Soil erosion processes in subtropical plantations (Diospyros kaki) managed under flood irrigation in Eastern Spain

Abstract

Persimmons (Diospyros kaki) are trees cultivated under subtropical environmental conditions but are also found in other regions such as the Mediterranean. However, no research has been conducted to investigate soil erosion processes under Mediterranean soil management systems characterized by flood irrigation and/or tillage. The Improved Stock Unearthing Method (ISUM) for assessing long‐term soil mobilization was applied to two fields, one under tillage and the other under no‐till with herbicide within a 25‐year old Mediterranean persimmon plantation. Replicating methods used in vineyard studies, graft unións on persimmon plants were used as passive bio‐indicators of soil surface changes in this study. The tilled field showed a total soil mobilization volume of 48.4 m3 on a 408.5 m2 plot, representing a total soil loss of 52.6 Mg ha‐1 yr‐1. For the plot (468 m2) managed with no‐till and herbicide, the results indicated total soil mobilization of 33.6 m3 which translates to 31.9 Mg ha‐1 yr‐1. It is concluded that flood irrigation is able to modify the runoff pathways and landforms in Mediterranean persimmon plantations, and the flood impact is more extensive when combined with tillage. For the first time, ISUM has been successfully applied to estimate soil erosion in a plantation under flood irrigation.