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Contents of ISWCR (Vol. 6, No.3 2018)
2018-10-12

International Soil and Water Conservation Research

Volume 6, Issue 3

Pages 203-264 (September 2018)

Cover image International Soil and Water Conservation Research

 

Estimation of water balance and water yield in the Reedy Fork-Buffalo Creek Watershed in North Carolina using SWAT

Frederick Ayivi, Manoj K. Jha

Pages 203-213

Effect of water conservation measures on soil moisture and maize yield under drought prone agro-ecological zones in Rwanda

Dieudonne Uwizeyimana, Stephen M. Mureithi, George Karuku, Geoffrey Kironchi

Pages 214-221

Assessment of sediment inflow to a reservoir using the SWAT model under undammed conditions: A case study for the Somerville reservoir, Texas, USA

Dagbegnon Clement Sohoulande Djebou

Pages 222-229

Electrical conductivity method for predicting yields of two yam (Dioscorea alata) cultivars in a coarse textured soil

Mutair A. Akanji, Suarau O. Oshunsanya, Abdulrasoul Alomran

Pages 230-236

Land use impact on clay dispersion/flocculation in irrigated and flooded vertisols from Northern Cameroon

Simon Djakba Basga, Désiré Tsozue, Jean Pierre Temga, Jules Balna, Jean Pierre Nguetnkam

Pages 237-244

Variation and driving factors of nitrous oxide emissions from irrigated paddy field in the arid and semiarid region

Qingwen Zhang, Hui Zhang, Xingren Liu, Aiping Zhang, ... Zhengli Yang

Pages 245-252

Aeration and sawdust application effects as structural material in the bioremediation of clayey acid soils contaminated with diesel oil

Gabriela Menta Alvim, Patrícia Procópio Pontes

Pages 253-260

Repeated and random components in Oklahoma's monthly precipitation record

Jurgen D. Garbrecht, David P. Brown, X.C. John Zhang

Pages 261-263

===================================================

Gabriela Menta Alvim, Patrícia Procópio Pontes,

Aeration and sawdust application effects as structural material in the bioremediation of clayey acid soils contaminated with diesel oil,

International Soil and Water Conservation Research,

Volume 6, Issue 3,

2018,

Pages 253-260,

ISSN 2095-6339,

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.iswcr.2018.04.002.

(http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2095633917303155)

Abstract: Soil contamination, due to the leakage of petroleum or its by-products, is a reason for concern nowadays. Technologies, such as bioremediation, have been developed to remove these pollutants from the environment. This paper aims to evaluate the bioremediation of clayey acid soils contaminated with diesel oil, comparing the effect of aeration use and the addition of different sawdust ratios (5% and 10%) as bulking material. This research was developed in three phases, with experiments of (a) natural attenuation (exclusively natural processes), (b) sawdust-amended soil and (c) aeration combined with sawdust addition. The manometric respirometry test was applied to monitor CO2 production during biodegradation experiments and sodium hydroxide (NaOH) was used as an absorbent solution. The contamination of the samples was carried out by the addition of diesel oil (5% w/w (gg?1)) into the soil. The results indicated that natural attenuation presented a slower bioremediation process when compared to the treatments with sawdust addition. The addition of 5% of sawdust was beneficial to the microbial activity of the soil, but a proportion above 5% caused a negative effect on the samples, reducing the microbial activity. Statistical analysis (Kruskal-Wallis test) showed significant oil removals on experiments with the combination of sawdust and aeration. The aeration was considered the main agent in increasing oil biodegradation in the soil. The degradation rate reactions followed a zero-order linear model. The highest contaminant degradation rate was observed in the samples with 5% of sawdust and aeration (24.79 mgO2 kg?1dry soil?day?1), which also improved microbial activity and diesel oil removal.

Keywords: Bioremediation; Diesel oil; Contaminated soil; Sawdust; Aeration

Dagbegnon Clement Sohoulande Djebou,

Assessment of sediment inflow to a reservoir using the SWAT model under undammed conditions: A case study for the Somerville reservoir, Texas, USA,

International Soil and Water Conservation Research,

Volume 6, Issue 3,

2018,

Pages 222-229,

ISSN 2095-6339,

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.iswcr.2018.03.003.

