Effect of simulated soil erosion and added organic manures on soil properties

Abstract

An experiment was conducted to study the effects of erosion and the impact of organic manures on soil physico-chemical properties. The experiment was performed in split-plot format where three simulated soil erosion depths of 0, 5 and 10 cm were used as the main plot. Organic manures (vermicompost, poultry manure and pig manure @ 5, 3 and 3 t-1 ha, respectively) were used as the sub plot treatment. The results showed that there was a significant impact on the physico-chemical properties of the soil on removal of 5 and 10 cm soil depth as compared to control. The soil pH decreased at a rate of 3.18 and 6.68 percent; organic carbon decreased at a rate of 4.16 and 12.5 percent; available nitrogen decreased at a rate of 9.67 and 20.58 percent; available P decreased at a rate of 7.20 and 15.64 percent; available K decreased at a rate of 1.84 and 4.44 percent; CEC decreased at a rate of 3.59 and 13.11 percent; and water holding capacity decreased at the rate of 3.46 and 8.18 percent; while bulk density increased at a rate of 8.33 and 16.03 percent, respectively with subsequent removal of 5 and 10 cm topsoil as compared to control. Addition of organic manures improved the soil properties but could not entirely compensate the loss due to simulated erosion. None of the organic manures used in the experiment could counterbalance the topsoil losses due to erosion.