Effect of Tillage Direction on Phosphorus Loss from Sediment Yield and Surface Runoff

Abstract

This paper assessed the impact of conservation and irrational ridge on phosphorus loss along the riverbank under rainy conditions. To understand the effects, experiments were conducted on farmland with slope gradients of 2%, 3% and 5%. Treatments included groundnut, cowpea, soybean, and no crop: contour and irrational ridge alternated in each runoff block. Standard method was used to calculate phosphorus loss. The results indicated that quantity of phosphorus loss in sandy loamy soils was 4.5 times higher than in loamy sand. In contrast, the phosphorus release (runoff) in loamy sand was 13.52 times higher than in sandy loam, so the average phosphorus loss in soil and surface runoff were 0.4 and 2 Kg / ha / year, respectively. Outcomes proved that the interaction between irrational ridge and vegetation cover increased the phosphorus concentration in the soils than water, thereby reducing aquatic organisms in rivers and creasing health risks for humans. The study recommends that contour cultivation be used very well to reduce phosphorus loss from sediment and runoff. Keywords — Contour and Irrational Tillage, Slope, Cover Crops, Analysis of covariance, Tillage Erosion, River