(http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2095633917303088)

Abstract: Worldwide, sedimentation represents a major problem for reservoir and dam management due to the related environmental and economic consequences. However, reservoir sedimentation can be significantly mitigated by controlling the rates of sediment loss across a watershed. This article uses a case study to highlight an assessment technique for sustaining effective soil conservation strategies by providing an insight into the spatial variability of sediment loss rates at the watershed scale. The assessment method employs the Soil and Water Assessment Tool (SWAT) and the Modified Universal Sediment Loss Equation (MUSLE) to quantify sediment losses in a case study for the Somerville reservoir, located in Texas. The SWAT model was employed to simulate upstream inflows in the studied reservoir watershed. The goodness-of-fit analyses suggested a realistic representation of the watershed behavior and satisfactory values of Nash-Sutcliffe Efficiency were obtained during the calibration and validation stages (0.76?≤ NSE ≤ 0.69). Then the calibrated SWAT was used to generate MUSLE estimates of soil losses under undammed conditions. A weight-average formulation was developed to evaluate the rates of sediment loss at the sub-basin level. Meaningful contrasts were outlined between the sub-basins located at the downstream, the midstream, and the upstream. The study was able to pinpoint sub-basins with critical needs of soil conservation (sediment loss > 4?t/ha/year). Overall, the outcomes of the case study demonstrated the value of the methodology and that the outcomes may be used to address the complex problem of sedimentation in watersheds with reservoirs.

Keywords: Reservoir watershed; Sedimentation; Runoff; SWAT; Soil conservation

Mutair A. Akanji, Suarau O. Oshunsanya, Abdulrasoul Alomran,

Electrical conductivity method for predicting yields of two yam (Dioscorea alata) cultivars in a coarse textured soil,

International Soil and Water Conservation Research,

Volume 6, Issue 3,

2018,

Pages 230-236,

ISSN 2095-6339,

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.iswcr.2018.03.006.

(http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2095633918300431)

Abstract: Apparent Soil Electrical Conductivity (ECa) measurement is a rapid and accurate tool for measuring soil physical and chemical properties affecting crop productivity. This study uses ECa to predict yam yield. Soil ECa was measured at the depth of 0–15?cm, 15–30?cm and 30–45?cm using Miller 400D resistance meter with multi-electrode Wenner array. Soil samples were collected at the aforementioned depths and analyzed for selected physical and chemical properties. Two cultivars of water yam, Discorea alata L. (TDa 00/00194 (D1) and TDa 00/00006 (D2)) were planted and yield data were collected after harvesting. Data collected were analyzed using correlation, nonlinear and multiple linear regression analysis using Origin statistical software (Pro. V.8.1). Soil ECa at 0–15?cm correlated with the yields of D1 and D2 with correlations (r) of 0.83 and 0.84, respectively. The relationship between ECa and D1 and D2 were best fit with a cubic function (with r2 = 0.70 and 0.75, respectively). A Multiple linear regression model showed the interactive effect of soil physical and chemical properties as it affected the yields. The generated models showed that soil properties needed for growth and yields of D1 and D2 are different. Therefore, farmers should not plant both cultivars into the same soil environment or use blanket fertilizer application to achieve optimum performance.

Keywords: Crop yield; Water yam; Multiple linear regression models; Blanket fertilizer application; Wenner array

Editorial Board,

International Soil and Water Conservation Research,

Volume 6, Issue 3,

2018,

Page i,

ISSN 2095-6339,

https://doi.org/10.1016/S2095-6339(18)30117-5.

(http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2095633918301175)

Simon Djakba Basga, Désiré Tsozue, Jean Pierre Temga, Jules Balna, Jean Pierre Nguetnkam,

Land use impact on clay dispersion/flocculation in irrigated and flooded vertisols from Northern Cameroon,

International Soil and Water Conservation Research,

Volume 6, Issue 3,

2018,

Pages 237-244,

ISSN 2095-6339,

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.iswcr.2018.03.004.

