Using palm-mat geotextiles for soil conservation : II. Effects on in situ soil particle size distribution and nutrient concentration
Field experiments were conducted at Hilton, east Shropshire, U.K. during 2007-2009, to study the impacts of palm-mat geotextiles on topsoil particle size distribution and changes in selected nutrients (total P, K, Ca, Mg, S, Zn, Cu, Fe, Mn, Mo
and Cl). Geotextile-mats constructed from Borassus aethiopum (Borassus palm of West Africa) and Mauritia flexuosa (Buriti palm of South America) leaves are termed Borassus mats and Buriti mats, respectively. Ten runoff plots were established
, with duplicate treatments :(1) bare soil; (2) permanent grass; (3) bare soil with 1 m Borassus-mat buffer zones at the lower end of the plots; (4) bare soil with 1 m Buriti-mat buffer zones at the lower end of the plots; and (5) completely-covered with Borassus
mats. The AA. conclude that despite significant (P < 0.05) decreases in soil clay and total Ca contents, use of Borassus mats as buffer strips was very successful in conserving or improving other selected soil properties.
Using palm-mat geotextiles on an arable soil for water erosion control in the UK
Investigations were conducted at the Hilton Experimental Site, east Shropshire, within the southern section of the Worfe catchment, a tributary of the mid-Severn. The effectiveness of employing palm-mat geotextiles (from Borassus palm of West Africa
and soil erosion. Although buffer strips of Borassus mats were as effective as whole plot cover of the same mats, the longevity of Borassus mats was nearly twice that of Buriti mats. Thus, use of Borassus mats as buffer strips on bare plots is highly
Use of palm-mat geotextiles for soil conservation : I. Effects on soil properties
Field experiments were conducted at Hilton, east Shropshire, U.K. during 2007–2009, to study the impacts of Borassus and Buriti mats on selected properties of the topsoil. Ten fixed plots were established, with duplicate treatments : (i) bare soil
; (ii) permanent grassed; (iii) bare soil with 1 m Borassus-mat buffer strips at the lower end of the plots; (iv) bare soil with 1 m Buriti mat buffer strips at the lower end of the plots; and (v) completely-covered with Borassus mats. Initial and final
soil samples of the topsoil were collected and analysed for bulk density, aggregate stability, soil organic matter (SOM), total soil C (TSC), total soil N (TSN) and pH. Results and discussion. In summary, utilization of Borassus mats as buffer strips
The aim of this review is to analyse the effects of plot length (L) and other possible affecting factors [cover percentage (C, %), slope gradient (S), rainfall duration (D), rainfall intensity (I), sand, silt and clay contents, soil organic matter