Click on “Download PDF” for the PDF version or on the title for the HTML version.


If you are not an ASABE member or if your employer has not arranged for access to the full-text, Click here for options.

A Natural Rainfall Plot Study to Determine the Effectiveness of Composts and Organic Amendments in Controlling Runoff and Erosion

Published by the American Society of Agricultural and Biological Engineers, St. Joseph, Michigan www.asabe.org

Citation:  International Symposium on Erosion and Landscape Evolution (ISELE), 18-21 September 2011, Anchorage, Alaska  711P0311cd Paper #11015.(doi:10.13031/2013.39216)
Authors:   Lawrence Mark Risse, Xianben Zhu
Keywords:   Compost, Soil quality, Erosion, Runoff, Natural runoff plots, Field study

Organic amendments such as composts and mulches have been shown to improve soil quality and reduce the impacts of stormwater runoff and soil erosion. Previous studies using rainfall simulators have documented that runoff volumes and soil erosion can be significantly reduced when organic materials are added to the soil profile. The objectives of this study are to measure the changes in runoff and soil erosion under natural rainfall conditions in Georgia over a five year period and to determine the changes in soil carbon levels over time. Natural runoff plots were established to look at controls of bare soil and grass and treatments of a surface applied compost blanket of 5 cm, a surface treatment of 5 cm of ground wood mulch, the same amount of compost incorporated into the upper 15 cm of soil and an incorporated biochar treatment. This report presents a summary of the first year of data.

(Download PDF)    (Export to EndNotes)