(http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2095633917303258)

Abstract: Clay dispersion by water is important for soil and water conservation as well as for irrigation scheduling. In the present study, clay dispersion/flocculation of irrigated and flooded vertisols in North Cameroon was investigated using clay dispersion/stability indices. Nine vertisols topsoils (0–20?cm) samples were collected on different land use and their clay dispersion indices were assessed. Vertisols were acidic to slightly basic, with smectites as dominant clay mineral. The water dispersible clay (160–340?g?kg?1), the dispersion ratio (0.55–0.79) and the clay dispersion ratio (0.48–0.83) were high in the studied vertisols while the clay flocculation index (0.17–0.54) and the clay aggregation (70–230?g?kg?1) were low to moderate, indicating their high dispersion. Cropped vertisols displayed the higher amount of water dispersible clay while not cropped recorded the smaller amount. Concerning the cropped soils, irrigated vertisols displayed the highest clay dispersion indices suggesting that agricultural practices (irrigation) enhance clay dispersion. Globally, the clay dispersibility trend was: irrigated paddy ? rainy sorghum ? rainfed paddy ? dry-season sorghum ? not cropped. Statistical analyses revealed that amorphous Al, Na+ and electrical conductivity enhance clay dispersion while organic matter, nitrogen and Ca++ promote clay flocculation/aggregation. The overall findings emphasized that practices such as heavy tillage and irrigation induce clay dispersion. Minimum tillage, electrolytes concentration monitoring in irrigation water, irrigation scheduling based on soil moisture control, organic matter inputs and implementation of adapted dams are measures susceptible to limit their degradation through clay dispersion.

Keywords: Vertisols; Clay dispersion; Irrigation; Land use; North Cameroon

Frederick Ayivi, Manoj K. Jha,

Estimation of water balance and water yield in the Reedy Fork-Buffalo Creek Watershed in North Carolina using SWAT,

International Soil and Water Conservation Research,

Volume 6, Issue 3,

2018,

Pages 203-213,

ISSN 2095-6339,

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.iswcr.2018.03.007.

(http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2095633917302411)

Abstract: To use water resources sustainably, it is important to understand the quantity of water resource spatially and temporally. Therefore, the work presented here attempts to preface future modeling applications within a watershed in North Carolina, by assessing the performance of the Soil and Water Assessment Tool (SWAT) model in analyzing watershed hydrology and variability of streamflow in the watershed. Statistical model performance measures, the coefficient of determination (R2) and Nash–Sutcliffe Efficiency (NSE) were used to evaluate the correlation between the observed and simulated monthly streamflow. The result shows a good agreement between the observed and simulated flow. Both NSE and R2 were found to be greater than 0.7 for the calibration and validation period. A scenario analysis performed to determine the effect of future land use change on runoff and water yield shows a 13.9% and 8.32% increase in the surface runoff and water yield respectively, in 2030, when impervious percentage increases from 24.2% in 2010 to 36.5% in 2030. This interesting performance obtained with the SWAT model suggests that SWAT model could be a promising decision support tool to predict water balance and water yield in other watersheds in North Carolina for sustainable water management of water resources where the impact of recent state mandates regarding water quality and quantity is a critical issue.

Keywords: SWAT model; ICLUS; Water yield and runoff; Reedy Fork-Buffalo Creek; Land-use change scenarios

Qingwen Zhang, Hui Zhang, Xingren Liu, Aiping Zhang, Meijia Xiao, Zhengli Yang,

Variation and driving factors of nitrous oxide emissions from irrigated paddy field in the arid and semiarid region,

International Soil and Water Conservation Research,

Volume 6, Issue 3,

2018,

Pages 245-252,

ISSN 2095-6339,

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.iswcr.2018.04.001.

