Document Type : CASE STUDY

Authors

1 Department of Soil Engineering, Faculty of Agriculture, Sari Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources University. Sari, Iran

2 Department of Construction Engineering. Faculty of Engineering, Yasooj Branch, Islamic Azad University, Yasooj, Iran

Abstract

The aim of this study was to produce mulch by combining natural mineral and organic substances in order to reach soil stabilization and improve soil physical and mechanical properties in Koopal area. The effects of organic mulch (at 3 levels of O1: combination of 1% sugarcane bagasse biochar+0.5% gum Arabic+0.5% gelatin; O2: combination of 3% sugarcane bagasse biochar+1% gum Arabic+1% gelatin; and O3: combination of 5% sugarcane bagasse biochar+1.5% gum Arabic+ 1.5% gelatin) and MNF organomineral mulch (at 3 levels of MNF1: 1%; MNF2: 3%; and MNF3: 5%) on soil were investigated. The soil samples were incubated for 2 and 4 months and finally placed in a wind tunnel. Some physical and chemical properties of soil were obtained as pH=7.42, O.M%=0.223, and soil texture of silty loam. The obtained results showed that compared to control, application of the mulches increased soil organic carbon percentage (1.1%), mean weight diameter (2.47 mm), geometric mean diameter (1.27 mm), penetration resistance (370), shear strength (27.38) and tensile strength (0.8) significantly and decreased soil loss (0.10 g/m2/s), fracture index, soil texture index (62.16), and crust index (1.18) significantly (p <0.01) in both incubation periods. Effects of the mulches on soil organic carbon were reduced after 4 months. In mulch treatments, soil loss rate, mean weight diameter, geometric mean diameter and tensile strength were increased significantly. In general, the organic mulch could stabilize the soil and improve the physical and mechanical properties of the soil.

Graphical Abstract

The effect of mulch on properties of erosion sensitive soil using a wind tunnel

Highlights

  • Organic mulch and MNF mulch decrease soil erosion because of creating protection layer and causing an armoring effect on soil surface;
  • Applying mulches increase soil organic carbon percentage, mean weight diameter, geometric mean diameter, penetration resistance, Shear strength, Tensile Strength significantly;
  • As time passed, compared to the soil incubated for 2 months, in the soil with 4 months incubation, the effects of mulches on soil organic carbon were reduce;
  • Adding the mulches causing physical and mechanical bonds between mulch and soil particles can enhance the cohesion of individual particles.

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Copyrights

©2021 The author(s). This is an open access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution (CC BY 4.0), which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, as long as the original authors and source are cited. No permission is required from the authors or the publishers.

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