Grass Strips Research Articles

Establishing perennial strips in a cultivated floodplain for habitat restoration: monitoring over 4 years and success drivers

Floodplains, one of the most biologically diverse and productive ecosystems, are under threat from intensive crop production. Implementing perennial strips alongside agricultural ditches and streams could reduce negative impacts of intensive agriculture and restore wildlife habitats in cultivated floodplains. To successfully set up perennial strips, it is important to understand the parameters that drive their establishment. Here we assessed the establishment success of reed canarygrass (RCG; Phalaris arundinacea) strips in the lake Saint Pierre (LSP) floodplain, Québec, Canada by monitoring RCG biomass and vegetation height over 4 years and identify the factors driving its establishment. A total of 26 RCG strips across six municipalities of LSP were monitored. Biomass and vegetation height of RCG increased over time to reach an average of 5048 kg/ha in year 4 and 104 cm in year 3 in established strips. The RCG established successfully in 62% of surveyed plots and three environmental parameters explained 61% of this success. Establishment of RCG was most successful when a first rain came right after seeding (<3 days). High clay content and low elevation were associated with establishment failures. Overall, our results highlight the ability of RCG strips to restore dense perennial vegetation cover in cultivated floodplain, thereby providing suitable habitat for fish spawning during spring floods. This study provides significant insight into the drivers of establishment of perennial grass strips in highly constrained cultivated areas such as floodplains.

Assessing the effectiveness of integrated watershed management practices and suggesting innovative strategies in southern Ethiopia

Integrated watershed management plays a vital role in promoting sustainable water resource management and addressing environmental challenges. This study aims to analyze and assess the effectiveness of existing IWM practices and develop new strategies to improve watershed management. The data collection process encompassed comprehensive field observations, surveys, and consultations with the stakeholders. According to a hydrometer test, loam soil was the average dominant soil type in Elgo and Kola shell kebele. The assessment of existing soil water conservation initiatives adhered to the rigorous standards set by the Ministry of Agriculture. From 2016 to 2022, Elgo Kebele saw significant land use changes: agriculture expanded by 11.24 %, bare land by 2.05 %, water bodies by 1.79 %, and settlements by 0.54 %, while forests declined by 15.34 %. In Kola Shele, agriculture, water bodies, and settlements slightly increased by 0.5 %, 1.03 %, and 0.033 %, respectively, with decreases in bare land (1.82 %) and forest (0.05 %). Only 25 % of sampled plots met the criteria for effective soil water conservation systems, indicating challenges in current practices. For cultivated land with less than a 15 % slope and vertisol, recommended conservation practices include broad bed and furrow, conservation tillage, grass strips, grassland improvement, and mulching. For slopes greater than 50 %, hillside terracing, graded bunds, and trenches are advised. Additional measures, such as water harvesting, grass waterways, revegetation, and actions against illegal farming, were proposed. In summary, this study highlights the urgent need for improved IWM practices, and used to enhance watershed management, address environmental and socio-economic issues, and promote sustainable land use in the study.

Runoff and sediment reduction effects of different Paspalum wettsteinii‐planting measures on the slopes of Masson pine plantation in the red soil region of southern China

AbstractGrass‐planting measure is a crucial vegetation approach to mitigate understory soil erosion and improve ecological environment in the red soil region of southern China. This study aimed to quantify the effects of grass (Paspalum wettsteinii Hackel.)‐planting measures on runoff and sediment reduction on slopes of Masson pine plantations under rainstorm conditions. We conducted a rainfall simulation experiment at a rainfall intensity of 2.0 mm/min, comparing single strip (MT1, strip spacing: 145 cm), double strips (MT2, strip spacing: 70 cm), and triple strips (MT3, strip spacing: 45 cm) grass‐planting measures on slope surface runoff generation and soil erosion processes of the young Masson pine (MT0, no grass strip) plantation, and the bare slope (CK) was selected as the control. Results revealed that grass‐planting measures significantly decreased slope erosion parameters compared to CK and MT0. As the average grass coverage increased (MT1 from 10% to 25%, MT2 from 7.5% to 22.5%, MT3 from 7.3% to 25%), the slope surface erosion parameters under the grass‐planting measures decreased, resulting in significantly improved runoff and sediment reduction benefits. The runoff reduction effect could reach 32%, while the sediment reduction effect could reach 88%. Moreover, MT3 demonstrated superior performance over MT2 and MT1, with minimal runoff and sediment reduction effects observed for the MT0. Overall, this study suggests that grass‐planting measures, coupled with the increasing of grass coverage rates, significantly improve runoff and sediment reduction benefits on slopes in regions experiencing heavy rainfall. Among the tested configurations, MT3 emerged as most effective measure for controlling understory soil erosion in Masson pine plantations, especially when its average grass coverage rate reached 25%. These findings provide valuable insights for selecting appropriate grass‐planting strategies, as well as for understanding the underlying mechanisms of how these measures mitigate soil erosion. This scientific reference will aid in the design and implementation of soil and water conservation measures in the region.

