Using a Rainfall Simulator to Define the Effect of Soil Conservation Techniques on Soil Loss and Water Retention

Jakub Stašek (), Josef Krása, Martin Mistr, Tomáš Dostál, Jan Devátý, Tomáš Středa and Jan Mikulka
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Jakub Stašek: Department of Landscape Water Conservation, Faculty of Civil Engineering, Czech Technical University in Prague, Thákurova 7, 16629 Prague, Czech Republic
Josef Krása: Department of Landscape Water Conservation, Faculty of Civil Engineering, Czech Technical University in Prague, Thákurova 7, 16629 Prague, Czech Republic
Martin Mistr: Research Institute for Soil and Water Conservation, Žabovřeská 250, 15627 Prague, Czech Republic
Tomáš Dostál: Department of Landscape Water Conservation, Faculty of Civil Engineering, Czech Technical University in Prague, Thákurova 7, 16629 Prague, Czech Republic
Jan Devátý: Department of Landscape Water Conservation, Faculty of Civil Engineering, Czech Technical University in Prague, Thákurova 7, 16629 Prague, Czech Republic
Tomáš Středa: Department of Crop Science, Breeding and Plant Medicine, Faculty of AgriSciences, Mendel University in Brno, Zemědělská 1665, 61300 Brno, Czech Republic
Jan Mikulka: Crop Research Institute, Drnovská 507, 16100 Prague, Czech Republic

Land, 2023, vol. 12, issue 2, 1-15

Abstract: In the Czech Republic, the Universal Soil Loss Equation provides the basis for defining the soil protection strategy. Field rainfall simulators were used to define the actual cover-management factor values of the most extensively seeded crops in the Czech Republic. The second purpose was to assess rainfall-runoff ratio for different crops and management to contribute to the debate of water retention effectiveness during approaching climate change. The methodology focused on multi-seasonal measurements to cover the most important phenological phases. The rainfall intensity was 60 mm·h −1 for 30 min and a plot size of 16 m 2 . More than 380 rainfall simulation experiments provided data. Soil conservation techniques proved to have a significant effect on runoff reduction. Conventionally seeded maize can reduce the runoff ratio to around 50%. However, cover crops combined with reduced tillage or direct seeding can reduce the runoff ratio to 10–20% for ‘dry’ conditions and to 12–40% for ‘saturated’ conditions. Conventionally seeded maize on average loses 4.3 Mg·ha −1 per 30 min experiment. However, reduced tillage and direct seeding reduce soil loss to 0.6 and 0.16 Mg·ha −1 , respectively. A comparison with the original USDA values for maize showed that it is desirable to redefine the crop cover factor.

Keywords: soil erosion; rainfall simulator; soil protection; USLE; soil loss ratio; cover crops; C-factor; runoff coefficient (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: Q15 Q2 Q24 Q28 Q5 R14 R52 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2023
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