Assessment of soil and water conservation methods applied to the cultivated steeplands of southern Honduras /

against major sloughing events which occurred on the other

Bibliographic Details
Main Author: Smith, James E. (James Edward), 1968-
Format: Thesis eBook
Language:English
Published: [Place of publication not identified] : [publisher not identified] ; 1997.
Subjects:
Online Access:Link to OAKTrust copy
Description
Summary:against major sloughing events which occurred on the other
annual soil loss predictions by RUSLE were fairly close to
applied to cultivated steepland fields in Los Espabeles,
burned prior to planting, and one catchment served as the
burning fields prior to planting significantly (p<O.10)
community of Los Espabeles near Choluteca, Honduras. During
compared with mulch only. The traditional practice of
conservation practices such as vetiver grass hedgerows and
control with mulch only. Combining vetiver grass hedgerows
Erosion associated with burning and cultivating steepland
event(s) over a three-year period (1993-1995). The 0.2 ha
field catchments with 60% slopes were monitored in the
fields is a common problem throughout Central America.
grass hedgerows reduced soil loss more than mulching alone.
Honduras. The predicted annual soil losses from the two
In general, both models tended to over predict. However,
increased runoff as compared with mulch only. The vetiver
loss, it helped protect the integrity of the steepland field
losses 9 times higher than RUSLE. Both USLE and RUSLE tend
losses measured at the same location for various size plots.
managed the same with mulch only. During the treatment
models were then compared to the observed average annual soil
moderate rainfall energies.
mulching and the impact associated with the traditional
mulching. The Universal Soil Loss Equation (USLE) and
Not only did vetiver grass form a barrier to runoff and soil
period (1994-1995), one catchment combined mulch management
practice of burning fields prior to planting were evaluated
Quantifying the magnitude of effectiveness of soil and water
Revised Universal Soil Loss Equation (RUSLE) models were
significantly (p<O.10) increased soil loss as compared with
soil losses from gentle to rolling slopes under low to
the calibration period (1993), all three catchments were
the observed annual soil losses. USLE predicted annual soil
three steepland field catchments were measured for storm
to over estimate on steep slopes because they are based on
total nitrogen, and total phosphorus loss observations from
two fields without vetiver grass. The slash & bum practice
using a paired runoff catchment study design. Runoff, soil,
with contour vetiver grass hedgerows, one catchment was
with mulching significantly (p<O.10) reduced runoff as
Item Description:"Major subject: Soil & Crop Sciences".
Vita.
Physical Description:xii, 160 leaves : illustrations, maps ; 28 cm.
Also available online.
Issued also on microfiche from Lange Micrographics.
Bibliography:Includes bibliographical references: pages 118-131.