Soil erosion rates under intensive vegetable production on clay loam, strongly structured soils at Pukekohe, New Zealand

Soil Research ◽  
2002 ◽  
Vol 40 (6) ◽  
pp. 947 ◽  
Author(s):  
L. R. Basher ◽  
C. W. Ross
Keyword(s):  
New Zealand ◽  
Vegetable Production ◽  
Clay Loam ◽  
Erosion And Deposition ◽  
Deposition Rates ◽  
Erosion Rates ◽  
Soil Redistribution ◽  
Structured Soils ◽  
Soil Erosion Rates ◽  
Tillage Erosion

Rates of soil redistribution by water and tillage erosion were determined in 3 fields under long-term continuous vegetable production on clay loam, strongly structured soils derived from volcanic ash at Pukekohe, South Auckland, New Zealand. Erosion and deposition rates were estimated using a mass balance model to convert variation in 137Cs areal activity within the fields to estimates of erosion and deposition. Caesium-137 areal activity in cropped fields ranged from 171 to 2144 Bq/m2, compared with a reference value under permanent pasture of 774 Bq/m2. There was a characteristic pattern of 137Cs distribution within each field, with differences between the fields related to variation in topography. Lowest values of 137Cs were found in the upper parts of each field and highest values towards the base of each field. In all 3 fields there was a net loss of 137Cs, ranging from 13 to 32%, with an average over the 3 fields of 18%. Net rates of soil loss from the fields were 30, 11, and 7 t/ha.year. However, within the fields there was a much wider range of both erosion (up to 92 t/ha.year) and deposition (up to 100 t/ha.year) rates. Most of the soil redistribution is caused by water erosion, with tillage erosion accounting for 10-20% of the soil redistribution. The soil redistribution rates were 2 orders of magnitude higher than sediment export measured at small catchment scale. Soil erosion rates are not reflected in variation in topsoil depth, because frequent tillage and incorporation of organic residues maintains a uniform topsoil depth, but soil deposition rates are closely related to topsoil depth.

Estimate of soil erosion on cultivated soils using 137Cs measurements and calibration models: A case study from Nakhla watershed, Morocco

2006 ◽  
Vol 86 (1) ◽  
pp. 77-87 ◽  
Author(s):  
K. Hassouni ◽  
S. Bouhlassa
Keyword(s):  
Soil Erosion ◽  
Mass Balance ◽  
Balance Model ◽  
Mass Balance Model ◽  
Erosion And Deposition ◽  
Deposition Rates ◽  
Erosion Rates ◽  
Soil Redistribution ◽  
Calibration Models ◽  
Soil Erosion Rates

Despite the seriousness of the erosion problem in the Nakhla watershed, there are still only limited data on the rates of soil loss on cultivated land on steep slopes. Thus, there is a need for more information for optimizing strategies for soil conservation. Recent concern over problems of soil degradation and the off-site impacts of accelerated erosion has highlighted the need for improved methods of estimating rates and patterns of soil erosion by water. In this paper, soil erosion and deposition rates have been studied using the 137Cs technique in upstream part in the Nakhla watershed on cultivated soils (Larbaa Beni Hassan area), which is known to suffer soil erosion. Multiple transect sampling was established parallel to the slope, and 137Cs inventories were determined for the sampling points. After establishing the local reference inventory (3073 Bq m-2), soil erosion and deposition rates were estimated using the 137Cs inventories on all the transects with three calibration models: proportional model (PM), mass balance model 1 (MBM1) and mass balance model 2 (MBM2). The magnitude of the soil erosion rates depends on many factors, including the location of sampling, the local topography, and the soil properties. Estimated soil erosion rates for the study area varied from 0.4 to 28.9 t ha-1 yr-1 using PM; from 0.5 to 66.9 t ha-1 yr-1 using MBM1; and from 0.4 to 56.4 t ha-1 yr-1 using MBM2. The deposition ranged, respectively, from 0.3 to 8.0 t ha-1 yr-1 for PM, from 0.4 to 14.5 t ha-1 yr-1 for MBM1, and from 0.3 to 11.5 t ha-1 yr-1 for MBM2. The sediment delivery ratio is about 98%. For one selected plot, L11, the erosion rates show a clear relationship with the range of slopes in its three different horizontal parts. Estimates of soil redistribution rates were interpolated by means of kriging, using Surfer 7.0 software. Two representative transects were selected to identify the contribution of tillage on 137Cs redistribution by using mass balance model 3. It is observed that the pattern of 137Cs redistribution is dominated by water erosion and that the contribution of tillage redistribution remain is smaller. Key words: 137Cs method, soil erosion, erosion rate, soil redistribution, conversion models

Effects of carrot growing on volcanic ash soils in the Ohakune area, New Zealand

Soil Research ◽  
2004 ◽  
Vol 42 (3) ◽  
pp. 259
Author(s):  
L. R. Basher ◽  
C. W. Ross ◽  
J. Dando
Keyword(s):  
New Zealand ◽  
Volcanic Ash ◽  
Water Movement ◽  
Reference Value ◽  
Primary Control ◽  
Erosion And Deposition ◽  
Deposition Rates ◽  
Erosion Rates ◽  
Wide Range

