• Journal of Korean Society of Environmental Engineers
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• v.32 no.11
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• pp.1024-1029
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• 2010

Use of polymeric soil amendments is an emerging way to reduce soil erosion, and improve crop productivity and soil quality. Objective of this study was to evaluate the effects of anionic polyacrylamide (PAM) and synthetic biopolymer on soil erosion, crop growth and soil quality. The aqueous solutions of PAM and biopolymer at 40 kg/ha were applied to loamy soil plots (3 m width by 18 m long) having a 20% slope during radish (Raphanus sativus) cultivation. Results showed that PAM and biopolymer treatments increased aggregate stability up to 11% compared to the untreated control. Treatments of PAM and biopolymer also increased leaf length of radish but there was no significant difference in crop yield. Soil loss was decreased by up to 41% using the polymeric soil amendments; however, no difference in runoff was found, compared to the untreated control. Soil loss was logarithmically increased against an increase in rainfall intensity ($R^2=0.85$). Our findings suggest that proper use of polymeric soil amendments would be beneficial to maintain soil quality and reduce soil erosion in sloping uplands.