IMPACTS OF DIFFERENT MULCHING PRACTICES ON SOIL WATER CONSERVATION IN A SEMIARID REGION OF TURKEY

The use of mulch is an important application in the conservation of water in the soil for a longer period of time. As mulch materials, organic and inorganic materials can be used. The use of mulch in researches was generally evaluated during plant growth season. In this study, it was carried out only in certain soil conditions without any plant growth. The aim of the study was to determine the change in the soil water content under the conditions where an organic mulch (straw), raking and no treatment were applied. Four treatments compared were A) Mulch application with straw (organic mulch material) immediately after the soil was saturated; B) Roughly 3 days after the water was applied, the raking was done; C) When the raking was done, straw (organic mulch material) and mulch application were done; D) Control treatments without any special application. The study was carried out in 16 square borders with soil embankments and 4 treatments and 4 replications. Each square border was formed in 1x1 m dimensions. A distance of 2 m was left between the square borders. Soil water content was measured at 20, 30, 40, 50, 60, 70, 80 and 90 cm depth with neutron meter. Neutron meter tubes were placed in the center of the square borders with soil embankments. In the study, reference measurements were made before applying water to the square borders. Then each square border was filled with water to saturate soil profile. Changes in soil water content were observed at specific time intervals after saturation. At the end of the study, the water content of the soil was calculated as 41.28 mm for A, 48.71 mm for B, 47.35 mm for C and 52.72 mm for D. The loss of soil water content was ranked as A<C <B <D.