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Journal of Environmental Hydrology
ISSN 1058-3912 |
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Electronic Journal of the International Association for
Environmental Hydrology
JEH Volume 16 (2008), Paper 10 Posted March 20, 2008 ALLEY CROPPING AND TERRACING EFFECTS ON SURFACE RUNOFF, SOIL EROSION AND LOSS OF PLANT NUTRIENTS
N.K. Kabaluapa1 2Department of Biosystems Engineering, Auburn University, Auburn, Alabama, USA 3Department of Agronomy and Soils, Auburn University, Auburn, Alabama, USA ABSTRACT Alley cropping was tested as an alternative to underground pipe-outlet parallel terraces for soil and water conservation in Cullman, AL on Hartsells sandy loam soil, 6.5% slope. Alley cropping treatments with hedgerows of mimosa (Albizia julibrissin), blackberry (Rubus ursinus) and switchgrass (Panicum virgatum), were compared to underground pipe-outlet parallel terraces and a no-barrier control in a sweet corn (Zea mays) - rye (Secale cereale) - cowpea (Vigna unguiculata (L) WALP) - rye - sweet corn rotation from August 2002 to July 2004. One replicate consisted of plots measuring 0.05ha, each of which was instrumented for measuring and sampling surface runoff and sediment with a 0.18-m HS flume and an ISCO automatic runoff sampler, respectively. Hedgerows and terraces were established in April-May 2002. Mimosa was pruned in July 2003, April and July 2004, and prunings left on the field. Water runoff was analyzed for sediment, N, P, and K concentrations and total losses. Blackberry, switchgrass and terrace treatments reduced water runoff losses by 45, 62, and 74%, respectively. Switchgrass and terraces reduced sediment yield by 76 and 84%, respectively. Total losses of NH4-N and K were also significantly reduced in switchgrass and terrace treatments. The effectiveness of vegetative barriers in reducing surface runoff, sediment concentration and yield, plant nutrient concentrations and losses progressively improved over time. Switchgrass hedges were more effective than blackberry and mimosa hedgerows in reducing runoff, sediments and plant nutrients due to their rapid establishment and tillering to fill the row. Reference: Kabaluapa, N.K., K.H. Yoo, D.A. Shannon, Phil S. Kim, and C.W. Wood. 2008. Alley cropping and terracing effects on surface runoff, soil erosion and loss of plant nutrients. Journal of Environmental Hydrology, Vol. 16, Paper 10. CONTACT: Phil S. Kim Visiting Scientist, KonKuk University, Seoul, Korea Department of Biosystems Engineering Auburn University Auburn, Alabama, 36849 USA E-mail: kimphil@auburn.edu |
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