Runoff as Affected by Rainfall Characteristics and Management Practices on Gently Sloping Sandy Loam

Field experiments were conducted during 1973 and 1974 to evaluate the effect of tillage and mulch on runoff from gently sloping sandy loam under cropped and uncropped conditions. Less runoff from cropped compared with uncropped plots was attributable to increased infiltrability of soil resulting from cultivation in the standing crop and greater profile water depletion under cropped conditions. Deep tillage and application of mulch reduced the runoff. In the presence of mulch, the runoff was affected only slightly by tillage. It is indicated that even after enhancing profile water storage through deep tillage and straw mulching, considerable amount of runoff can be harvested for protective irrigation.