Impacts of climate-smart soil and water conservation practices and slope gradient on selected soil chemical properties in Eastern Ethiopia: A case study of the Kulkullessa Sub-watershed, Goro Gutu District

The productivity and sustainability of agricultural systems are heavily influenced by soil fertility and physicochemical properties. This study investigated the effects of climate-smart soil and water conservation (SWC) practices and slope gradient on selected soil physicochemical properties and soil organic carbon stock (SOCS) in the Kulkullessa Sub-Watershed of Goro Gutu District, Eastern Ethiopia. The research focused on farmland conserved by stone bunds (SB), bench terraces (BT), and grass strips (GS) five years post-implementation, across two slope gradients (15-20% and 21-30%). Twenty-four composite soil samples were collected from a depth of 0-20 cm and analyzed at the Haramaya University soil laboratory. Results demonstrated that climate-smart SWC practices significantly improved soil physicochemical properties and SOCS in the study area. Slope gradients also induced considerable variations in these parameters. Conserved farmland and areas with lower slope gradients exhibited higher clay content and lower sand fractions. Bench terraces were associated with lower bulk density (BD) and significantly higher total porosity (p ≤ 0.05). Conserved farmlands showed higher electrical conductivity (EC) and lower pH values, both statistically significant (p ≤ 0.05). Stone bunds were most effective in increasing soil organic matter (SOM) content and total nitrogen (TN). Climate-smart SWC practices also enhanced exchangeable bases in the farmlands. Cation exchange capacity (CEC) was significantly improved (p ≤ 0.05) on farmland conserved by SB and BT. In conclusion, climate-smart SWC practices demonstrated substantial potential for improving agriculturally and environmentally relevant soil physicochemical properties and organic carbon stocks. These findings underscore the importance of such conservation measures in enhancing soil quality and promoting sustainable agriculture in the region.

Impact of Soil Management Practices on Soil Culturable Bacteriota and Species Diversity in Central European a Productive Vineyard under Warm and Dry Conditions

Sustainable management practices are crucial for the longevity of a monoculture vineyard, especially in the context of a changing climate. Therefore, soil management practices in a vineyard (T: tillage, T+FYM: tillage + farmyard manure, G: grass strips, G+NPK1: grass strips + rational rates of NPK, and G+NPK2: grass strips + higher rates of NPK) were tested in a temperate climate of Slovakia (Central Europe) under specific soil conditions (Rendzic Leptosol). We investigated the influence of continuous cropping on soil chemical properties and microbial communities during the dry and warm year of 2022. The results showed that the soil pH was higher by 19%, 21%, 24% and 13% in T, T+FYM, G and G+NPK1, respectively, compared to G+NPK2. The lowest soil organic matter (SOM) content was found in T, and it increased in the following order: T < T+FYM < G+NPK2 < G+NPK1 < G. Similarly, the lowest abundance of soil culturable bacteriota was found in T and it increased in the following order: T < T+FYM = G+NPK2 < G+NPK1< G. Culturable bacteriota was identified using mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOF MS Biotyper). The most numerous species group was Bacillus, followed by Lactobacillus > Staphylococcus > Pseudomonas. The most frequently isolated species were Bacillus megaterium (16.55%), Bacillus cereus (5.80%), Bacillus thuringiensis (4.87%), and Bacillus simplex (4.37%). Positive relationships between SOM and soil culturable bacteriota were found in the G and G+NPK1 treatments. Temperature also affected soil culturable bacteriota in all soil management practices, most significantly in G+NPK1. Overall, the best scenario for the sustainable management of a productive vineyard is the use of grass strips.

