Abstract

Vertisols are prone to waterlogging when they are flat and to erosion when they are sloppy due to their higher clay content. Hence, to avoid soil and water loss, while using the Broad Bed and Furrow (BBF), slope and BBF length have to be considered. Field experiments were conducted on Vertisols having different slopes (1,2 and 3%) and BBF lengths (10,20 and 30m) using split-plot design. Slope gradients and BBF lengths were the main and sub-plot treatments, respectively. Results revealed the main and interaction effect of BBF lengths and slope gradients were significant on all parameters, except for tiller’s number. Higher grain yield (5757kg ha^-1), was obtained from plots of 10 m BBF length for 2% slope, while higher grain yield of 2148 and 3318kg ha^-1 recorded from 20m of BBF for both 1% and 3% slopes, respectively. However, slope gradient and BBF lengths did not brought a significant effect on soil erosion and deposition. This could be due the slopes selected are under the same slope category. Therefore, further study is needed to estimate effects of BBF lengths and slopes on soil loss and crop yield using lands having large slope gradient or categories.

Keywords: Slope; BBF length; Erosion; Deposition; Wheat; Yield