Soil cultivation effects on sediment and phosphorus mobilization in surface runoff from three contrasting soil types in England

To encourage the adoption of best management practices in a priority catchment (Hampshire Avon) in south-west England suffering from diffuse pollution, field demonstration areas were established over a 2-year period on three major soil types (a Chalk soil with an 8° slope, a Greensand soil on a 5° slope and an underdrained Clay soil with a 1° slope). Within each demonstration area, three replicate runoff plots measuring 15 m long and 2 m wide and each containing a tramline were established to monitor the effectiveness of cultivation date (early versus late) and cultivation method (traditional versus reduced) on suspended sediment and P mobilization in surface runoff. Reduced cultivation consisted of heavy discing (5–8 cm depth) instead of ploughing (20–25 cm depth). Soil cultivation effects were variable and site specific depending on weather, inherent soil susceptibility to structural degradation and management. Surface sealing of the Greensand soil, tramline compaction on the Chalk soil and direction of drilling on the Clay soil were key contributing factors. Late cultivation increased surface runoff up to 5-fold and mobilization of sediment and P by up to an order of magnitude compared to early drilling using traditional cultivation techniques. Concentrations of sediment and P in runoff from the Greensand and Chalk soils were consistently lower when the soil was minimally tilled than ploughed, even though a range of soil physical measurements indicated greater soil consolidation where the soil was not inverted. The benefits of reduced cultivation were attributed to better surface cover and a firmer surface for tractor wheelings. Early drilling, timeliness of cultivation to avoid soil compaction, better tramline management and reduced cultivation techniques would help reduce agriculture's impact on water quality in the catchment area.