Effects of coarse-fragment content and size on soil erosion under simulated rainfall

1995 ◽  
Vol 75 (2) ◽  
pp. 227-232 ◽  
Author(s):  
T. L. Chow ◽  
H. W. Rees
Keyword(s):  
Soil Erosion ◽  
Soil Loss ◽  
Fragment Size ◽  
Correlation Coefficients ◽  
Potato Production ◽  
Simulated Rainfall ◽  
Rainfall Events ◽  
Surface Cover ◽  
Mathematical Equations ◽  
Rock Size

Farmers have long considered coarse fragments a hindrance in potato production. Rock picking or crushing has become a routine operation. Using simulated rainfall events and runoff-erosion plots (1 m × 1 m), the effects of coarse-fragment content (0, 7, 15 and 25% by volume) and size (1.0–1.9, 1.9–5.1 and 5.1–7.6-cm diam) on runoff, infiltration and soil loss were evaluated on an Orthic Dystric Brunisol. Study objectives were to quantify the influence of coarse fragments on soil erosion and to convert these relationships into mathematical equations for use with existing models to predict soil loss. Although there were only marginal increases in infiltration and reductions in runoff attributable to increasing content and size of coarse fragments, the rate of soil loss from the control was higher than that from all other treatments. In general, the rate of soil loss decreased with increasing content and size of coarse fragments. The effects of content and size of coarse fragments on soil-loss reduction, either individually or in combination, were expressed mathematically with correlation coefficients greater than 0.82. The study also revealed that for a given volumetric coarse-fragment content, the percentage surface cover increased with increasing coarse-fragment size. This finding has important practical implications because most reporting of coarse fragments is done on the basis of volume rather than percentage surface cover. Key words: Rock content, rock size, rainfall simulator, infiltration, soil loss

A comparison of effects of one-pass and conventional potato hilling on water runoff and soil erosion under simulated rainfall

2011 ◽  
Vol 91 (2) ◽  
pp. 279-290 ◽  
Author(s):  
Zisheng Xing ◽  
Lien Chow ◽  
Herb W. Rees ◽  
Fanrui Meng ◽  
John Monteith ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Soil Erosion ◽  
Cover Crop ◽  
Soil Loss ◽  
Canopy Cover ◽  
Potato Production ◽  
Water Runoff ◽  
Sigmoid Function ◽  
Simulated Rainfall ◽  
The Mean ◽  
Runoff And Soil Loss

Xing, Z., Chow, L., Rees, H. W., Meng, F., Monteith, J. and Stevens, L. 2011. A comparison of effects of one-pass and conventional potato hilling on water runoff and soil erosion under simulated rainfall. Can. J. Soil Sci. 91: 279–290. Hilling plays an important role in potato production, but is found to be inducing soil loss. An artificial rainfall simulation system was used to evaluate the differences between one-pass hilling (OPH, hilling performed when planting, or shortly after planting) and conventional hilling (CH, hilling performed approximately 35–45 d after planting) as well as their combination with a cover crop (ryegrass; _R) on runoff and soil loss. A three-replicate randomized block experimental design with constant rainfall intensity (120 mm h−1) was used in this study. No significant differences in runoff were found between different hilling methods. The soil losses, however, showed significant differences both among treatments, among canopy cover classes, and among their interaction terms (all P<0.001). The mean soil loss for CH was significantly higher than that for OPH, by 40%, and the mean soil loss for CH_R was higher than that for OPH_R by 57%. On average, the CH treatments (CH and CH_R) induced greater soil loss than the OPH treatments (OPH and OPH_R) by 47%. Further, the effects can vary with different canopy cover percentages. The OPH treatments (OPH and OPH_R) induced more soil loss than CH treatments (CH and CH_R), by 4.4 to 12.8%, in the <30% canopy cover group, while soil loss in the CH treatments was greater than that in OPH treatments for both the 30–70% and >70% canopy cover groups by 21–94%. Irrespective of treatment, soil loss before canopy forming was 2.4 to 8.9 times higher than the soil loss for the partial to full canopy period. With a cover crop, the CH and OPH treatments can reduce soil loss by 37–55%. One-pass hilling initiated runoff earlier than CH. The water runoff and soil loss with respect to the elapsed time since initialization of water runoff and soil loss could be modeled by a three-parameter Sigmoid function with r 2≥0.94. The information generated from this study could be used in landscape modeling to study the impacts of potato production on soil and stream water quality.

