Soil Management and Slope Impacts on Soil Properties, Hydrological Response, and Erosion in Hazelnut Orchard

Proper soil management is crucial to mitigate degradation. Hazelnut orchards are often raised on slopes and intensively managed, which makes them similar the already defined highly erodible land uses like vineyards. This research aims assess impacts of slope properties, hydrological response, erosion in hazelnut orchard. At eastern Croatia Cambisols, four treatments were chosen, representing two managements study area (herbicide mulched) different inclinations (high ~9° low ~4.5°), for rainfall simulation experiments sampling. The herbicide both removed cover reduced (p < 0.05) organic matter, mean weight diameter, water-stable aggregates. Mulched recorded a lower bulk density. These properties affected as reduction infiltration plots lead higher water sediment losses. increased over 2.2 t ha−1. Mulching was shown superior practice it enhances reduces erosion, even reducing effect erosional processes.