Urban Stormwater Phosphorus Export Control: Comparing Traditional and Low-impact Development Best Management Practices.

Data from the International Stormwater Best Management Practices (BMP) Database were used to compare the phosphorus (P) control performance of six categories of stormwater BMPs representing traditional systems (stormwater pond, wetland basin, and detention basin) and low-impact development (LID) systems (bioretention cell, grass swale, and grass strip). Machine learning (ML) models were trained to predict the reduction or enrichment factors of surface runoff concentrations and loadings of total P (TP) and soluble reactive P (SRP) for the different categories of BMP systems. Relative to traditional BMPs, LIDs generally enriched TP and SRP concentrations in stormwater surface outflow and yielded poorer P runoff load control. The SRP concentration reduction and enrichment factors of LIDs also tended to be more sensitive to variations in climate and watershed characteristics. That is, LIDs were more likely to enrich surface runoff SRP concentrations in drier climates, when inflow SRP concentrations were low, and for watersheds exhibiting high impervious land cover. Overall, our results imply that stormwater BMPs do not universally attenuate urban P export and that preferentially implementing LIDs over traditional BMPs may increase TP and SRP export to receiving freshwater bodies, hence magnifying eutrophication risks.

Effectiveness of physical soil and water conservation measures under simulated and observed dataset in Ethiopia: Meta‐analysis

AbstractTo combat land degradation through conserving soil and water resources, Ethiopia has undergone vigorous implementation of soil and water conservation (SWC) measures, predominantly physical structures. To evaluate the effectiveness of these implemented structures, various researches have been conducted through using both measured and simulated approaches. This study was initiated to analyze the reliability of SWAT‐based simulated studies results on the effectiveness of SWC measures toward erosion reduction potential against the measured dataset using unpaired t‐test statistical analysis. In this study, 123 published papers were downloaded, of which 70 were found to be more related to the objective of the review. After applying four refining criteria, only 43 were found more compatible with the study objective and used for data analysis. Studies conducted by different scholars show up to 98% and 93.50% soil loss reduction effectiveness by SWC measures in measured and simulated approaches, respectively. The simulated SWC measure efficiency output was also evaluated with respect to the ground‐measured data of the same structure within the same agroecology class. Finally, the unpaired t‐test results indicated that the grass strip in the mid‐highland agroecology showed a significant difference from the measured one at a 95% significance level. However, none of the other measures showed significant differences between the measured and simulated datasets. Hence, the SWAT model can effectively simulate the effectiveness of physical SWC measures on soil loss reduction if it is well‐calibrated and validated with sediment yield data. Refining model parameters that can be sufficiently captured and represent biological measures (grass strip), incorporating additional field data for calibration and validation coupled with exploring alternative modeling approaches that efficiently simulate biological SWC was set as a recommendation to obtain an effective biological measure simulation.

Dynamics of quasi-steady ponded infiltration under contrasting plant cover and management strategies

The runoff infiltration partitioning has direct consequences on preservation of water resources in rural territories, both in agricultural plots and uncultivated areas (e.g. ditches, channels, grass strips), and requires a better understanding of the variability of soil infiltration capacity by disentangling the complex links between soil, vegetation and management. The general objective of the study was to investigate the temporal variation in quasi-steady ponded infiltration rates of a fluvisol soil under bare and different cover crop type (a Malvaceae with a tap-root system and a Poaceae with a fibrous root system) and management conditions (burning, mowing, and chemical weeding) that are commonly found in the Mediterranean vineyards. A modified double-ring infiltration method was used to repeat measurement of the quasi-steady ponded infiltration, fcp, on the same location over time. Placed on a 64 m2 plot area with minimal distances between individual measurements of 30 cm, the setup allowed evaluation of variability among measurements that were conducted within the plot. The results showed a significantly lower fcp for bare soil than covered soil, and a two-fold higher fcp for soil covered by Malvaceae than Poaceae. A seasonal effect in fcp was observed, with the highest fcp in summer and the lowest in winter. The study revealed a strong spatial variability in fcp along a transect of a few tens of centimeter, and showed no significant effect of management strategies compared to the vegetated control. The results revealed the importance of considering both plant traits and season rather than vegetation management strategies to explain quasi-steady ponded infiltration rates.

