SOIL TILLAGE FOCUSING ON THE REDUCTION OF WATER EROSION OF SOIL IN THE CULTIVATION OF SELECTED FIELD CROPS

Abstract

Water erosion is a problem of global significance. Water erosion destroys or damages a vast expanse of usable agricultural land every year. Conditions in the Czech Republic are characterized by high average slope of the land. It is reported that approximately half of land in the Czech Republic is threatened by water erosion. Water erosion is a natural process that cannot be fully prevented. In case of agricultural land an important option is suitable tillage, which may reduce symptoms of water erosion. The problem of water erosion of agricultural land is growing in the Czech Republic, which is mainly caused by the growth of wide areas of crops (maize). This is due to expansion of biogas power plants using parts of maize silage. The aim of paper is to evaluate and assess the crop stand establishment in conditions of resistance to water erosion. For this purpose, a field experiment was set up. This experiment affects the most widely used methods of maize cultivation in Central Bohemia region. It consists of six variants of crops and technologies stand establishment and control treatment without vegetation. To determine the surface runoff and erosive wash was used measurement by runoff microplots. From processed measurement the positive impact of reduced tillage on soil resistance to water erosion results can be confirmed. The consequence is a reduction of surface runoff and especially erosive washes of soil. Impact of ground cover with organic matter is favorable, even in case of conventional tillage. The results of the experiment are directly applicable to agricultural practices. Results of the experiment were used for the legislative recommendations of appropriate technology (wide-row crops on slopes).

Keywords: erosive wash, surface tillage methods, water runoff.

Article DOI: http://doi.org/10.15544/RD.2015.015