Effects of intensive carrot production on soils derived from young volcanic ash were determined at Ohakune, New Zealand. Erosion rates (derived from caesium-137) and key soil physical and chemical properties were determined in 3 fields with differing management history (6 and 16 years cropping) or topography (sloping and flat).Caesium-137 areal activity in cropped fields ranged from 90 to 2034 Bq/m2, compared with a reference value under long-term pasture of 602 Bq/m2. Mean areal activity was lower than the reference value in 2 sloping fields, but not in a flat field. Net erosion rates were low in both sloping fields (–16 and –5 t/ha.year), but within each field there was a wide range of erosion and deposition rates (–109 to +293 t/ha.year in Field 1 and –145 to +514 t/ha.year in Field 2). These very high rates imply total soil losses up to 238 mm and deposition up to 670 mm, consistent with observed elevation differences between the cropped fields and adjacent fields in long-term pasture and with topsoil depth variation from 145 to 1165 mm. Tillage erosion and deposition rates are high (up to c. 40 t/ha.year) but water erosion is the dominant mechanism of soil redistribution.Cropping has reduced organic matter and aggregate stability, increased bulk density in the lower part of the topsoil and subsoil, and increased aggregate size. Hydraulic conductivity was higher in the topsoil and lower in the subsoil under cropping than it was under pasture. However, it would not limit soil water movement as it was higher than typical rainfall intensities. Compacted wheel tracks were the primary control on runoff and erosion as they have low infiltration rates (4 mm/h) compared with carrot beds (853 mm/h).

Surface erosion assessment in the South-Canterbury downlands, New Zealand using 137Cs distribution

Soil Research ◽  
1995 ◽  
Vol 33 (5) ◽  
pp. 787 ◽  
Author(s):  
LR Basher ◽  
KM Matthews ◽  
L Zhi
Keyword(s):  
New Zealand ◽  
Mean Value ◽  
Slope Position ◽  
Surface Erosion ◽  
The South ◽  
Erosion And Deposition ◽  
Erosion Rates ◽  
Land Use Types ◽  
Radionuclide Tracer

Redistribution of the radionuclide tracer 137Cs was used to examine the pattern of erosion and deposition at two sites with contrasting long-term land uses (pasture and cropping) in the South Canterbury downlands, New Zealand. There were clear differences between the two land use types in variation in 137Cs concentrations and areal activity, erosion rates and topsoil depth variability. Erosion and deposition have resulted in greater variability and lower mean levels of 137Cs areal activity under cropping (46.3 mBq cm-2) than pasture (55.0 mBq cm-2). At the cropping site, erosion and deposition roughly balanced with the mean value over all sampling sites, suggesting no net soil loss, but considerable redistribution of soil within paddocks. At the pasture site results suggested slight net deposition. There was evidence for both sheet/rill and wind erosion being important in soil redistribution. While there was no difference in mean topsoil depth between pasture and cropping, there were significant differences with slope position. At the pasture site, there was little variation of topsoil depth with slope position, except for swales which tended to be deeper, whereas at the cropping site there was considerable variation in topsoil depth with slope position. Topsoil depth was a poor indicator of erosion status.

scholarly journals Tillage erosion: a review of controlling factors and implications for soil quality

2006 ◽  
Vol 30 (4) ◽  
pp. 443-466 ◽  
Author(s):  
K. Van Oost ◽  
G. Govers ◽  
S. De Alba ◽  
T. A. Quine
Keyword(s):  
Soil Properties ◽  
Water Erosion ◽  
Controlling Factors ◽  
Conservation Strategies ◽  
Soil Productivity ◽  
Data Set ◽  
Erosion Rates ◽  
Soil Redistribution ◽  
Tillage Depth ◽  
Tillage Erosion

Tillage erosion has been identifed as an important global soil degradation process that has to be accounted for when assessing the erosional impacts on soil productivity, environmental quality or landscape evolution. In this paper, we present a summary of available data describing tillage erosion. This provides insights in the controlling factors determining soil redistribution rates and patterns by tillage for various implements used in both mechanized and non-mechanized agriculture. Variations in tillage depth and tillage direction cause the largest variations in soil redistribution rates, although other factors, such as tillage speed and implement characteristics, also play an important role. In general, decreasing tillage depth and ploughing along the contour lines substantially reduce tillage erosion rates and can be considered as effective soil conservation strategies. Implement erosivities reported in literature, characterized by the tillage transport coeffcient, are very consistent and range in the order of 400–800 kg m-1yr-1 and 70–260 kg m-1yr-1 for mechanized and nonmechanized agriculture, respectively. Comparison of tillage erosion rates with water erosion rates using a global data set indicates that tillage erosion rates are at least in the same order of magnitude or higher than water erosion rates, in almost all cases. Finally, we discuss how tillage erosion increases the spatial variability of soil properties and affects soil nutrient cycling. Considering the widespread use of tillage practices, the high redistribution rates associated with the process and its direct effect on soil properties, it is clear that tillage erosion should be considered in soil landscape studies.

