A case study on terracing and mulching in Namangan region hills located in Uzbekistan
Article Main
Abstract
Soil erosion and fertility decline pose a significant challenge to sustainable agriculture in the hilly regions of Namangan in Uzbekistan (Central Asia). This study investigates the long-term effects of terracing and mulching on soil fertility and stability from 2013 to 2023. Terracing involves converting steep slopes into stepped fields to reduce runoff, while mulching involves applying organic or inorganic materials to retain moisture and improve nutrient availability. Soil samples were taken annually from two depths (0–30 cm and 31–50 cm) and analysed for key fertility indicators. The results show a significant increase in the humus content in the 0–30 cm layer, which rose from 0.3 % in the untreated areas to 1.0 % with mulch and terracing. The phosphorus content increased significantly, reaching 83.7 mg/kg in the terraced and mulched soils, compared to 11.2 mg/kg in the untreated soils. The potassium content also improved: the treated soils contained 260 mg/kg compared to 94 mg/kg in the untreated plots. These results underline the effectiveness of terracing and mulching in improving soil health and stability through better nutrient retention and reduced erosion. The study underscores the potential of these sustainable practices to promote long-term agricultural productivity in erosion-prone regions.
Article Details
Article Details
Keywords
Mulching, Soil erosion, Soil fertility, Sustainable agriculture, Terracing
References
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Chathuranika, I., Khaniya, B., Neupane, K., Rustamjonovich, K. M., & Rathnayake, U. (2022). Implementation of water-saving agro-technologies and irrigation methods in agriculture of Uzbekistan on a large scale as an urgent issue. Sustainable Water Resources Management, 8(5), 155. https://doi.org/10.1007/s40899-022-00746-6.
Chathuranika, I. M., Koriyev, M. R., Wimalasiri, E. M., Asamovich, K. B., Muttil, N., & Rathnayake, U. (2023). Investigation of Rain-Fed Horticulture Productivity in the Namangan Region, Uzbekistan. Water, 15(13), 2399. https://doi.org/10.3390/w15132399.
Chen, D., Wei, W., & Chen, L. (2021). Effects of terracing on soil properties in three key mountainous regions of China. Geography and Sustainability, 2(3), 195-206. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.geosus.2021.08.002.
Chen, Q., Liu, Z., Zhou, J., Xu, X., & Zhu, Y. (2021). Long-term straw mulching with nitrogen fertilization increases nutrient and microbial determinants of soil quality in a maize–wheat rotation on China's Loess Plateau. Science of the Total Environment, 775, 145930. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2021.145930.
Cheng, H., Zhu, X., Sun, R., Niu, Y., Yu, Q., Shen, Y., & Li, S. (2020). Effects of different mulching and fertilization on phosphorus transformation in upland farmland. Journal of Environmental Management, 253, 109717. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jenvman.2019.109717.
Costantini, E. A., Castaldini, M., Diago, M. P., Giffard, B., Lagomarsino, A., Schroers, H. J., Priori, S., Valboa, G., Agnelli, A.E., Akça, E., & Zombardo, A. (2018). Effects of soil erosion on agro-ecosystem services and soil functions: A multidisciplinary study in nineteen organically farmed European and Turkish vineyards. Journal of environmental management, 223, 614-624. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jenvman.2018.06.065.
Gill, M. S., Gill, P. P. S., Pal, R. K., & Singh, N. (2022). Mulching effects on soil temperature and yield of pear [Pyrus pyrifoila (Burm.) Nakai] in humid subtropical climate of Punjab. MAUSAM, 73(4), 951-958. https://doi.org/10.54302/mausam.v73i4.3215.
Han, X., Li, Y. L., Wang, L. F., Liu, S. L., & Zhang, J. G. (2014, July). Effect of tree-row mulching on soil characteristics as well as growth and development of pear trees. In XII International Pear Symposium 1094 (pp. 299-306). https://doi.org/10.17660/ActaHortic.2015.1094.38.
Hao, J. Q., Song, J. J., Gao, G. X., Xu, W., Bai, J. Z., Feng, Y. Z., & Wang, X. (2023). Mitigation of the Ratio of Soil Dissolved Organic Carbon to Available Phosphorus Effectively Improves Crop Productivity under Mulching Measures on the Loess Plateau. Agronomy, 13(7), 1810. https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy13071810.
Isaev, S., Tadjiev, S., Ibragimov, O., Zokirova, S., & Khojasov, A. (2023). Improving cotton irrigation methods in erodible soils of Tashkent province, Uzbekistan. In E3S Web of conferences (Vol. 371, p. 01005). EDP Sciences. https://doi.org/10.1051/e3sconf/202337101005.
