Splash Erosion in Maize Crops under Conservation Management in Combination with Shallow Strip-tillage before Sowing

Soil under maize cropping is among the most endangered by erosion. The effect of conservation tillage management on values of splash erosion when using shallow strip tillage before sowing maize was evaluated in the Central Bohemian region (Czech Republic) during the period 2010-2012. The following types of tillage management using conventional technology and shallow tillage were evaluated: ploughed plots with mulch formed by weed biomass (PLW), ploughed plots with mulch from perennial ryegrass plants (PLPR), ploughed plots without mulch(PL) and shallow tillage (ST) where the mulch was formed by cereals straw. Furthermore, values of the splash erosion, plants and plant residues coverage ratio of soil by image analysis and the stability of soil aggregates were monitored during the whole experiment. The average value of splash erosion (MSR) was higher by 18.7% in the variant of PLW, lower by 35.9% in PLPR, and lower by 39.5% in ST, than in the control treatment PL (MSR value for PL = 100%) for the whole evaluated period (2010-2012). The average values of the soil surface plant coverage ratio in the plots with mulch ranged from 1.5 to 43.0% at the beginning of the vegetation period, and from 4.9 to 85.5% in the second half of the vegetation period. A positive correlation was observed between the average values of the stability of soil aggregates and the plant coverage ratio of the soil surface in 2010 and 2011.