Rainfall runoff in soil erosion with simulated rainfall, overland flow and cover

Soil Research ◽  
1983 ◽  
Vol 21 (2) ◽  
pp. 109 ◽  
Author(s):  
MJ Singer ◽  
PH Walker
Keyword(s):  
Soil Erosion ◽  
Soil Loss ◽  
Rainfall Intensity ◽  
Overland Flow ◽  
Podzolic Soil ◽  
Simulated Rainfall ◽  
Rainfall Runoff ◽  
Runoff Water ◽  
Soil Transport ◽  
Raindrop Impact

The 20-100 mm portion of a yellow podzolic soil (Albaqualf) from the Ginninderra Experiment Station (A.C.T.) was used in a rainfall simulator and flume facility to elucidate the interactions between raindrop impact, overland water flow and straw cover as they affect soil erosion. A replicated factorial design compared soil loss in splash and runoff from 50 and 100 mm h-1 rainfall, the equivalent of 100 mm h-1 overland flow, and 50 and 100 mm h-1 rainfall plus the equivalent of 100 mm h-' overland flow, all at 0, 40 and 80% straw cover on a 9% slope. As rainfall intensity increased, soil loss in splash and runoff increased. Within cover levels, the effect of added overland flow was to decrease splash but to increase total soil loss. This is due to an interaction between raindrops and runoff which produces a powerful detaching and transporting mechanism within the flow known as rain-flow transportation. Airsplash is reduced, in part, because of the changes in splash characteristics which accompany changes in depths of runoff water. Rain-flow transportation accounted for at least 64% of soil transport in the experiment and airsplash accounted for no more than 25% of soil transport The effects of rainfall, overland flow and cover treatments, rather than being additive, were found to correlate with a natural log transform of the soil loss data.

Soil erosion in Austria – National calculations using regional data delivering local results for the ÖPUL programme

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Elmar Schmaltz ◽  
Georg Dersch ◽  
Christine Weinberger ◽  
Carmen Krammer ◽  
Peter Strauss
Keyword(s):  
Soil Erosion ◽  
Soil Loss ◽  
Management Practices ◽  
Error Sources ◽  
Rainfall Events ◽  
Erosion Rates ◽  
Environmentally Responsible ◽  
Spatially Distributed ◽  
Local Results ◽  
Erosion Hotspots

&lt;p&gt;Empirical models, such as the Revised Universal Soil Loss Equation (RUSLE) are in use since the 1950s to estimate the mean annual soil loss for single agricultural fields or spatially-distributed for larger areas (municipalities, regions or states). A particular focus on the computation of the RUSLE lies in the calculation of the respective factors on which the equation is built on and represent the erosivity of rainfall events, the erodibility of soils, the topography and land management. However, the RUSLE is highly susceptible to large errors in the prediction of the erosion rates of single agricultural parcels, due to the high variability of these factors in large areas (e.g. on national scale).&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;In this study, we present a parcel-sharp erosion map for the entire territory of Austria. We discuss frequent error sources of the factor computations and their consequences for the representativeness of erosion maps at nation-scale. Based on our results we discuss furthermore regional erosion hotspots and evaluate nationally funded management practices for soil erosion reduction as they are defined in the Austrian programme for an environmentally responsible agriculture (&amp;#214;PUL).&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Since our approach depicts a novelty for Austria, we further describe opportunities for analysis of our results and highlight potential sources of errors, as well as regional and legal discrepancies of the distribution of national funds for soil conservation.&lt;/p&gt;

scholarly journals The impact of land use and rainfall patterns on the soil loss of the hillslope

2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Xianmeng Meng ◽  
Yan Zhu ◽  
Maosheng Yin ◽  
Dengfeng Liu
Keyword(s):  
Land Use ◽  
Soil Erosion ◽  
Soil Loss ◽  
Rank Test ◽  
Rainfall Events ◽  
Significant Difference ◽  
Slope Land ◽  
Rainfall Patterns ◽  
Storm Rainfall ◽  
The Impact