Variability in the Physical Properties of an Eroded Cultivated Steep Land Under Farmers’ Practice and Vetiver Technology (Bio-Engineering Structure).

Variability in soil properties is evident in the variability in crop performance in a field and failure of engineering structures. During erosion particles are detached, transported and deposited at different locations down the slope. An experiment was conducted on 20 and 30% slopes within the Cross River University of Technology to assess variability in soil physical properties as induced by water erosion on erosion plots constructed and planted to maize/cassava mixture. No vetiver [farmer’s practice] and vetiver grass strips at 5m, 15m and 25m [bioengineering structure] constituted the treatments. Core samples (0 – 15cm) were collected at 5m intervals down the slope in all the treatments for determination of some soil physical properties. Infiltration was measured using double ring infiltrometer. Coefficient of variability (CV%) values ranged from 2 – 4% [bulk density], 2 – 4% [porosity], 16 – 33% [gravimetric moisture], 3 – 8% [void ratio], 16 – 33% [volume wetness], 15 – 32% [degree of saturation], 16 – 37% [water volume ratio], 2 – 7% [air-filled porosity], 16 – 33% [available moisture holding capacity] for the two slopes. Initial infiltration ranged between 1.87 – 2.90cm per minute and 82.63 – 127.80cm after 260 minutes for cumulative infiltration. Coefficient of variability were 19.5% [initial infiltration] 6.18% [cumulative infiltration] for 20 and 30% slopes respectively. CV% values of <15%, 15 – 35% and >35% are considered low, moderate and high respectively. Understanding field variability of soil properties could be a veritable tool for precision soil management to optimize and increase profitability.

Participatory Demonstration of Pennisetum pedicelluatum and Elephant grass (Pennisetum purpureum) Strip as Biological Soil and Water Conservation Measures for Erosion Control

On three beneficiary farmer fields, prescaling up and participatory demonstration of biological soil conservation techniques using Desho (Pennisetum pedicelluatum) and Elephant grass (Pennisetum purpureum) were carried out in 2019/2020 in comparison with control (no grass) activities. Assessing the role of biological conservation techniques in reducing soil erosion and farmers' opinions of these techniques was the primary goal. A total of 132 m2 demonstration plots were used to collect and analyze the experimental data. Elephant grasses (134 tons/ha) and desho (61.1 tons/ha) differed significantly (P < 0.05) in the second year. Elephant grass provided an average soil loss of 6.6 tons/ha/yr-1, desho grass produced an average of 10.9 tons/ha/yr-1, and control provided an average of 13.4 tons/ha/yr.The elephant grass plots showed the least amount of nutrient loss, while the control plots showed the greatest amount.When compared to Desho grass, elephant grass has a higher potential to control soil loss due to its robust root system and to rebound quickly, even in the event of a severe drought.Furthermore, because elephant grass grows quickly and has the largest freshweight biomass of any grass, farmers gave it more consideration in their assessments of grass strips than they did Desho grass.In order to improve acceptability and spread of the technology in dry land areas with a 5% slope for managing soil and nutrient losses, it is best to scale up elephant grass on a bigger scale. The highest nutrient loss was observed on the control plots and the least on the elephant grass plots. Based on the study results, elephant grass has a high potential to control soil loss through a strong root system and recovery immediately, even under severe drought conditions, compared with Desho grass. Additionally, farmers' evaluations of grass strips showed a higher attention to elephant grass than Desho grass due to the fast-growing nature of the grass and their highest fresh-weight biomass. Finally, it is better to scale up elephant grass on a larger scale to enhance acceptance and diffusion of the technology in dry land areas on a slope of 5% for controlling soil and nutrient losses.
 Keywords: Biological soil and water conservation, Desho grass, soil and nutrient loss

How Can Drones Uncover Land Degradation Hotspots and Restoration Hopespots? An Integrated Approach in the Mount Elgon Region with Community Perceptions