(http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2095633917302447)

Abstract: Agricultural pollution source as Nitrous oxide (N2O) emission from irrigated paddy field as affected by overuse of chemical fertilizer application and flooding irrigation is the primary anthropogenic source of nitrogen (N) losses in the Ningxia irrigation district. The emissions variation and driving factors of N2O emission in the large irrigation districts needs much more investigation. A static chamber-gas chromatograph method was conducted to quantify N losses from a paddy field in Lingwu Farm during 2009–2010. Three nitrogen (N) treatments were conducted, including the conventional N application rate of 300?kg?ha?1 (N300), the reducing N application rate of 240?kg?ha?1 (N240) and control plot (N0). The N2O emissions due to combined effects of the fertilizer application and flood irrigation after winter dry follow was 2.86–3.27?kg?ha?1 in N300. The flood irrigation at the beginning of the rice transplanting promotes N2O emissions due to nitrification–denitrification of a richer N source provided by the N fertilizer accumulation of soil NH4+ and NO3-. During the rice growth stage when the paddy field was submerged, N2O emission was very low while intermittent irrigation before tillering and the maturation stages, frequent alteration of dry and wet soil condition enhance N2O emission. The reducing N fertilizer application improved the recovery rate in rice and resulted in a less N2O emission from irrigated paddy field in the arid and semiarid region while keeping the rice yield.

Keywords: N2O emission; Irrigated paddy field; Flood irrigation; Anthropogenic-alluvial alkaline soil

Dieudonne Uwizeyimana, Stephen M. Mureithi, George Karuku, Geoffrey Kironchi,

Effect of water conservation measures on soil moisture and maize yield under drought prone agro-ecological zones in Rwanda,

International Soil and Water Conservation Research,

Volume 6, Issue 3,

2018,

Pages 214-221,

ISSN 2095-6339,

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.iswcr.2018.03.002.

(http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S209563391730299X)

Abstract: This study was conducted to assess agricultural practices for generating maximum maize productivity in drought prone agro-ecological zones. The experiment was conducted in Cyili sub-catchment in Southern Province of Rwanda, which has an irregular rainfall distribution and a prolonged dry season. The experimental design consisted of a randomized design and each treatment was replicated three times. Findings from this study revealed that maize grain yield and yield components, such as plant height, cob diameter and length, number of leaves, 100 grain weight, and yield per plant were highly significantly affected (P?<?0.001) by all water conservation methods tested. Only germination rate was not significantly impacted (p?>?0.05). Supplementary irrigation treatment increased maize yield production to 11,982?kg?ha-1. Mulching increased yield significantly to 8089?kg?ha-1. Ridges yielded 5937?kg?ha-1, and rainfed treatment yielded 4755?kg?ha-1 of maize. Based on Pearson's correlation coefficients, grain yield and yield components were positively correlated and statistically significant (p?<?0.001) under various water conservation methods. Supplementary irrigation through rainwater harvesting was found to be a more promising option for maize growers to mitigate dry spell and stabilize maize production in rainfall deficient agro-ecological conditions not only in Rwanda, but in sub-Sahara Africa.

Keywords: Maize yield; Mulching; Tied ridges; Supplementary irrigation

Jurgen D. Garbrecht, David P. Brown, X.C. John Zhang,

Repeated and random components in Oklahoma's monthly precipitation record,

International Soil and Water Conservation Research,

Volume 6, Issue 3,

2018,

Pages 261-263,

ISSN 2095-6339,

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.iswcr.2018.03.005.

(http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2095633918300467)

Abstract: Precipitation across Oklahoma exhibits a high degree of spatial and temporal variability and creates numerous water resources management challenges. Risk-based decision making in agricultural and water resources management may find value in knowing the extent to which historical precipitation can provide guidance for inferring expectations of future monthly precipitation. A 123-year long monthly precipitation record from the central Oklahoma climate division was evaluated, in a proof-of-concept analysis, to establish whether a simple monthly precipitation decomposition into repeatable (expected) and random (unexpected) components could identify the odds of encountering repeatable or random monthly precipitation in the future. The metric for identifying precipitation kind was based on it falling within or outside of a predetermined range, defined by the relative difference between random and a percentage of repeatable precipitation. For climate conditions in central Oklahoma, the odds of future precipitation being repeatable were between 18% and 33%, depending on the month of the year. The corresponding odds of precipitation being random were 67–82%. Thus, management decisions that rely solely on historical precipitation records to anticipate future monthly precipitation have a low probability of success in central Oklahoma.

Keywords: Precipitation; Climate; Classic decomposition; Precipitation expectation; Risk; Water resources

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