AN ASSESSMENT OF SOIL EROSION IN WEST-CENTRAL SASKATCHEWAN USING CESIUM-137

1986 ◽  
Vol 66 (4) ◽  
pp. 591-600 ◽  
Author(s):  
J. J. KISS ◽  
E. DE JONG ◽  
H. P. W. ROSTAD
Keyword(s):  
Soil Erosion ◽  
Overland Flow ◽  
Minor Importance ◽  
Slope Length ◽  
Erosion Rates ◽  
Soil Redistribution ◽  
West Central ◽  
Soil Erosion Rates ◽  
Cesium 137 ◽  
Upper Slope

Soil erosion in five Rural Municipalities of west-central Saskatchewan was assessed using cesium-137 as an indicator of soil redistribution. Native, noneroded soils across the study area were sampled to determine a baseline value for cesium-137 (2877 Bq m−2), which was used to predict the erosion of cultivated soils since the early 1960s. Soil redistribution estimates were calculated for idealized positions (upper, middle, lower) on medium-textured cultivated hillslopes, and for the total erosional portion of the hillslopes. Mean hillslope soil erosion rates were 23 ± 8 t ha−1 yr−1 for slopes with 0–3% gradient, 27 ± 9 t ha−1 yr−1 for 3–10% slopes, and 48 ± 16 t ha−1 yr−1 for 10–24% slopes, representing a soil removal of 3.8 cm, 4.4 cm, and 7.8 cm, respectively, since 1960. These soil losses represented between 27 and 67% of the topsoil and between 8 and 35% of the solum currently present within the eroding upslope areas. A significant positive correlation existed between the thickness of soil horizons and solums, and the rate of soil erosion on the upper and middle slope positions. The greatest erosion rates were determined for the upper slope positions, probably because of a dominance of wind and tillage erosion within the area. Soil erosion rates within slope classes decreased with increasing slope length, particularly on 10–24% slopes. Erosion by overland flow was considered to be of minor importance, especially on level landscapes (0–3% gradient) where erosion averaged 23 ± 8 t ha−1 yr−1. Erosion rates ranging between 23 and 48 t ha−1 y−1 occurred over approximately 2/3 of the cultivated study area. High rates of soil erosion over such a large portion of the landscape are alarming, considering that the accepted tolerable soil loss is 11.2–4.5 t ha−1 yr−1. Key words: Soil erosion, cesium-137, water erosion, wind erosion, hillslope

Effect of surface rills on soil redistribution by tillage erosion on a steep hillslope

Geomorphology ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 380 ◽  
pp. 107637
Author(s):  
Yong Wang ◽  
Zehong Zhang ◽  
Jianhui Zhang ◽  
Xinlan Liang ◽  
Xing Liu ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Soil Redistribution ◽  
Tillage Erosion ◽  
Effect Of Surface

scholarly journals The application of137Cs and210Pbexmethods in soil erosion research of Titel loess plateau, Vojvodina, Northern Serbia

2020 ◽  
Vol 12 (1) ◽  
pp. 11-24
Author(s):  
Kristina S. Kalkan ◽  
Sofija Forkapić ◽  
Slobodan B. Marković ◽  
Kristina Bikit ◽  
Milivoj B. Gavrilov ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Soil Erosion ◽  
Loess Plateau ◽  
Alternative Methods ◽  
Delivery Ratio ◽  
Undisturbed Soil ◽  
Migration Model ◽  
Erosion Rates ◽  
Soil Erosion Rates ◽  
Profile Distribution ◽  
And Migration

AbstractSoil erosion is one of the largest global problems of environmental protection and sustainable development, causing serious land degradation and environmental deterioration. The need for fast and accurate soil rate assessment of erosion and deposition favors the application of alternative methods based on the radionuclide measurement technique contrary to long-term conventional methods. In this paper, we used gamma spectrometry measurements of 137Cs and unsupported 210Pbex in order to quantify the erosion on the Titel Loess Plateau near the Tisa (Tisza) River in the Vojvodina province of Serbia. Along the slope of the study area and in the immediate vicinity eight representative soil depth profiles were taken and the radioactivity content in 1 cm thick soil layers was analyzed. Soil erosion rates were estimated according to the profile distribution model and the diffusion and migration model for undisturbed soil. The net soil erosion rates, estimated by 137Cs method range from −2.3 t ha−1 yr−1 to −2.7 t ha−1 yr−1, related to the used conversion model which is comparable to published results of similar studies of soil erosion in the region. Vertical distribution of natural radionuclides in soil profiles was also discussed and compared with the profile distribution of unsupported 210Pbex measurements. The use of diffusion and migration model to convert the results of 210Pbex activities to soil redistribution rates indicates a slightly higher net erosion of −3.7 t ha−1 yr−1 with 98% of the sediment delivery ratio.

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