Die Bodenkultur - Journal for Land Management, Food and Environment

I. Kisić, F. Basić, O. Nestroy, M. Mesić and A. Butorać:

Soil erosion under different tillage methods in central Croatia

Summary

Soil loss quantity was recorded during the five-year investigation cycle on a Stagnic Luvisol. Due to its unfavourable physical and chemical properties, this soil type is prone to crust formation and to intensive erosion by water on sloping terrains. Appreciably higher yearly rates of soil erosion were recorded in the growing of low-density row spring crops than in high-density winter crops and double-cropping (e.i. in ploughing up and down slope for maize 38.55 t ha-1; soybean 38.15 t ha-1; winter wheat 0.53 t ha-1; oil-seed rape 0.4 t ha-1 and double cropping 6.55 t ha-1. In ploughing across the slope soil erosion was: 11.69 t ha-1 for maize; 5.35 t ha-1 soybean; 0.07 t ha-1 winter wheat; 0.13 t ha-1 oil-seed rape and 0.18 t ha-1 for double cropping.). The time immediately following the sowing of spring crops is the most critical period, which is the period when highest soil loss occurs (approximately 70% of the total yearly erosion). Summing up all advantages and drawbacks of the studied tillage methods, we recommend no-tillage and ploughing across the slope for wider application on this soil type. Key words: Water erosion, Tillage methods, Stagnic Luvisol, Croatia.