Human-induced land degradation in biodiverse regions like Mount Elgon threatens vital ecosystems. This study employs drone mapping and community insights to assess land use changes, degradation, and restoration in Mount Elgon, Uganda. Drone monitoring (2020–2023) covered six sites, complemented by household surveys (n = 499), Focus Group Discussions (FDGs), and interviews. Drone imagery shows agriculture and planted forest as dominant land use types, gradually replacing tropical high forest, bushland, and grassland. Drone image results showed that smallholder subsistence farming is leading to and enhancing degradation. Landslides and encroachment into the park were detected in three of the six sites. Trenches were the most adopted Soil and Water Conservation (SWC) measure. The trench adoption varied by location and crop type, creating restoration potential, notably in Elgon, Nabyoko, and Shiteka. Interviews and FGDs revealed adoption of trenches, grass strips, and afforestation as remedies to land degradation. Complex interactions exists among land use, degradation, and SWC measures in the upper Manafwa watershed, underscoring the urgency of addressing landslides and encroachment into the forest. Community-based initiatives are vital for hands-on SWC training, emphasizing long-term benefits. Collaboration among government, local communities, and NGOs is crucial to enforce conservation and restore Mt. Elgon National Park, while encouraging diversified income sources can reduce land dependency and mitigate degradation risks.

Optimizing Soil Management for Sustainable Viticulture: Insights from a Rendzic Leptosol Vineyard in the Nitra Wine Region, Slovakia

Properly chosen soil management practices can stabilize the nutrient regime in the soil, including the mobility and bioavailability of hazardous elements. This study aimed to identify the optimal soil management practices in a productive vineyard on Rendzic Leptosol in the Nitra wine region (Slovakia). Soil samples were collected each spring from two depths, 0–30 cm, and 30–60 cm, with the following treatments: T—soil tillage, P + FYM—plowed farmyard manure, G—grass strips, G + NPK1—first-level fertilization, and G + NPK2—second-level fertilization, from 2019 to 2023. The results indicated that more pronounced changes in soil properties occurred in the 0–30 cm layer. Higher NPK rates significantly affected soil sorption capacity and decreased soil pH when compared to other treatments. While G + NPK2 showed the highest storage of total N, S, P, K, and available P and K, it exhibited the lowest levels of total and available Ca. The T treatment displayed the lowest storage of C, N, S, P, and available K. In terms of hazardous metals (Cr, Ni, Pb, and Zn) none exceeded the limiting values in any of the soil management practices. However, in the 0–30 cm layer, Cu concentrations exceeded the limits set by Slovak Republic regulations in the T, P + FYM, G, G + NPK1, and G + NPK2 treatments by 62.6, 73.7, 70.2, 82.1, and 102.9 mg kg−1, respectively. Additionally, as total C increased, Cr concentration was observed to decrease with correlation (r = −0.46). Positive correlations were found between total C and Zn, as well as CaCO3 and Zn in the 0–30 layer.

Influence of soil properties and land use on organic carbon storage in agricultural soils near hedges

AbstractIn this context of climate change, agroforestry systems are acknowledged to have a good potential to increase carbon storage in agricultural areas. However, the carbon storage potential of agroforestry systems still needs to be quantified accurately, especially for hedges. The objectives of this study were to (1) add references to the existing literature on the potential for soil organic carbon (SOC) storage near hedges and (2) identify the main factors that influence the variability in this potential. To this end, we sampled soil in the adjacent fields of 25 hedges in France with mixed crop‐livestock agriculture, with sampling on both sides for 20 hedges and sampling on only one side for five hedges, giving a total of 45 study sites. We measured SOC stocks to a depth of 90 cm at distances of 1, 2, 3 and 10 m from the hedge. The results showed that hedges have a strong potential to store carbon in soils, with a mean increase of 15% in SOC stock within 3 m of the hedge. This increase in SOC stock had high variability because of site characteristics. Additional SOC stocks were the largest in rotations of annual crops and grasslands with a permanent grass strip 1 m wide near the hedge, followed by rotations of annual crops, permanent grasslands and rotations of annual crops and grasslands. Large additional SOC stocks because of the hedge were also associated with soils that had a high C:N ratio. The contribution of this type of land management to soil carbon storage thus depends on the local context in which it is implemented.

