Orchard Soil Management Systems Influence Rainfall Infiltration

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Abstract
The purpose of this study was to assess the effect of four soil management systems: herbicide strip (H), cultivated strip (C), mowed sod (MS), and killed sod strip (KS) on rainfall infiltration in two young peach [Prunus persica (L.) Batsch] orchards. Soil water content (0- to 0.90-m depth) was measured immediately before a rainfall event and then as soon as possible after the rain. During the first growing season, MS captured more rainfall than KS, H, or C in the spring and summer months. In the fall, when soil water levels were reduced, all of the soil management systems were equally effective in reducing rainfall runoff. During the second and third growing seasons, the KS system often captured as much rainfall as MS and more than H and C, when killed sod residue covered 50% or more of the surface. When < 10% soil cover remained in the KS treatment, it was no more effective in reducing runoff than the H or C treatments. Growth and yield parameters were lowest in the MS due to sod interference. KS generally provided greater growth and yield than the C and H.

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