Impact of Conservation Agriculture System on Combating Water Erosion Hazards at Wadi El-Raml, Northwestern Coast of Egypt

Abstract

Conservation agriculture practices (CA) is a management for available organic matter resources and considered important measures to enable farming in accordance with the principles of sustainable agriculture. The two-years experiment were performed on the soil under wheat crop. CA practices can help to decrease the area and duration for exposed soil to water erosion by increased soil aggregate size distribution, soil porosity, soil moisture and soil organic matter. Soil organic matter (SOM) is an important indicator of soil fertility and productivity because of its crucial role in soil chemical, physical and biological properties. CA leaves a soil organic mulch at the soil surface, which decreases runoff and soil loss. On other hand, soil mulch with plant residue as a component of CA is increased soil content of SOM. The least total cost for cultivation wheat crops under rainfed agriculture of Egypt achieved at conservation agriculture with No-tillage treatment (CANT) while the highest cost achieved at traditional agriculture (TA) treatment. The best results of decreased soil loss, increased SOM and wheat crop yield obtained when continue to apply conservation practices for more than one season. Indeed, our results showed the soil loss decreased about (56%) while wheat grain yield and SOM increased about (7% and 45%) respectively when using CA at the second season compared to TA. Conservation agriculture signifies environmentally friendly technologies reduce of climate related risks.