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Liao, Y., Cao, H. X., Xue, W. K., & Liu, X. (2021). Effects of the combination of mulching and deficit irrigation on the soil water and heat, growth and productivity of apples. Agricultural Water Management, 243, 106482. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.agwat.2020.106482.
Liu, X., Xin, L., & Lu, Y. (2021). National scale assessment of the soil erosion and conservation function of terraces in China. Ecological Indicators, 129, 107940. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ecolind.2021.107940.
Pandey, A., Himanshu, S. K., Mishra, S. K., & Singh, V. P. (2016). Physically based soil erosion and sediment yield models revisited. Catena, 147, 595-620. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.catena.2016.08.002.
Parsons, A. J. (2019). How reliable are our methods for estimating soil erosion by water?. Science of the total environment, 676, 215-221. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2019.04.307.
Ravichandran, M., Samiappan, S. C., Pandiyan, R., & Velu, R. K. (2022). Improvement of crop and soil management practices through mulching for enhancement of soil fertility and environmental sustainability: a review. Journal of Experimental Biology and Agricultural Sciences, 10(4), 697–712. https://doi.org/10.18006/2022.10(4).697.712.
Saparov, A. S., Mirzakeev, E. K., Sharypova, T. M., Saparov, G. A., & Abuduwaili, J. (2013). Irrigation erosion of irrigated soils in the foothills of southern Kazakhstan. Journal of Arid Land, 5(2), 166-171. https://doi.org/10.1007/s40333-013-0157-z.
Shi, Z. H., Chen, L. D., Cai, C. F., Li, Z. X., & Liu, G. H. (2009). Effects of long-term fertilization and mulch on soil fertility in contour hedgerow systems: a case study on steeplands from the Three Gorges Area, China. Nutrient Cycling in Agroecosystems, 84, 39-48. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10705-008-9223-x.
Siebert, S., Burke, J., Faures, J. M., Frenken, K., Hoogeveen, J., Döll, P., & Portmann, F. T. (2010). Groundwater use for irrigation–a global inventory. Hydrology and Earth System Sciences, 14(10), 1863-1880. doi:10.5194/hess-14-1863-2010.
Zhang, G. N., Xu, Q. W., He, B. H., Li, T. Y., Feng, M. D., & Liang, K. (2023). Effects of balanced fertilization and straw mulching on soil nutrients and stoichiometry in purple soil slope. Huan Jing ke Xue=Huanjing Kexue, 44(9), 5135-5144. https://doi.org/10.13227/j.hjkx.202209028.
Bhargavi, K., & Anusha, O. (2023). Significance of Mulching on Soil Conservation. Int. J. Plant Soil Sci, 35(20), 1156-1164. https://doi.org/10.9734/ijpss/2023/v35i203913.
Chathuranika, I., Khaniya, B., Neupane, K., Rustamjonovich, K. M., & Rathnayake, U. (2022). Implementation of water-saving agro-technologies and irrigation methods in agriculture of Uzbekistan on a large scale as an urgent issue. Sustainable Water Resources Management, 8(5), 155. https://doi.org/10.1007/s40899-022-00746-6.
Chathuranika, I. M., Koriyev, M. R., Wimalasiri, E. M., Asamovich, K. B., Muttil, N., & Rathnayake, U. (2023). Investigation of Rain-Fed Horticulture Productivity in the Namangan Region, Uzbekistan. Water, 15(13), 2399. https://doi.org/10.3390/w15132399.
Chen, D., Wei, W., & Chen, L. (2021). Effects of terracing on soil properties in three key mountainous regions of China. Geography and Sustainability, 2(3), 195-206. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.geosus.2021.08.002.
Chen, Q., Liu, Z., Zhou, J., Xu, X., & Zhu, Y. (2021). Long-term straw mulching with nitrogen fertilization increases nutrient and microbial determinants of soil quality in a maize–wheat rotation on China's Loess Plateau. Science of the Total Environment, 775, 145930. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2021.145930.
Cheng, H., Zhu, X., Sun, R., Niu, Y., Yu, Q., Shen, Y., & Li, S. (2020). Effects of different mulching and fertilization on phosphorus transformation in upland farmland. Journal of Environmental Management, 253, 109717. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jenvman.2019.109717.
Costantini, E. A., Castaldini, M., Diago, M. P., Giffard, B., Lagomarsino, A., Schroers, H. J., Priori, S., Valboa, G., Agnelli, A.E., Akça, E., & Zombardo, A. (2018). Effects of soil erosion on agro-ecosystem services and soil functions: A multidisciplinary study in nineteen organically farmed European and Turkish vineyards. Journal of environmental management, 223, 614-624. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jenvman.2018.06.065.
