Effects of land and plant managements on soil erodibility in the Turhal District of Tokat, Turkey

Abstract

In this study, changes in the erodibility (sensitivity to erosion) values of soils under different land and plant managements (sunflower, wheat, vegetables, sugar beets, alfalfa fields as well as orchards, meadows and pastures) were examined in the Turhal district of Tokat province, Turkey. Physical and chemical properties of surface soil samples along with land management practices against erosion were investigated for their impact on sensitivity to erosion. The sensitivity of the soil samples were found to be in the following order: Meadows< orchards<wheat<sunflowers<pastures<sugar beets<alfalfa<vegetables. The findings show that fundamental soil characteristics, and especially clay and organic matter content, were effective in shaping the soil structure and therefore the erodibility, as well as the way the land was used. The most suitable parametric values in soil characteristics were observed in the meadows, and the worst values were observed in the soil where vegetables beets were planted.

Keywords

• soil properties
• plant management
• erosion ratio