182 Feed intake and metabolic responses in horses in transition from haylage feeding to pasture grazing

The transition from winter-feeding to pasture involves a considerable diet change that might compromise health of horses, and info on the metabolic responses in horses on pasture are scarce. The objective of the study was to investigate how the transition from haylage feeding to strip grazing affected feed intake (FI) and metabolic responses (blood glucose (GLU)-insulin (INS) and cecal pH). Four cecum-cannulated Norwegian cold-blooded trotter geldings were used in a longitudinal study consisting of 3 periods: 1) haylage only (d 0 to 8) reflecting winter-feeding, 2) transition (d 9 to 20) reflecting a diet where the proportion of forage decreased and grazing increased (0 min to 2 × 3 h per d), and 3) grazing only (d 21 to 28) reflecting horses on pasture (2 × 3 h per d). Strip grazing was used to control and measure daily FI in period 2 and 3. From d 9 to 28 the horses were allowed access to a new strip of grass for a specified time-period. The remaining grass was cut each day after grazing, collected, weighed, and compared with the amount of grass from a strip of ungrazed pasture. It was possible to estimate FI for all horses and calculate an average FI per horse. Haylage and grass samples from every 4th d were analyzed for nutritional composition (neutral detergent fiber excluding residual ash (aNDFom), water soluble carbohydrates (WSC), and crude protein (CP)) and used to estimate dry matter (DM) and nutrientintake. On d 8 and 28, blood and cecal samples were collected before and each h after feeding (2 kg haylage as fed vs. 3 h of grazing) for 8 h. ?Area under the curve (AUC) of GLU and INS were calculated using GraphPad Prism. The effect of d on nutrient content, FI, body weight (BW), AUC and peak GLU and INS, and minimum pH were compared using PROC mixed in SAS and considered different if P < 0.05. Grass yield increased (P < 0.001) over time as the grass matured (0.32 to 0.54 kg DM/m2). Plant maturity of the grass affected the nutrient content (P < 0.001) as aNDFom increased (545 to 636 g/kg DM), and CP decreased (158 to 101 g/kg DM). The WSC content varied (P < 0.001) over time (73 to 128 g/kg DM). Similar BW was measured on d 8 and 28 (568 ± 31 kg). The DM intake was 1.62 kg (0.29% of BW) on d 8 and estimated to be 3.7 kg (0.65% of BW) on d 28. There was no effect of d on AUC and peak GLU and INS, but cecal pH was higher (P < 0.001) when feeding haylage (6.89) on d 8 than pasture (6.57) on d 28. In conclusion, FI was controlled by strip grazing, BW was maintained, and metabolic responses were within the expected ranges. However, a longer grazing time would probably result in increased FI and undesired BW gain.

Effects of Regional Climate and BMP Type on Stormwater Nutrient Concentrations in BMPs: A Meta-Analysis.

Nutrient treatment performance of stormwater best management practices (BMPs) is highly variable. Improved nutrient management with BMPs requires a better understanding of factors that influence stormwater BMP treatment processes. We conducted a meta-analysis of vegetated BMPs in the International Stormwater BMP Database and compared influent and effluent nitrogen and phosphorus concentrations to quantify the BMP effect on nutrient management across climates. BMP effect on nutrient concentration change was compared between vegetated BMPs in wet and dry climates. We examined paired dissolved inorganic nitrogen (DIN), total nitrogen (TN), dissolved inorganic phosphorus (DIP), total phosphorus (TP), and combinations of these analytes as dissolved inorganic ratios and N:P ratios. Meta-analysis with subgroup analysis was used to determine differences between wet and dry climates and among vegetated BMP types. We found that across both wet and dry climates, BMPs leach DIP and TP, increase the fraction of dissolved inorganic P (DIP:TP), and decrease dissolved N:P ratios. Dry-climate BMPs leach DIP and TP more consistently and at a higher magnitude than wet-climate BMPs, and bioretention leaches more DIP than grass strips and swales. These findings generally align with biogeochemical cycling, differences in influent chemistry, and BMP design types and goals.

