Effects of different soil and water conservation measures on soil physical properties in red soil slope field

ObjectiveIn order to realize efficient and sustainable utilization of red soil slope field , effects of different soil and water conservation measures on soil physical properties were studied in view of the poor soil structure and soil erosion in red soil slope field. MethodTaking ordinary peanut fields at equal altitude as control, effects of three soil and water conservation measures, polyacrylamide (PAM), hedgerows of Vetiveria zizanioides and PAM+V. zizanioides, on soil bulk density, porosity and water holding capacity were studied. Effects of different measures on soil physical properties were evaluated comprehensively. ResultSoil bulk density at 0-20 cm soil layer showed significant difference under dif-ferent treatments(P<0.05), improvement effects of three soil and water conservation measures on soil bulk density in 0-20 cm soil layer was obvious. There was no significant difference in soil porosity and water holding capacity in soil layer of 0-40 cm under different treatments(P>0.05). Different soil and water conservation measures posed sound effects on soil porosity and water holding capacity in 0-10 cm soil layer. Soil bulk density was negatively correlated with other physical properties , and made a high contribution rate ( 76 . 517%) in evaluating different soil and water conservation mea sures ’ effects on soil physical properties as a principal component. ConclusionSoil bulk density is an important factor to eval-uate improvement effects of different soil and water conservation measures on soil physical properties. It affects soil physi-cal properties such as porosity and water holding capacity. The comprehensive improvement effect of soil physical proper-ties is better in 0-10 cm soil layer under different soil and water conservation measures compared with that in other layers. The most effective treatment is PAM+V. zizanioides, which can be recommended as a soil and water conservation measure in red soil slope field.