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Assessing impact of tillage and mulch on soil erosion estimated by Beryllium-7 and on soil moisture, and runoff in Central Benin
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  • Tobi Moriaque Akplo,
  • Félix Kouelo Alladassi,
  • Mahougnon Charlotte Carmelle ZOUNDJI,
  • Pascal Houngnandan,
  • Emil Fulajtar,
  • Moncef Benmensour,
  • Naivo *Rabesiranana,
  • Asmae Nouira,
  • Anastase Azontondé
Tobi Moriaque Akplo
Faculty of Agronomic Sciences, University of Abomey-Calavi, Benin

Corresponding Author:[email protected]

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Félix Kouelo Alladassi
Faculty of Agronomic Sciences
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Mahougnon Charlotte Carmelle ZOUNDJI
Faculty of Agronomic Sciences, University of Abomey-Calavi, Benin
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Pascal Houngnandan
Faculty of Agronomic Sciences, University of Abomey-Calavi, Benin
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Emil Fulajtar
Joint FAO/IAEA Centre of Nuclear Techniques in Food and Agriculture, International Atomic Energy Agency, Vienna, Austria
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Moncef Benmensour
Soil-Water-Climat Division, National Centre of Energy, Nuclear Sciences and Technologies (CNESTEN), Rabat, Morocco
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Naivo *Rabesiranana
Institut National des Sciences et Techniques Nucléaires (INSTN), Antananarivo, Madagascar
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Asmae Nouira
Soil-Water-Climat Division, National Centre of Energy, Nuclear Sciences and Technologies (CNESTEN), Rabat, Morocco
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Anastase Azontondé
National Institute of Agriculture Research of Benin
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Abstract

This study was conducted to assess effect of tillage and mulch on soil erosion control in typical agroecological conditions of Benin. In addition, it involved also the assessment of soil moisture and runoff. The experiment was conducted on two sites in Central Benin during the short rain season of 2018. The effect of three tillage practices (contour ridging: CR; slope ridging: SR and no-tillage: NT) and three mulch doses (0 t.ha-1; 3 t.ha-1; and 7 t.ha-1) on soil erosion under maize was investigated at small experimental plots (21 m2). The 7Be method was used to assess the erosion rates, runoff was measured by total collection and soil moisture content was determined by thermo-gravimetric method. The results showed a significant decrease in runoff coefficient and soil loss while increase soil moisture under no-tillage and contour ridges compared to slope ridges. This effect was pronounced with greatest. 3 and 7 tha-1. Highest runoff coefficient and soil loss and the lowest soil moisture were observed under slope ridging without mulch (i.e. SR0M). The 7Be measurement showed high soil losses under SR0M (-10.19 t ha-1) at Dan and under NT0M (-7.36 t ha-1) at Za-zounmè. The treatments NT7M (0.80 t ha-1); SR7M (0.69 t ha-1); IR3M (2.07 t ha-1) and CR7M (4.05 t ha-1) showed deposition at Dan while SR7M (0.23 t ha-1) and CR7M (3.93 t ha-1) showed deposition at Za-zounmè. This study revealed useful information to be taken into consideration when developing soil and water conservation management strategies in Benin.