Summarised results of soil loss and maize yields
Soil loss records from the barrels and catch-pits showed a high level of variability in both control and live barrier plots. In 1996, total soil loss per plot ranged from 9.8 to 41.8 t ha−1; in 1997 from 0.5 to 1.8 t ha−1 and in pre-Mitch 1998 from 0.7 to 1.8 t ha−1. In 1997, low soil loss figures were due to reduced rainfall and fewer intense storms due to El Niño, while in 1998 (pre-Mitch) reduced soil loss was due to increased ground cover ( Hellin, 1999). Rainfall characteristics, recorded by a tipping-bucket rain gauge (ELE DRG-52), are summarised in Table 5 along with total rainfall in the 3 years prior to the start of the experiment. The average annual soil loss by erosion was around 17 t ha−1 (data for 1998 are pre-Hurricane Mitch).