AbstractIn order to discuss the effect of rainfall patterns and land use types on soil erosion, the experiment is carried out under natural rainfall events on different kinds of runoff plots in Zhangjiachong watershed. Based on the observed data of 44 individual rainfall events including moderate, heavy and storm rainfall, the differences of erosion modulus among hedgerows plots, terrace plots, and slope plots under different rainfall patterns are analyzed. And the effects of hedgerow and terrace patterns on control of soil loss are revealed by RUSLE. Wilcoxon signed rank test is applied to analyze the significant difference of erosion modulus in different plots and the coefficient of variation is used to compare the characteristics of erosion modulus under different rainfall patterns. The results show that the soil erosion modulus of earth banked terrace has the highest value and the lowest soil erosion modulus occurs in the slope land with hedgerows. The coefficients of variation for soil erosion modulus under heavy and storm rainfall are larger than that of moderate rainfall. Hedgerow pattern can effectively control soil erosion under moderate and heavy rainfall while the effect of hedgerow is considerably weakened under storm rainfall. Earth banked terraces own the highest erosion modulus followed by slope land and stone dike terraces.

scholarly journals ASSESSMENT OF SOIL EROSION BY SIMULATING RAINFALL ON AN EQUATORIAL ORGANIC SOIL

2017 ◽  
Vol 8 (2) ◽  
pp. 72-81
Author(s):  
Johari A.H ◽  
Law P.L. ◽  
Taib S.N.L. ◽  
Yong L.K.
Keyword(s):  
Soil Erosion ◽  
Soil Loss ◽  
Organic Soil ◽  
Coarse Sand ◽  
Soil Samples ◽  
Soil Erodibility ◽  
Simulated Rainfall ◽  
Construction Sites ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Soil Loss Equation

Soil erosion occurs on construction sites partly due to site clearing that exposes the land to the erosive power of rainfall. A proposed construction project requires the submission of an Environmental Impact Assessment EIA) to assess the impact of the project on the environment. Assessment of soil erosion is included in the EIA, but the equation to estimate soil erosion known as the Universal Soil Loss Equation (USLE) is only applicable to a soil containing up to four percent organic matter. This limitation of USLE requires an alternative that can predict soil erosion on an organic soil. This study attempts to assess erosion that occurs on an organic soil by simulated rainfall. Field soil samples were reconstructed into three shapes and exposed to simulated rainfall. Results indicate that the amount of organic soil loss decreases with increasing duration of rainfall. Particle size distribution shows that particles with sizes finer than coarse sand (1.7 mm) remained on the slopes. Equations were developed from the graphs of soil loss versus duration of simulated rainfall to estimate soil loss occurring on slopes covered by an organic soil. The outcome of this study can be a precursor to developing an equation to estimate soil erodibility of a slope overlain by an organic soil.

The effect of furrow length on rain and irrigation-induced erosion on a vertisol in Australia

Soil Research ◽  
1995 ◽  
Vol 33 (5) ◽  
pp. 833 ◽  
Author(s):  
C Carroll ◽  
M Halpin ◽  
K Bell ◽  
J Mollison
Keyword(s):  
Soil Erosion ◽  
Soil Loss ◽  
Soil Surface ◽  
Sediment Concentration ◽  
Canopy Closure ◽  
Surface Cover ◽  
Soil Movement ◽  
Runoff Rate ◽  
Peak Runoff ◽  
Runoff And Soil Loss

Runoff and sediment movement were measured from irrigated furrows of different lengths on a Vertisol in central Queensland. Two farm properties (Denaro's and Roberts') were used to compare a short furrow length (SFL) and a long furrow length (LFL). At Denaro's farm, furrows were 241 and 482 m long, and at Roberts' farm they were 151 and 298 m long, with gradients of 1.0% and 1.3% respectively. Runoff and soil loss were measured from six furrows. At Denaro's farm, soil movement off the farm was measured at a taildrain outlet. Sediment concentration from both rainfall and irrigation declined when cultivation had ceased, soil in the furrows had consolidated and when the cotton canopy provided surface cover. Total soil loss from rainfall and irrigation was approximately 4-5 t ha-1. Rainstorms caused most of the seasonal soil loss, typically 3-4 t ha-1. The critical soil erosion period was between pre-plant irrigation and canopy closure. Soil surface cover, peak runoff rate and furrow length explained 97% of variance in soil loss caused by rainfall. Furrow length was not significant in the soil loss model for irrigation (r2 0.59).

