbon content between land use types and aspects were found. The impact of slope, elevation, farming system or soil texture accounted for the differences in these soil indicators under different land use types in the A Luoi district.
Keywords: Central Vietnam; Land use type; Hilly area; Soil quality; Topographic aspects
Geanina Bireescu, Carmelo Dazzi, Giuseppe Lo Papa,
Features of selected benchmark soils along an elevational transect of the northeastern part of the Moldavian Plateau (Romania),
International Soil and Water Conservation Research,
Volume 6, Issue 4,
2018,
Pages 325-330,
ISSN 2095-6339,
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.iswcr.2018.07.002.
(http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2095633918300959)
Abstract: Soil morphological, physical and chemical properties are described at four locations along an elevational transect in the northeastern part of the Moldavian Plateau (Romania). These data contribute to the knowledge of the soils of this area and to their classification according to the USDA-Soil Taxonomy, FAO-WRB and the SRTS-Romanian System. The soils were classified as Inceptisols, Alfisols and Mollisols, according to the USDA-Soil Taxonomy; Gleysol, Chernozem and Luvisol, according to the FAO-WRB and Gleiosol, Cernoziom, Preluvosol, Luvosol, according to the SRTS-Romanian System. The selected soils have a range of properties that represent the soilscape of the Moldavian subcarpathian plateau, characterised by a natural forest with oak as the dominant species. The selected soil parameters decreased with increasing elevation; calcium carbonate and clay leaching and accumulation are the main soil formation processes.
Keywords: Inceptisols; Alfisols; Mollisols; Climosequence; Moldavian Plateau
Editorial Board,
International Soil and Water Conservation Research,
Volume 6, Issue 4,
2018,
Page i,
ISSN 2095-6339,
https://doi.org/10.1016/S2095-6339(18)30166-7.
(http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2095633918301667)
Seyed Hamidreza Sadeghi, Mohammad Bagher Raeisi, Zeinab Hazbavi,
Influence of freeze-only and freezing-thawing cycles on splash erosion,
International Soil and Water Conservation Research,
Volume 6, Issue 4,
2018,
Pages 275-279,
ISSN 2095-6339,
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.iswcr.2018.07.004.
(http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S209563391830100X)
Abstract: Soil erosion is recognized as one of the most important types of land degradation in the world particularly in many developing countries like Iran. Water erosion is initiated by splash erosion triggered by raindrop impact. Understanding the process of splash erosion under freezing and thawing conditions is essential to unravel soil erosion mechanisms under temperate conditions leading to appropriate planning of soil and water conservation projects. The present study aimed to study the individual effects of freeze-only as well as freezing-thawing cycle on splash erosion in a loess soil from an erosion prone area in mountainous northern regions of Iran. The study was conducted under laboratory conditions using erosion plots. The erosion plots were subjected to freeze only and freeze-thawing treatments by simulating cold conditions using a large cooling compartment system specifically manufactured for this purpose. The splash erosion under a designed simulated rainfall (1.2?mm?min?1 for 30?min) was then measured as upward, downward and net splash erosion in splash cups. The results showed that freeze only decreased the upward, downward and net splash erosion by 0.81?±?0.43, 0.82?±?0.29 and 0.85?±?0.23% while freezing-thawing cycle decreased splash erosion to 0.93?±?0.83, 0.61?±?0.43 and 0.57?±?0.36%. This may be attributed to temporary increase in soil strength and stability or surface sealing during freezing process leading to reduced splash erosion.
Keywords: Experimental plots; Freezing effects; Rainfall simulation; Soil detachment process
Mohammad Asadul Haque, Muhammad Jahiruddin, Derek Clarke,
Effect of plastic mulch on crop yield and land degradation in south coastal saline soils of Bangladesh,
International Soil and Water Conservation Research,
Volume 6, Issue 4,
2018,
Pages 317-324,
ISSN 2095-6339,
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.iswcr.2018.07.001.