Gill, M. S., Gill, P. P. S., Pal, R. K., & Singh, N. (2022). Mulching effects on soil temperature and yield of pear [Pyrus pyrifoila (Burm.) Nakai] in humid subtropical climate of Punjab. MAUSAM, 73(4), 951-958. https://doi.org/10.54302/mausam.v73i4.3215.
Han, X., Li, Y. L., Wang, L. F., Liu, S. L., & Zhang, J. G. (2014, July). Effect of tree-row mulching on soil characteristics as well as growth and development of pear trees. In XII International Pear Symposium 1094 (pp. 299-306). https://doi.org/10.17660/ActaHortic.2015.1094.38.
Hao, J. Q., Song, J. J., Gao, G. X., Xu, W., Bai, J. Z., Feng, Y. Z., & Wang, X. (2023). Mitigation of the Ratio of Soil Dissolved Organic Carbon to Available Phosphorus Effectively Improves Crop Productivity under Mulching Measures on the Loess Plateau. Agronomy, 13(7), 1810. https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy13071810.
Isaev, S., Tadjiev, S., Ibragimov, O., Zokirova, S., & Khojasov, A. (2023). Improving cotton irrigation methods in erodible soils of Tashkent province, Uzbekistan. In E3S Web of conferences (Vol. 371, p. 01005). EDP Sciences. https://doi.org/10.1051/e3sconf/202337101005.
Juraev, Z., & Ahn, Y. J. (2023). Sustainable water management and elimination of water scarcity: a case study in a remote district of Uzbekistan. Revue Roumaine de Géographie/Romanian Journal of Geography, 67(2), 151–162. doi: 10.59277/RRG.2023.2.03.
Liao, Y., Cao, H. X., Xue, W. K., & Liu, X. (2021). Effects of the combination of mulching and deficit irrigation on the soil water and heat, growth and productivity of apples. Agricultural Water Management, 243, 106482. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.agwat.2020.106482.
Liu, X., Xin, L., & Lu, Y. (2021). National scale assessment of the soil erosion and conservation function of terraces in China. Ecological Indicators, 129, 107940. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ecolind.2021.107940.
Pandey, A., Himanshu, S. K., Mishra, S. K., & Singh, V. P. (2016). Physically based soil erosion and sediment yield models revisited. Catena, 147, 595-620. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.catena.2016.08.002.
Parsons, A. J. (2019). How reliable are our methods for estimating soil erosion by water?. Science of the total environment, 676, 215-221. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2019.04.307.
Ravichandran, M., Samiappan, S. C., Pandiyan, R., & Velu, R. K. (2022). Improvement of crop and soil management practices through mulching for enhancement of soil fertility and environmental sustainability: a review. Journal of Experimental Biology and Agricultural Sciences, 10(4), 697–712. https://doi.org/10.18006/2022.10(4).697.712.
Saparov, A. S., Mirzakeev, E. K., Sharypova, T. M., Saparov, G. A., & Abuduwaili, J. (2013). Irrigation erosion of irrigated soils in the foothills of southern Kazakhstan. Journal of Arid Land, 5(2), 166-171. https://doi.org/10.1007/s40333-013-0157-z.
Shi, Z. H., Chen, L. D., Cai, C. F., Li, Z. X., & Liu, G. H. (2009). Effects of long-term fertilization and mulch on soil fertility in contour hedgerow systems: a case study on steeplands from the Three Gorges Area, China. Nutrient Cycling in Agroecosystems, 84, 39-48. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10705-008-9223-x.
Siebert, S., Burke, J., Faures, J. M., Frenken, K., Hoogeveen, J., Döll, P., & Portmann, F. T. (2010). Groundwater use for irrigation–a global inventory. Hydrology and Earth System Sciences, 14(10), 1863-1880. doi:10.5194/hess-14-1863-2010.
Zhang, G. N., Xu, Q. W., He, B. H., Li, T. Y., Feng, M. D., & Liang, K. (2023). Effects of balanced fertilization and straw mulching on soil nutrients and stoichiometry in purple soil slope. Huan Jing ke Xue=Huanjing Kexue, 44(9), 5135-5144. https://doi.org/10.13227/j.hjkx.202209028.
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How to Cite
A case study on terracing and mulching in Namangan region hills located in Uzbekistan. (2024). Journal of Applied and Natural Science, 16(4), 1830-1841. https://doi.org/10.31018/jans.v16i4.6147
