Effect of Compost and Zeolite at Various Time Periods on Amount of Soil Splash

Splash erosion is the first stage of water erosion process, which results of the particles detachment of soil surface cause by raindrops. One of the efficient methods for reducing splash erosion is the usage of soil conditioners. Soil conservation at splash stage can play an effective role in reducing detachment of soil particles, increasing infiltration and ultimately reducing soil loss. The general purpose of the present study was to changes investigation of the total, net, upstream and downstream splash using conditioners of compost, zeolite and their composition. Zeolite with suitable granolometery cause the improvement of hydrophysical characteristics of soil. In addition, the compost can cause the improvement the structural characteristics of soil. Therefore, in this study used from two conditioners of zeolite and compost with amounts of 5.8 and 7.1 g cm-2, respectively, and their combination for changes investigation of total splash, net splash, upstream and downstream splash with soil texture of loamy-sandy.

The used soil was collected from the depth of 0 to 20 cm and was transferred to the laboratory. The study was performed on scale of splash cups and laboratory conditions using the rainfall simulator at rainfall intensity of 80 mm h-1. Also changes of time periods evaluated for durations of 24 h, two, four, eight, 16 and 32 week. Splash erosion measured by collecting the splash particles during each rainfall and then drying at temperature of 105° C. Physical and chemical characteristics of soil determined using current methods of laboratory. Data of splash erosion analyzed using SPSS software, Duncan test and GLM.

The experiments showed that the application of the combination of compost and zeolite on changing the soil splash was the more than their separation effects. The results showed that the combination of compost and zeolite of total splash was with rates of 68.93, 15.53, 49.51, 38.83, 38.83 and 77.66%, respectively, and net splash of 67.27, 10.9, 56.36, 32.72, 47.27 and 72.72% at time periods of 24 h, two, four, eight, 16 and 32 week, respectively. Also, the changes percent of splash changes for the composition of compost and zeolite at the upstream of splash cup observed with amounts of 70.83, 20.83, 83.66, 45.41, 29.16 and 83.33%, respectively, and downstream was amounts of 68.35, 13.92, 51.89, 36.70, 41.77 and 75.94% , respectively. The effect study of time periods showed that the time periods of 32 and eight week had the more reduce at the amount of splash erosion. The statistical results showed that the effect of time period and treatment and their interaction on reducing the total splash and net splash was significant at the level of 99%. Also, the effect of time period and the interaction effect of time period and treatment on reducing the upstream and downstream splash was significant at level of 99%.

Adding these conditioners to the soil cause the reducing the soil splash erosion. The time effect also caused the more effect of the conditioners for reducing the amount of slash erosion. Among the used conditioners, the effect of compost conditioner was more than two other conditioners on reducing splash erosion, because this conditioner by increasing the stability and porosity of soil can bind the soil particles and thus the resistance of soil particles increase against the rainfall energy. Finally, it can be stated that the conditioners application separately and combination can be have the positive effects on decreasing soil splash that will lead to reducing soil loss at the long term.