(http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2095633918300741)
Abstract: The experiment was conducted during dry season of 2016 and 2017 at farmer's field of Kalapara Upazila of Patuakhali district, Bangladesh to develop tools to reduce salinity impact in maize and to reduce salinity induced land degradation. There were five treatments in the experiment having three different color plastic mulch (blue, black and white) and rice straw mulch and a non mulch control (bare soil) treatment. The experiment was laid out in randomized complete block design with three replications. The treatments white, blue and black plastic film mulch, and rice straw much had 149%, 109%, 78% and 25% grain yield increase in 2016, and 173%, 117%, 99% and 47% in 2017 over control, respectively. The white plastic mulch treatment had 4?°C and 3.5?°C higher temperature over rice straw mulch treatment and 2.0?°C higher than the control treatment in 2016 and 2017, respectively. The black plastic mulch had 0.2 and 1.0?°C, and rice straw mulch had 2.0 and 1.5?°C lower temperature than control in 2016 and 2017, respectively. Use of plastic mulch significantly reduces electrical conductivity of soil. In non-mulch treatment sulfur content was extremely high; plastic mulch rather helps to decrease the excess availability of sulfur. The overall results suggest that use of plastic mulch would be a suitable tool for enhancing maize production maintaining good soil health in saline soils.
Keywords: Land degradation; Maize; Plastic mulch, Saline soil; Straw mulch
Ammar Adham, Khamis Naba Sayl, Rasha Abed, Mohamed Arbi Abdeladhim, Jan G. Wesseling, Michel Riksen, Luuk Fleskens, Usama Karim, Coen J. Ritsema,
A GIS-based approach for identifying potential sites for harvesting rainwater in the Western Desert of Iraq,
International Soil and Water Conservation Research,
Volume 6, Issue 4,
2018,
Pages 297-304,
ISSN 2095-6339,
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.iswcr.2018.07.003.
(http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S209563391830114X)
Abstract: People living in arid and semi-arid areas with highly variable rainfall and unforeseeable periods of droughts or floods are severely affected by water shortages and often have insecure livelihoods. The construction of dams in wadies to harvest rainwater from small watersheds and to induce artificial groundwater recharge is one of the solutions available to overcome water shortages in the Western Desert of Iraq. The success of rainwater harvesting (RWH) systems depends heavily on their technical design and on the identification of suitable sites. Our main goal was to identify suitable sites for dams using a suitability model created with ModelBuilder in ArcGIS 10.2. The model combined various biophysical factors: slope, runoff depth, land use, soil texture, and stream order. The suitability map should be useful to hydrologists, decision-makers, and planners for quickly identifying areas with the highest potential for harvesting rainwater. The implementation of this method should also support any policy shifts towards the widespread adoption of RWH.
Keywords: GIS; Rainwater harvesting; Iraq's western desert; Suitability map
Shahla M. Wunderlich, Natalie M. Martinez,
Conserving natural resources through food loss reduction: Production and consumption stages of the food supply chain,
International Soil and Water Conservation Research,
Volume 6, Issue 4,
2018,
Pages 331-339,
ISSN 2095-6339,
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.iswcr.2018.06.002.
(http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2095633918300984)
Abstract: Globally, attention has been drawn to the increasingly alarming rates of food loss and waste (FLW) along the food supply chain (FSC) and its contributions to the depletion of the natural resources and rise in greenhouse gas emissions. Within the past decade, discovery of the rippling impacts of this interrelationship has generated an increased sense of urgency in efforts amongst scholars, global leaders, government and non-government agencies to research, and formulate comprehensive plans and goals to address and reduce the rates of global FLW. Not only does FLW lessen the quantity of available food, but also, the availability of the many natural resources required to produce food. This will become an important factor when the world population increases by more than 30% by the year 2050. Although advances have been made, still 1.3 billion tons of food are wasted every year due to various underlying causes and challenges. This enormous quantity of wasted food also represents an increase in usage of natural resources. In the United States (U.S.), food and agriculture consume up to 16% of energy, almost half of the land, and account for 67% of the nation's freshwater use (NRDC, 2017). The rate of natural resource depletion is not sustainable, and it endangers the ecosystem. Multiple reports have cited the first and last stages of the FSC as the most significant contributors of FLW and environmental resource depletion. This literature review attempts to provide a comprehensive assessment of the intricacies of the FSC, the multi-variable causes of global FLW at the production and consumption stages, its environmental implications and the necessary sustainability compliant actions.
Keywords: Global sustainability; Food loss and waste; Food security; Environmental impact; Sustainable food future; Food supply chain; Natural resources