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The research presented in the article was focused on determining the C-factor for hops for conventional cultivation (CT) and soil conservation technique, which is based on the presence of cover crops (CC) in the inter-rows. The values of the soil loss ratio, which are the basis for the calculation of the C-factor, are also presented. The research activities were carried out between 2016 and 2023 and a field rainfall simulator was used for the measurements. Rainfall simulations were conducted at three developmental stages of CC. The results show a high C-factor value for CT (0.73), which indicates insufficient erosion control efficiency. In contrast, a C-factor of 0.16 was determined for the cover crop technique. This means that cover crops in the inter-rows of hop gardens can effectively reduce the risk of water erosion. The values reported in the article can be used as input parameters in various erosion models and equations to refine the subsequent calculation.

Surface runoff and soil losses in the case of potato cultivation using de-stoning technology on gentle slopes (Haplic Cambisol) were studied in 2020-2022. Different ridges shapes were compared: control (smooth shaped ridges), pits, pits plus loosening, pits plus loosening plus cover crop (Triticum aestivum L.) sowing in trail furrows. Runoff and soil losses were studied approximately 1 and 2 months after planting potatoes. The obtained results showed the highest reduction of surface runoff and soil losses in the treatment with cover crop sowing. In this variant, soil losses were reduced by 65-81% (1 month after planting) and 54-85% (2 months after planting) in case of simulated rainfall on the soil with natural moisture (or these losses were reduced by 51-93% and 50-76% in case of 15-min rainfall). On average, tuber yields reached 29.4 t/ha (pits + loosening) to 30.6 t/ha (pits) in 2020-2022. The different abilities of the tested shapes of ridges and furrows to retain water did not significantly affect the achieved yields of tubers, as rainfall was not a limiting factor in the monitored period. The yield differences among all tested treatments reached units of tons per hectare if the entire dose of nitrogen was applied at planting. Splitting the total nitrogen dose (50% at planting, 50% at loosening) gave significantly (P < 0.05) higher yields (34.2 t/ha) than a single application at planting. The treatment pits plus loosening with fertilisation provided a 19-26% higher tuber yield than pits plus loosening with a total N dose applied at planting. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]