Effect of grass filter strips management on reduction of soil loss from upland field

Abstract This study dealt with the reduction of soil loss from variously managed grass filter strips. Slope plots under a rainfall simulator were employed in this study. In order to investigate the effect of grass filter strips on the reduction of soil loss, the amount of soil supplied was compared with soil loss in each plot. The reduction of soil loss from cut weeds was similar to that from naturally grown weeds. Therefore, it was considered that cutting weeds for pest control can be applied to the grass filter strip for reducing soil loss. In the case of Tall Fescue plots under various stem density, there was no remarkable difference in reduction of soil loss between 800 stems/m and 1,480 stems/m. However, the density of 2,330 stems/m was effective for reducing soil loss comparing with the density of 800 stems/m and 1,480 stems/m. It follows that stem density for grass filter strips should be maintained around 2,330 stems/m to reduce soil loss from upland fields.