How different are effects of vinasse biochar on soil erosion in Loess and Marl soils?

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Seyed Hamizedra Sadeghi ◽  
Mahboobeh Kiani-Harchegani ◽  
Zeinab Hazbavi ◽  
Habibollah Younesi ◽  
Padideh Sadat Sadeghi ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Soil Erosion ◽  
Soil Loss ◽  
Loess Soil ◽  
Control Plot ◽  
Small Extent ◽  
Waste Materials ◽  
Simulated Rainfall ◽  
Rainfall Runoff ◽  
Slope Steepness ◽  
Soil Erosion Control

&lt;p&gt;Nowadays soil erosion control using different amendments has grown up worldwide. However, the application of transformed materials like biochar has not been adequately studied. In the same vein, the application of biochars produced from waste materials that harm nature, and impose cost to managers and producers is a valuable approach for optimal utilization of the resources. Towards this, the performance of biochar produced from deleterious raw vinasse as the main by-product of sugarcane industries in controlling soil splash and interrill erosions on two marl and loess soils from Iran was investigated. The study was performed in 0.5 m&amp;#215;0.5 m plots in three replicates installed in the field with a slope steepness of 25% subjected to a simulated rainfall with an intensity of 50 mm h&lt;sup&gt;-1&lt;/sup&gt; and 0.5 h duration. Analysis of the results obtained from the splash and interrill erosions during the rainfall-runoff process showed that biochar decreased soil loss compared to the control plot on Marl soil but to a small extent (p &gt; 0.05). However, the plot treated with biochar on the loess soil revealed significant (p&lt;0.05) reduction in soil loss in comparison with that of the control plot. That study clearly demonstrates the addition of biochar may promote stability and limit both runoff and soil erosion. However, such effects strongly depend on the type of soils.&lt;/p&gt;

scholarly journals Comparison of different approaches to LS factor calculations based on a measured soil loss under simulated rainfall.

2017 ◽  
Vol 12 (No. 2) ◽  
pp. 69-77 ◽  
Author(s):  
M. Hrabalíková ◽  
M. Janeček
Keyword(s):  
Information Systems ◽  
Geographic Information Systems ◽  
Soil Erosion ◽  
Soil Loss ◽  
Geographic Information ◽  
Experimental Plot ◽  
Simulated Rainfall ◽  
Slope Length ◽  
Digital Elevation ◽  
Elevation Model

Geographic Information Systems (GIS) in combination with soil loss models can enhance evaluation of soil erosion estimation. SAGA and ARC/INFO geographic information systems were used to estimate the topographic (LS) factor of the Universal Soil Loss Equation (USLE) that in turn was used to calculate the soil erosion on a long-term experimental plot near Prague in the Czech Republic. To determine the influence of a chosen algorithm on the soil erosion estimates a digital elevation model with high accuracy (1 × 1 m) and a measured soil loss under simulated rainfall were used. These then provided input for five GIS-based and two manual procedures of computing the combined slope length and steepness factor in the (R)USLE. The results of GIS-based (R)USLE erosion estimates from the seven procedures were compared to the measured soil loss from the 11 m long experimental plot and from 38 rainfall simulations performed here during 15 years. The results indicate that the GIS-based (R)USLE soil loss estimates from five different approaches to calculation of LS factor are lower than the measured average annual soil loss. The two remaining approaches over-predicted the measured soil loss. The best method for LS factor estimation on field scale is the original manual method of the USLE, which predicted the average soil loss with 6% difference from the measured soil loss. The second method is the GIS-based method that concluded a difference of 8%. The results of this study show the need for further work in the area of soil erosion estimation (with particular focus on the rill/interrill ratio) using the GIS and USLE. The study also revealed the need for an application of the same approach to catchment area as it might bring different outcomes.

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