Summary
This field study quantified the degradative impacts of conventional crop production on soil infiltration capacity in a tropical West African watershed. Croplands showed significantly lower saturated hydraulic conductivity (2.42 cm d⁻¹) than adjacent fallow land (2.59 cm d⁻¹), attributed to soil compaction from repeated tillage without residue incorporation and loss of macropore connectivity. Soil class also influenced infiltration, with Ferric Luvisols exhibiting highest rates and Dystric Gleysols the lowest, suggesting that land management effects interact with inherent soil properties to determine hydrological function.
UK applicability
Whilst this study focuses on tropical soils and land uses in West Africa, the mechanistic findings—that tillage intensification reduces macropore structure and infiltration capacity—are relevant to UK arable systems. However, UK temperate soils, climate, and management practices differ substantially, so direct application of infiltration thresholds or remediation strategies would require local validation.
Key measures
Saturated hydraulic conductivity (Ks, in cm d⁻¹), soil bulk density, soil texture, soil macropore and mesopore connectivity, soil class classification
Outcomes reported
The study measured saturated hydraulic conductivity (Ks) and soil infiltration rates under different land uses (cropland versus fallow) across 36 paired plots in a tropical watershed. Results quantified differences in infiltration capacity and identified soil class effects on water infiltration dynamics.
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