Effects of incorporating two organic materials at varying levels on splash detachment of some soils from Borno state, Nigeria

Abstract

AbstractSplash detachment by raindrops was measured using a factorial experiment involving three soils (sandy loam, clay loam and clay) and two organic materials (cow dung and groundnut haulms) applied at five levels (0, 2, 4, 6 and 8 per cent by mass). A simulated rainfall intensity of 145 mm h−1 for 10 min duration was used for the tests. Detachment was described in terms of the direct effects and the first and second order interactions of the variables mentioned above. Results indicated that mean splash detachment was reduced significantly (P < 0·01) from 1·97 kg m−2 in the sandy loam to 0·67 kgm−2 in the clay soil. For each soil type, detachment was reduced significantly (P < 0.01) with increasing levels of added organic matter. Groundnut haulms produced lower values of detachment than cow dung. There were also significant interaction effects between the study variables. These interactions were used to describe the effect of added organic materials on splash detachment. For each soil type and organic material, negative exponential relationships were established to relate splash detachment to levels of added organic matter.