Effect of row width on splash erosion and throughfall in silage maize crops

Abstract

Line width is one of the major factors affecting arable soil erosion. The aim of the study was to assess the effects of different row spacing on splash erosion and throughfall in maize crops. Field measurements of the throughfall (P_th, mm) and splash erosion (MSR, g/m²) were carried out in silage maize crops (row spacing 0.45 and 0.75 m) in 2012–2014. The BBCH growth stages for the crops, plant length (L, m), and leaf area index (LAI) were evaluated. Positive correlation was observed between the aerial precipitation (P, mm) and the P_th values. With increasing P-values, higher levels of P_th were identified in the 0.75 m compared to the 0.45 m row spacing. The value of this proportion was decreasing from the centre of the inter-row (0.75 m) to the row of the plants direction. Statistically significant lower values of splash erosion were observed in the 0.45 m compared with the 0.75 m wide rows, especially within the years 2012 and 2014. The experiments proved the positive influence of the length of plants and LAI on P/P_thvalues. A decrease of P_th in relation to precipitation values with height of plants and LAI values was observed. This dependency was then confirmed from the beginning of the stem elongation (BBCH 30) to the end of flowering (BBCH 70). Tighter dependency between the plant length (L) and the values of P/P_th ratio in the 0.75 m wide crop rows was determined. Conversely, a more important influence of LAI on the values of P/P_th ratio was estimated in the 0.45 m wide crop rows. The experiments proved the positive influence of the 0.45 m wide rows on the decrease of splash erosion as well as throughfall compared with the 0.75 m row spacing.