Impact of crop intensification on soil erosion in farming systems based on cereal, annual and permanent forage production in a sardinian hilly region

摘要

Four crops, common in the cultivation systems of the Sardinian hilly areas, were compared on a 30 percent slope and sandy loam texture soil during the period 1994-97 (i.e. natural pasture, improved pasture, annual forage crop and winter cereal). Rainfall, soil cover, runoff, soil erosion and dry matter yield were recorded. Runoff and erosion were generally low; the highest erosion risk was shown by the annual forage crop with 5 mm year~(-1) of runoff and 1.78 t ha~(-1) year~(-1) of soil loss (mean values of the three years). The erosion associated to the winter cereal showed to be the half if compared with the annual forage crop. Natural and improved pastures have confirmed to be the most conservative forage crops. The production of the two arablecrops were low, compared with those obtainable in better areas. The use of these two crops in marginal areas is not profitable.