Use of wheat straw as mulching material to control surface runoff and soil loss

Abstract

Soil surface condition management is very important for controlling soil erosion and environmental degradation and for sustaining soil quality and fertility. One of the management methods for improving soil surface conditions is the application of mulch materials on the soil surface. This study aims to determine the effect of different rates (0, 2.5, 5.0, 7.5 and 10.0 Mg ha-1) of wheat straw mulch application on reducing surface runoff (SR) and soil loss (SL) by water erosion under simulated rainfall conditions. Soil samples were taken from the 0-20 cm surface layer of eight cultivated fields in the Bursa Province of Turkey. After spreading wheat straw mulch on the soil surface within the experimental trays, simulated rainfall with an intensity of 60 mm h(-1) was applied. Significant differences (p < 0.01) in terms of SR and SL were obtained for soil types and mulch rates. Compared with the control, the 5.0 Mg ha-1 mulch application reduced SL by 98.0%, while the 10.0 Mg ha(-1) mulch application decreased the SR by 89.6%. It is suggested that at least 5.0 Mg ha(-1) of straw mulch should be applied in order to control soil and runoff losses in areas severely vulnerable to erosion.