Evaluating Mulch Cover with Coir Dust and Cover Crop with Palma Cactus as Soil and Water Conservation Techniques for Semiarid Environments: Laboratory Soil Flume Study under Simulated Rainfall

This paper aims to investigate the performance of mulch cover with coir dust (Cocos nucifera L.) and cover crop with Palma cactus (Opuntia ficus indica Mill.) as soil and water conservation techniques, in a laboratory soil flume under simulated rainfall. Palma cactus plants oriented at 90 and 30 angles with the slope direction were considered. Simulations comprised uniform advanced and delayed rainfall patterns. Runo hydrographs and soil loss were monitored at the downstream end of the flume. Soil moisture and flow velocity were measured, and several hydraulic parameters of runo were estimated. Results show that both mulch cover with coir dust and cover crop with Palma cactus were e ective in reducing runo and soil loss and increasing soil moisture content, thus being both suitable soil and water conservation techniques for semiarid environments. Coir dust was more e ective than Palma cactus. Palma cactus oriented at a 90 angle was slightly more e ective than Palma cactus oriented at a 30 angle. Di erences between advanced and delayed rainfall patterns on the hydrological and erosive response were more pronounced for the mulch cover condition, where no runo and soil loss were observed at the downstream end of the flume for the advanced rainfall pattern

Characteristics of rainfall and erosion under natural conditions of land use in semiarid regions

The characteristics of rainfall can provide important information for management and land use may also minimize the water erosion problems. This study was carried out to evaluate soil and water loss in erosion plots with different coverage, and the interference of natural rainfall characteristics on these processes. The experiment was carried out during the rainy season in the years of 2009 and 2010, on three erosion plots, each of 20 m², and under different land use conditions: native 'caatinga', thinned 'caatinga' and natural herbaceous cover. The rainfall was classified into three different rainfall patterns, characterized as early, intermediate and late. The predominant rainfall pattern for the two years under study was early rainfall with 47.6%, followed by intermediate and late with 30.5% and 22%, respectively. The smallest soil losses for the entire studied period were recorded for the native 'caatinga' plot, demonstrating the protective effect of vegetation on sediment production. Despite the early rainfall pattern being prevalent in the period of study, this was not the main factor responsible for water and soil loss