Assessing the Impact of Fodder Maize Cultivation on Soil Erosion in the UK

Abstract

The short-term gross and net soil erosion in a bare maize stubble field during a period of heavy rainfall in the winter of 2004–2005 was estimated using 7Be measurements, with the longer-term erosion rate, estimated using Cs-137 measurements and compared with the longer-term soil erosion rate for the field, estimated using 137Cs measurements. The results show that the gross and net soil erosion occurring in the field under maize stubble were considerably greater than the longer-term gross and net soil erosion rates for the field. Both sets of measurements demonstrate that the field is characterized by a high sediment delivery ratio, emphasizing that a large proportion of the sediment mobilised by erosion was transported beyond the field and towards the stream network. Depending on the weather conditions, late harvesting, the associated compaction of the soil by heavy machinery and leaving the stubble field bare over the ensuing winter can result in a substantial increase in erosion relative to the longer-term erosion rate under more traditional land use. The need to implement measures to reduce soil erosion associated with maize cultivation in England, such as the Code of Good Agricultural Practice and the Agri-Environment Schemes is clearly demonstrated.