Mulch and Grass Cover Unevenly Halt Runoff Initiation and Sediment Detachment during the Growing Season of Hazelnut ( Corylus avellana L.) in Croatia

Manuel Matisic, Marko Reljic, Ivan Dugan, Paulo Pereira, Vilim Filipovic, Lana Filipovic, Vedran Krevh and Igor Bogunovic ()
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Manuel Matisic: Department of General Agronomy, Division for Agroecology, Faculty of Agriculture, University of Zagreb, 10000 Zagreb, Croatia
Marko Reljic: Department of Soil Amelioration, Division for Agroecology, Faculty of Agriculture, University of Zagreb, 10000 Zagreb, Croatia
Ivan Dugan: Department of General Agronomy, Division for Agroecology, Faculty of Agriculture, University of Zagreb, 10000 Zagreb, Croatia
Paulo Pereira: Environmental Management Laboratory, Mykolas Romeris University, LT-08303 Vilnius, Lithuania
Vilim Filipovic: Department of Soil Amelioration, Division for Agroecology, Faculty of Agriculture, University of Zagreb, 10000 Zagreb, Croatia
Lana Filipovic: Department of Soil Amelioration, Division for Agroecology, Faculty of Agriculture, University of Zagreb, 10000 Zagreb, Croatia
Vedran Krevh: Department of Soil Amelioration, Division for Agroecology, Faculty of Agriculture, University of Zagreb, 10000 Zagreb, Croatia
Igor Bogunovic: Department of General Agronomy, Division for Agroecology, Faculty of Agriculture, University of Zagreb, 10000 Zagreb, Croatia

Sustainability, 2023, vol. 15, issue 21, 1-15

Abstract: Hazelnut orchards are popular for cropping on sloped sites, which are often highly erodible. This study aimed to assess the impact of soil management and season in a hazelnut orchard on soil properties and hydrological response. Three treatments (Tilled, Straw, and Grass) were established in Munije (Croatia) on Stagnosol. In Spring, Summer, and Fall, a rainfall simulation was performed (intensity of 58 mm h −1 for 30 min). Results reveal higher water stable aggregate values were observed for the Straw treatment in all seasons. Higher soil organic matter (SOM) content was noticed for the Grass treatment in all seasons, while lower values were recorded for the Tilled treatment. Sediment loss in Summer was up to 650% and 1300% higher for the Tilled treatment compared with the Straw and Grass treatments. This study strengthens the comprehension of utilizing a permanent ground cover in hazelnut orchards as a sustainable practice, contributing to the mitigation of soil erosion processes and the improvement of soil properties. The Straw treatment is a viable option since it increases soil stability and SOM, consequently preventing high soil erosion.

Keywords: ground cover; rainfall simulation; hydrological response; permanent plantation; soil management (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2023
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (1)

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