Soil addition to an eroded slope

Abstract

Soil was added at depths of 5, 10 and 15 cm to the eroded slope of a waterway in a farm field. Spring wheat yields were monitored over a three year period after soil addition. In the first and third year of the study, the added soil depths were split into unfertilized and fertilized (70 kg N ha-1+ 30 kg P2O5 ha-1) treatments. Large yield increases were measured due to soil addition in the second and third year of the study, but only to the 5 cm depth. Examination of the data did not consistently indicate a main soil factor to cause the yield increase. Rather, it was probably the combined improvement of soil fertility and physical qualities which resulted in higher yields.