Universal Journal of Agricultural Research Vol. 6(2), pp. 72 - 78
DOI: 10.13189/ujar.2018.060204
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Study of the Effects of Two Crop Systems and Best Management Practices on Soil and Water Conservation in Tunisian Semi-arid Area

L. Laajili-Ghezal ^*
School of Higher Education in Agriculture, Carthage University, Tunisia

ABSTRACT

In Tunisia, water erosion is one of the most important processes affecting around 25% of arable land, generating a potential loss of soil productivity due to a decrease of hydraulically and chemical stocks. To control water erosion on lands of average slopes (less than 10%) best management practices (crop rotation, organic fertilization, etc.) have to be developed especially in Tunisian semiarid area, where rainfall irregularity and aggressivity enhance water erosion. Thus, conservative techniques for soil and water protection are required and have to be implemented at the level of the agricultural parcel to maintain or improve the productive potential of soils on average slopes in rain-fed lands, located in Tunisian semi arid area. In this context the article is presented. It is a synthesis of some experimental works on plots of 1 to 4 m² in the experimental field station of the ESA Mograne, for the study of the effects of different kinds of crop-rotation (fallow long duration- chick pea) and organic fertilizers (row olive mills waste water) on the fertility of the soil and its potential yield. Results showed that long fallow-chickpea rotation and use of 50 m³/ha of row olive mills waste water improve soil fertility (water retention and C/N). This improvement in water and soil chemical properties increases the components of performance of chickpea (rate of dry matter) and weight of 1000 grains and plant biodiversity for 50 m³/ha spreading of row olive mills waste water. These results can be valued for the development of strips crops on average slope lands in Tunisian semiarid area for soil and water conservation.

KEYWORDS
Soil and Water Conservation, Crop Rotation, Moderate Slopes, Best Management Practices, Tunisian Semi-arid Region

Cite This Paper in IEEE or APA Citation Styles
(a). IEEE Format:
[1] L. Laajili-Ghezal , "Study of the Effects of Two Crop Systems and Best Management Practices on Soil and Water Conservation in Tunisian Semi-arid Area," Universal Journal of Agricultural Research, Vol. 6, No. 2, pp. 72 - 78, 2018. DOI: 10.13189/ujar.2018.060204.

(b). APA Format:
L. Laajili-Ghezal (2018). Study of the Effects of Two Crop Systems and Best Management Practices on Soil and Water Conservation in Tunisian Semi-arid Area. Universal Journal of Agricultural Research, 6(2), 72 - 78. DOI: 10.13189/ujar.2018.060204.