Regulation of vegetation pattern on the hydrodynamic processes of erosion on hillslope in Loess Plateau, China

As vegetation are closely related to soil erosion, hydrodynamic parameter changes under various vegetation pattern conditions can be used as an important basis for the research of the soil erosion mechanism. Through upstream water inflow experiments conducted on a loess hillslope, how the vegetation pattern influences the hydrodynamic processes of sediment transport was analyzed. The results show that the placement of a grass strip on the lower upslope can effectively reduce runoff erosion by 69%, relying on the efficiency of regulated hydrodynamic process. The effective location of grass strip for hillslope alleviating erosion is on the lower part of the upslope, mainly due to the grass strip measure used to regulate the hydrodynamic system. As a result, the underlying surface runoff resistance is increased by 5 times, runoff shear stress is decreased by more than 90%, and runoff power decreased by over 92%. The measure greatly separates the scouring energy of surface runoff that acts on the slope soil. Therefore, the use of grass strips effectively decreases the energy of runoff flowing along the slope, eliminating soil erosion to a great extent and thereby achieving a better regulation of hydrodynamic processe.

Review article: Potential of nature-based solutions to mitigate hydro-meteorological risks in sub-Saharan Africa

Abstract. Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) is the region most vulnerable to climate change and related hydro-meteorological risks. These risks are exacerbated in rapidly expanding urban areas due to the loss and degradation of green and blue spaces with their regulating ecosystem services. The potential of nature-based solutions (NBSs) to mitigate hydro-meteorological risks such as floods is increasingly recognised in Europe. However, its application in urban areas of SSA still needs to be systematically explored to inform and promote its uptake in this region. We conducted a multidisciplinary systematic review following the PRISMA (Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses) protocol to establish the general patterns in the literature on NBSs and hydro-meteorological risk mitigation in SSA. We searched scientific journal databases, websites of 12 key institutions and 11 NBS databases and identified 45 papers for analysis. We found at least 1 reported NBS in 71 % of urban areas of SSA across 83 locations. Of the papers, 62 % were clustered in South Africa, Kenya, Tanzania and Nigeria only, while the most studied cities were Dar es Salaam and Kampala. Moreover, 66 NBS practices were identified, most of which (n=44) were for flood mitigation. With only Mozambique (n=2) among the most at-risk countries reporting NBSs, we found that NBSs are implemented where risks occur but not where they are most severe. Mangrove restoration (n=10) and wetland restoration (n=7), reforestation (n=10) and urban forests (n=8), and agroforestry (n=3) and conservation agriculture (n=2) were the most common NBS practices identified for floods, extreme-heat and drought mitigation, respectively. Traditional practices that fit the definition of NBSs, such as grass strips and stone bunds, and practices that are more popular in the Global North, such as green roofs and green façades, were also identified. These NBSs also provided ecosystem services, including 15 regulatory, 5 provisioning and 4 cultural ecosystem services, while 4 out of every 5 NBSs created livelihood opportunities. We conclude that the reported uptake of NBSs for hydro-meteorological risks in SSA is low. However, there could be more NBSs, especially at the local level, that are unreported. NBSs can help SSA address major development challenges such as water and food insecurity and unemployment and help the sub-region progress towards climate-resilient development. Therefore, we recommend that NBSs be mainstreamed into urban planning and knowledge exchange opportunities between SSA and Europe and that other regions be explored to promote uptake.

Soil health responses of circular grass buffer strips in center‐pivot irrigated agriculture

AbstractDecline in water table in the Ogallala Aquifer, along with soil degradation, has threatened the sustainability of agriculture in the US High Plains region. Circular grass buffers in center pivot irrigated cropping systems could support sustainable crop production by providing multiple ecosystem services. This study evaluated soil organic matter (SOM), nutrients, and other selected soil health indicators under circular buffer strip grasses (BSG), adjacent buffer strip corn (Zea mays L.) (BSC), and continuous conventional corn (CCC) in the 0–80 cm soil profile. Soil samples were collected from the center of corn and grass strips for 5 years (2017–2021) and analyzed for nitrate N (NO3−‐N), soil pH, electrical conductivity, cation exchange capacity, SOM, and soil nutrients. The NO3−‐N under CCC in 0–20 cm (18.4 mg kg−1) and 60–80 cm (4.97 mg kg−1) were 1.56 and 1.96 times higher than BSC. The NO3−‐N was significantly lower under BSG than other treatments in 0–20 cm, 20–40, and 40–60 cm depths. The SOM was similar among all treatments. Response of other nutrients varied among treatments and inter‐annually. Soil pH in 0–20 cm depth was 0.1 and 0.3 units lower in CCC (pH = 7.7) than in BSC and BSG. Soil electrical conductivity was 37.5% and 25% greater in CCC than BSG (0.24 and 0.24 dS m−1) in 0–20 and 20–40 cm depths, respectively. Grass buffer strips maintaining SOM despite no irrigation, less residual N under corn with grass buffer, and less rapid changes in soil pH suggest the potential of grass buffer to maintain soil health in semi‐arid cropping systems facing the transition to dryland.

