Effects of soil tillage on runoff generation in a Mediterranean apricot orchard

• Published in: Agricultural water management Vol. 93; no. 1; pp. 11 - 18
• Main Authors: Abrisqueta, J.M., Plana, V., Mounzer, O.H., Mendez, J., Ruiz-Sánchez, M.C.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Amsterdam Elsevier B.V 16.10.2007; Elsevier Science; Elsevier
• Series: Agricultural Water Management
• Subjects: Agricultural and forest climatology and meteorology. Irrigation. Drainage; agricultural runoff; Agronomy. Soil science and plant productions; Apricot; apricots; Biological and medical sciences; Cropping systems. Cultivation. Soil tillage; Drip irrigation; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; General agronomy. Plant production; infiltration (hydrology); Irrigation. Drainage; Mediterranean climate; microirrigation; Prunus; Prunus armeniaca; Prunus armeniaca cv. Búlida; rain intensity; Rainwater harvesting; Runoff; semiarid zones; Soil erosion, conservation, land management and development; Soil science; Soil tillage; tillage; Tillage. Tending. Growth control; water conservation; Water saving; Spain; Southern Europe; Europe; Apricot; Soil tillage; Drip irrigation; Rainwater harvesting; Runoff; Water saving; Horticulture; Water harvesting; Cultivated soil; Rosaceae; Orchard soils; Arboriculture; Water conservation; Xeric soils; Orchard; Dicotyledones; Angiospermae; Prunus armeniaca; Water engineering; Fruit tree; Cultural practice; Irrigated soils; Stone fruit; Soil management; Soils; Fruit crop; Trickle irrigation; Rain water; Spermatophyta; Mediterranean region
• ISSN: 0378-3774; 1873-2283
• DOI: 10.1016/j.agwat.2007.06.002

Two different soil tillage practices (perforated topsoil and mini-catchments) were compared with no tillage (control) in an assay to reduce runoff, promote infiltration and take advantage of rainfall in a drip irrigated, hillside apricot orchard under semi-arid Mediterranean conditions. In addition, the efficiency of water harvesting was quantified for the purpose of saving irrigation water. To predict runoff generation in the three treatments, the best fit was obtained with a two-parameter exponential model, which included the product of rainfall amount and rainfall intensity as independent variable. The model explains, on average, 92% of runoff generation for three soil tillage treatments. The antecedent soil moisture content may account for part of the unexplained runoff generation. More than 30% of the rainfall was lost by runoff in the control treatment, underlining the potential risk of sloping plantations for water and soil conservation. Both soil tillage treatments (mini-catchments and perforated topsoil) decreased the runoff by an 80% compared to the control treatment. During the experimental period, the mini-catchment treatment collected 86% and the perforated topsoil 57% more than the control, providing mean irrigation water saving of about 11 and 9%, respectively. Even these relatively modest figures are very valuable in South-east Spain which suffers from severe droughts.