Mulching as best management practice to reduce surface runoff and erosion in steep clayey olive groves

No-tillage and soil mulching with pruning residues, applied in olive groves of the semi-arid Mediterranean environment, as erosion control practices still practice not fully studied. This study has evaluated saturated hydraulic conductivity (Ksat), surface runoff (SR) (SL) under rainfall at plot scale throughout two years four different management practices, total cover a net (SP), mechanical tillage (MT) by vegetal residues 3,5·103 17,5·103 kg ha?1 dry matter (NTR350 NTR1750), an grove Southern Italy. Ksat varied between 1.6 25.1 (NTR1750) mm/h. A clear reduction losses was detected for mulch-based when compared to MT, from 20 32% coefficient 75–80% SL, higher reductions NTR1750. SL can be mainly explained SR rain-splash, interrill rill erosion, due protection mulch which increased organic content mulched plots. The on average SP (33%), NTR1750 (25%) NTR350 (22%), lower MT (12%). mean 2.01%, 1.69%,1.34% 0.82% NTR1750, NTR350, respectively. Overall, results quantify impact doses, will provide guidelines mitigate hydrological response clayey steep soils groves, analysing associated environmental economic benefits.