Comparative evaluation of different techniques for soil erosion assessment in field plots
| dc.contributor.author | Mtakwa, Peter W. | |
| dc.date.accessioned | 2026-03-11T15:22:27Z | |
| dc.date.available | 2026-03-11T15:22:27Z | |
| dc.date.issued | 1996 | |
| dc.description | Master's Dissertation | |
| dc.description.abstract | Four techniques for assessing soil erosion were comparatively evaluated in field plots in bare - fallow as well as in plots under a maize - cowpea sequence for two consecutive seasons in 1935 at IITA, Ibadan, Nigeria. The techniques assessed were: Tracer, (Aluminium Paint), Hails (16 and 25 nails per plot), Rill and Universal soil, loss equation (USLE) technique. Soil loss determined by these techniques was compared to that measured by the conventional runoff plot technique. Soil loss measured by the conventional runoff plot technique was used for determining the influence of the various techniques on the magnitude of soil erosion. The Tracei technique war discontinued before the end of the study because it was difficult to accurately monitor the movement of the sprayed paint particles. The techniques employed in assessing soil erosion had no significant influence (5£ level) on the magnitude of soil loss and did not interfere with erosional processes. There was significantly more soil loss (ijo level) in bare fallow than in plots under a crop. from bare - fallow plots was 153.3 Llgha In the first season, soil loss —1 i -1 compared to only 40.2 ligha in plots under maize. lost 87o5 Kg soil ha _1 In the second season, bare - fallow plots -1 compared to a coil loss of 39.4 Kgha from plots tinder cowpea. liaise and cov/pea reduced the amount of soil loss by 5.8 and 2.2 times, respectively. There was more deterioration of soil physical conditions in bare - fallow than in plots under a maize - cowpea sequence. Det.veen the beginning of the first and the end of the second season there was a significant (1/j level) increase in dry bulk density in bare - fallow plots whereas the increase was nonsignificant (5/> level) in plots cropped to a maize - cowpea sequence. During the same period, cumulative infiltration and equilibrium infiltration rate fell by 41 and 37T-»j respectively, in bare - fallow plots compared to an increase (improvement) of about 26 and 37^ (cumulative infiltration and equilibrium infiltration rate, respectively) in plots under a maize cowpea sequence. There was no significant difference (5/j level) between soil loss determined by the 16 nails or 25 nails and conventional runoff plot technique. Also, soil loss determined by 16 nails did not differ significantly (5/J level) from that determined by the 25 nails technique. Soil loss determined by rill technique on six plots (3 bare fallow and 3 plots with, naize) at the end of the first season was significantly (5z-> level) lower than that measured by the conventional runoff plot technique. -1 and 121.9 Llgha for 11, Rill - estimated soil loss was 143.2. 103.8 a 11 and 8,'j slope, respectively,. -1 compare! To 201.5, 162.0 and 166.4 I.’gha measured by the conventional runoff plot technique. Soil erosion measured by the rill technique on three bare - fallow plots in 10 different dates was also significantly (ifj level) lower than that determined by the conventional runoff plot Technique. In the first season, the USL3 significantly (ijb level) underestimated soil loss. Soil loss estimated by the Ui-LE in the first season respectively for 11, 85.9 I-lgha"1 11 and Sf' slope was 128.8,-_ -1144.3 ana compared to 167.6, 156.1 and 136.3 i-gha' measured by the conventional runoff plot technique. in the second season, however, there were no differences in erosion rates determined by the two techniques. Cowpea grain yield was significantly (5f> level) and negatively correlated to soil loss (r = 0.74). | |
| dc.description.sponsorship | Norwegian Agency for International Development (NDRAD) | |
| dc.identifier.uri | https://www.suaire.sua.ac.tz/handle/20.500.14820/7385 | |
| dc.language.iso | en | |
| dc.publisher | Sokoine University of Agriculture | |
| dc.subject | Comparative evaluation | |
| dc.subject | Techniques soil erosion | |
| dc.subject | Soil erosion assessment | |
| dc.title | Comparative evaluation of different techniques for soil erosion assessment in field plots | |
| dc.type | Thesis |