Abstract
Application of crop residues to cultivated soils combined with no tillage are management practices used to improve water management, increase soil fertility, crop production and soil erosion control. Conservative practices as mulching and no-tillage increase soil organic matter input in soils and contribute to reduce the soil hydrological response, but also increase soil water repellency. Water repellency is a property of soils that reduces infiltration rates. In this research, we have studied the effect of no-tillage and mulching at different rates (1–4, MR1; 5–8, MR2; and 9–12Mgha−1year−1 wheat straw residues application, MR3) versus conventional tillage with no mulching, during a range of treatment periods (1–15 years) in Southern Spain. Soil water repellency (SWR) and organic matter content were analyzed and rainfall simulations were performed to study the impact of management in the hydrological soil response (time to ponding, Tp; time to runoff, Tr; and runoff rate). Subcritical SWR developed in MR1 soils, and slight SWR was observed in MR2 and MR3 soils after a few years of treatment. Subcritical or slight SWR induced significant changes in Tp and Tr, which increased mainly in MR1 soils, but increased SWR observed in MR2 and MR3 soils reduced the positive impact of organic matter and contributed to accelerate ponding and runoff flow.
Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
