The influence of tillage implements and practices on soil and moisture conservation of a crusting soil

Abstract

Soil crusting and hard-setting conditions limit agricultural productivity of most semi-arid lands of Kenya. Hydrological conditions of these soils are negatively influenced by the development and occurrence of soil crusting and hard-setting under the influence of bad tillage implement practices and adverse seasonal rainfall characteristics. The occurrence of soil crusting and hard-setting conditions decrease rainwater infiltration and inversely increases the surface runoff The reduced rainwater infiltration and high surface runoff induces agricultural soil drought due to reduced water transmittance and consequent storage into the soil profile. The objectives of this study was to investigate the influence of tillage implements and practices on soil and moisture conservation on a crusting and hard-setting (sandy clay loam) Luvisol. This study investigated the hydrological effects of two tillage implement practices with and without farmyard manure on soil erosion and moisture conservation on a crusting and hard-setting (sandy clay loam) Luvisol of the semi-arid Kenya. The experiment was conducted under extreme field conditions of bare land (no test crop) to eliminate any influence of crop cover, over the pertinent hydrological and soil properties. This study took two rainy seasons (short and long rains) with field investigations covering rainfall characteristics, soil surface roughness, shear strength, penetration resistance, bulk density, soil loss, wet soil aggregate stability, surface runoff and soil moisture. Investigations were conducted on 12 micro-plots of two square metres laid-out in a Split-plot in a Randomised Complete Block Design, complemented by a differential tillage depth treatment laid on a Randomised Complete Block Design. The main experimental treatments consisted of farmyard manure (FYM) at 0 and 10 tonnes per hectare for soil amendment. In the 10 (10) farmyard manure per hectare were applied through out for soil amendment. The experimental treatments were two tillage implement practices (minimum tillage -Modified Reversible Maresha Prototype-MRMP, and conventional Rumptstard -RS) and two farmyard manure applications - FYM (0 and10 tonnes ha"]. A complementary tillage depth treatment was introduced during the long rainy season aimed at providing understanding of the effect of tillage depth on soil moisture conservation. The conventional tillage implement was used at 12 em and 17 em tillage depth with 10 tonnes per hectare uniform manure application The tillage implement practices and manure showed a significant influence on surface runoff: infiltration, soil loss and moisture conservation The hydrological response of all treatments were influencedby soil crusting and hard-setting. The seasonal rainfall characteristics (amounts, frequency, durationand intensities) and the treatment effects on the soil surface roughness and aggregate stability impactedon the hydrological response. The minimum tillage implement practice reduced soil loss by 19'>10, surface runoff by 40% and enhanced water infiltration through out the study period. During the second rainy season the minimum tillage steadily enhanced soil moisture conservation due to the furrow depression storage created by the oriented surface roughness of the MRMP. The conventional tillage implement practice initially reduced soil loss, surface runoff and enhanced water infiltration From mid rainy season however, soil crusting increased soil loss, surface runoff and reduced water infihration The treatment response to ten tonnes of manure reduced soil loss by 40010, surface runoff by 39'>10 and enhanced water infiltration through out the study period. The tillage implement practice and manureinteraction treatment reduced soil loss by 48%, surface runoff by 68% in the MM and 18% in the RS and enhanced water-infiltration through out the study period. The soil moisture conservation response to ten tonnes of manure reduced soil loss by 40010, surface runoff by 39% and enhanced water infiltrationthrough out the study period. This study has shown that minimum tillage practice and manure application have a greater impact on soil loss, surface runoff and soil moisture conservation in a crusting and hard-setting soils of the semiarid. Rainfall intensities of above 75mm per hour has show to influence total soil loss of 66% and runoff water of 40010 During the second rainy season the minimum tillage steadily enhanced soil moisture conservation due to the furrow depression storage created by the oriented surface roughness of the MM The results obtained showed some significant changes in the hydrological related properties and soil management treatments. The tillage oriented surface roughness, soil aggregation, soil and runoff losses and moisture; changed with rainfall events and soil management practices. FYM and MRMP tillage practices compared to their control of no-manure and RS reduced runoff by 39ll1o and 40% and soil loss by 40% and 36% respectively. Soil moisture conservation was however, not improved until about mid-season (short-rains). Deep tillage (RS17) on the other hand showed a 60% improvement at a 17 em soil depth over the 12 em tillage depth (RS12) and was highly significantat 5% probability level. This study has shown that tillage implement (MRMP) practice and incorporation of farm yard manure (FYM) on a crusting and hard-setting soil is a potential soil and water conservation tool .that provides protection even when erosive forces are severe. It has also revealed that, application of un-decomposed manure and MRMP; do not immediately improve moisture retention. Deep tillage that incorporates FYM beyond 12 em depth can enhance improvement in soil moisture conservation.