Fodder Grass Strips: An Affordable Technology for Sustainable Rainfed Agriculture in India

Rainfed agriculture, though resource-poor, contributes to around 40 percent of total food production in India. Fodder grass-strip-based systems improve soil’s physical and biological properties, control soil erosion, and help in slope stabilization without compromising productivity. Permanent fodder grass strips can effectively check the depletion of soil nutrients and can also act as sediment traps vis-à-vis meeting the green fodder requirement for small ruminants. This study was carried out with the major objective to quantify the impact of grass-strip-based cropping systems on soil quality. Further fodder quality assessment was carried out using the grass quality index for small ruminant feed and the profitability of different treatments was analyzed. Random block design (RBD) with three treatments which included two types of fodder grass (Brachiaria ruziziensis and Stylosanthes hamata) on both sides of the cropped field was used for the study. The results showed that the soil quality increased from 0.39 to 0.52 and the runoff reduced significantly with soil loss reduction by 65-70 percent. The fodder quality assessment showed that the palatability of Stylosanthes hamata and Brachiaria ruziziensis was about 65 percent and 40 percent, respectively. The fodder grass strip increased the net returns by 30 percent. This easily adaptable natural resource management technology reduces soil nutrient loss and will help resource-poor rainfed farmers to maintain soil health and productivity under variable rainfall conditions with fair support to small ruminants.

Agroforestry with contour planting of grass contributes to terrace formation and conservation of soil and nutrients on sloping land

In hilly areas, agroforestry can be a more sustainable way of producing food and other products and services than agriculture based on sole-cropping. However, research is needed to evaluate and quantify formation of natural terraces in agroforestry and their contribution to soil conservation. This study quantified natural terrace formation and examined its role in reducing soil and nutrient losses during early stages of agroforestry with fruit trees, contour grass strips and maize or coffee in agroforestry systems on sloping land in northwest Vietnam. Two agroforestry systems, comprising longan (Dimocarpus longan L.)-mango (Mangifera indica L.)-maize (Zea mays L.)-guinea grass (Panicum maximum Jacq.) (fruit-maize-AF) and son tra (Docynia indica (Wall.) Decne.)-coffee (Coffea arabica L.)-guinea grass (fruit-coffee-AF) were compared with sole-cropped maize (sole-maize) and sole-cropped coffee (sole-coffee), respectively. Terrace formation was evaluated over five years using erosion pins placed above grass strips and the volume of terrace formed was estimated. Soil and nutrient losses were quantified using soil traps. The results showed that terraces formed as the systems developed, through gradual deposition of soil sediment above the living grass strips and trees. Accumulated soil sedimentation above the grass strips during the five-year study period raised the soil surface by 4.0 cm in fruit-maize-AF and 4.2 cm in fruit-coffee-AF, and the volume of terraces generated by the grass strips was 0.26 and 0.43 m3/m respectively. The fruit-maize-AF and fruit-coffee-AF systems significantly reduced losses of soil, soil organic carbon (SOC) and associated nutrients (N, P, K) compared with sole-maize and sole-coffee already in the first two years, while the reductions were greater from year 3 onwards. On average across experiments and years, the agroforestry systems reduced soil, SOC, N, P and K losses by 27–76%, 21–78%, 20–82%, 24–82% and 22–84%, respectively. These findings show that agroforestry with fruit trees, grass strips and crops could be a useful management practice and viable option for sustainable agricultural systems on sloping land, by reducing soil (and carbon and nutrient) losses through terrace formation.