Effect of different soil tillage methods and four-wing salt bush (Atriplex canescens (Pursh) Nutt.) on soil erosion in Eskişehir region (Eskişehir exp.)

The study was conducted to evaluate whether the four-wing saltbush plant can be used to prevent erosion in the areas with shallow soil and steep slopes in the semi-arid regions, which is not suitable for afforestation, by applying different tillage methods and planting space in Eskişehir region. For this purpose, 20 m2 plots with 2m by 10 m in size were established in the study site to measure amount of runoff after precipitation in 2015 and 2016 as well as the amount of soil loss. Thus, a total of 24 plots consisting of 8 treatments with 3 replications were established on the experimental area where vegetation cover was completely removed by spraying herbicide . There were no treatment in control plots. On the other plots, planting holes and terraces were established and half of the planting holes and terraces were planted with saplings of fourwing saltbush with different planting spaces ( 3m interval, 0.5 m and 1 m distances ) to determine if different soil tilligae types or combination of them with planting have any impact on soil loss and surface runoff . 2+0 Enso fourwing saltbush saplings were planted with 50 – 100 cm intervals at planting holes and in the terraces. Results showed that terracing without planting shrubs was the most effective method for soil and water conservation in this study . In contrast, combination of soil tillage and panting with shbrub saplings had effect on soil loss and surface runoff regardless of planting spaces., On the other hand, seedling survival of fourwing saltbush was 100 percent in this study site with high slope degree and shallow soil conditions which was not appropriate for afforestation.