EFFECT OF ORGANIC AND FERTILIZER TREATMENTS ON SOIL PHYSICAL-PROPERTIES AND ERODIBILITY

The effect of different organic and fertiliser treatments on soil physical properties and erodibility was studied in the laboratory using soils from the organic manuring plots of Rothamsted Experimental Station at Woburn, UK. Measurements of soil detachment, aggregate stability, particle size distribution, bulk density, porosity and infiltration rates were made to evaluate the role of organic treatments in determining physical properties and how these properties in turn affect soil erodibility. In comparison with farmyard manure, straw and fertilisers-only treatments, ley treatments improved aggregate stability and other measured soil properties, and this led to reduced soil detachment and improved infiltration rates.