Effects of Vegetative Buffers on Reducing Soil Erosion and Nutrient Loss of Highland Field in Korea

Effects of Vegetative Buffers on Reducing Soil Erosion and Nutrient Loss of Highland Field in Korea

This study was carried out to investigate the effect of vegetative buffer to reduce runoff and soil and nutrient loss at highland agricultural area. The soil of experimental field was classified as Ungyo series (Fine, Humic Hapludults). An area of each field with lysimeter was 50m2(width 2.5m× length 20m) and was a gradient of 17%. Chinese cabbage (Brassica campestris L.) was cultivated by general management in each field. For establishing vegetative buffer, rye (Secalecereale L.), tall fescue (Festucaarundinacea Schreb) and orchard grass (Dactylis glomerata L.) were planted at the edge of field. Rye buffers were 1m, 2m and 4m wide. Both orchard grass and tall fescue buffers were 2m wide. Vegetative buffers were set up in September 2005 and chinese cabbage was planted in June 2006. Soil loss, runoff and nutrient loss were measured from June to August in 2006. Since the precipitation amount was heavy in July, amounts of runoff, soil erosion and nutrient loss were the highest in July during this study period. In comparison with control, vegetative buffers of rye 2m, orchard grass 2m and tall fescue 2m reduced runoff by 3%, 1% and 2%, respectively. In comparison among width of rye buffer, rye 1m, rye 2m, and rye 4m reduced by 1%, 4% and 13%, respectively. Vegetative buffers of rye 2m, orchard grass 2m and tall fescue 2m showed the reducing of soil loss by 59%, 46% and 28%, respectively. In comparison among width of rye buffer, the highest reducing effect of 88% was observed in 4m treatment. Additionally, vegetative buffer reduced N, P and K losses in runoff and eroded soil which were 10 to 54%, 7 to 24% and 11 to 21%, respectively. In different widths, wider vegetative buffer showed lower loss of N, P and K in runoff and eroded soil. As a result of this study, the vegetative buffer of rye was most effective for reducing runoff and soil loss in comparisons with other plants. In addition, wider range of buffers recommended for reducing runoff and soil loss, if possible

This study was carried out to investigate the effect of vegetative buffer to reduce runoff and soil and nutrient loss at highland agricultural area. The soil of experimental field was classified as Ungyo series (Fine, Humic Hapludults). An area of each field with lysimeter was 50m2(width 2.5m× length 20m) and was a gradient of 17%. Chinese cabbage (Brassica campestris L.) was cultivated by general management in each field. For establishing vegetative buffer, rye (Secalecereale L.), tall fescue (Festucaarundinacea Schreb) and orchard grass (Dactylis glomerata L.) were planted at the edge of field. Rye buffers were 1m, 2m and 4m wide. Both orchard grass and tall fescue buffers were 2m wide. Vegetative buffers were set up in September 2005 and chinese cabbage was planted in June 2006. Soil loss, runoff and nutrient loss were measured from June to August in 2006. Since the precipitation amount was heavy in July, amounts of runoff, soil erosion and nutrient loss were the highest in July during this study period. In comparison with control, vegetative buffers of rye 2m, orchard grass 2m and tall fescue 2m reduced runoff by 3%, 1% and 2%, respectively. In comparison among width of rye buffer, rye 1m, rye 2m, and rye 4m reduced by 1%, 4% and 13%, respectively. Vegetative buffers of rye 2m, orchard grass 2m and tall fescue 2m showed the reducing of soil loss by 59%, 46% and 28%, respectively. In comparison among width of rye buffer, the highest reducing effect of 88% was observed in 4m treatment. Additionally, vegetative buffer reduced N, P and K losses in runoff and eroded soil which were 10 to 54%, 7 to 24% and 11 to 21%, respectively. In different widths, wider vegetative buffer showed lower loss of N, P and K in runoff and eroded soil. As a result of this study, the vegetative buffer of rye was most effective for reducing runoff and soil loss in comparisons with other plants. In addition, wider range of buffers recommended for reducing runoff and soil loss, if possible