Sediment yield and seasonal soil erodibility for semiarid cropland in western Canada

1997 ◽  
Vol 77 (1) ◽  
pp. 33-40 ◽  
Author(s):  
B.G. McConkey ◽  
W. Nicholaichuk ◽  
H. Steppuhn ◽  
C. D. Reimer

Despite its importance to the degradation of the land resource, few estimates of soil loss or soil erodibility for water erosion from cropland have been made for the semiarid Brown soil zone of western Canada. To estimate these, we calibrated the event-based Modified Universal Soil Loss Equation with measured sediment yield for three 5-ha fields near Swift Current, Saskatchewan. The calibration used predetermined C, LS, P, and warm-season K factors with all erositivities and the K factors for other seasons optimized. Using this calibrated equation with 31 yr of measured runoff data, mean annual sediment yield for a conventional-tillage spring wheat-fallow cropping system on an undulating landscape (0 to 5% slopes) was estimated to be 0.8 Mg ha−1 yr−1. Estimated erosion from fallow land from 16 March to 15 April constituted 86% of the mean annual sediment yield. Erosion occurring during rainfall-runoff were relatively unimportant, accounting for about 4% of the estimated total sediment yield. An exceptionally severe rainstorm was predicted to have caused erosion of many Mg ha−1but the frequency of such events on a given field is too low to greatly affect mean annual erosion. Apparent field-scale soil erodibility was least in the winter (November to 15 March) when the soil would typically be frozen to the surface and was greatest in April when the soil would typically be partially frozen. Apparent erodibility in the summer and in late March was intermediate between those values. Key words: Erosion, runoff, snow, Universal Soil Loss Equation

2019 ◽  
Vol 7 (2) ◽  
pp. 100-111
Author(s):  
Miskar Maini ◽  
Junita Eka Susanti

Standar permintaan engineering pesawat agar desain bangunan infrastruktur di area Air Strip Runway 2600 yang ada dapat mempunyai fungsi lain. Sedangkan kondisi lain sangat menentukan keselamatan karena lahan di sekitar Air Strip Runway 2600 Bandara Depati Amir (PGK) jika tidak ditutupi vegetasi seperti rumput, kondisi lain lahan yang belum ditutupi vegetasi di sekitar Air Strip Runway 2600 berpotensi akan mengalami erosi lahan, kemudian hasil erosi lahan ini akan terbawa oleh aliran air sehingga akan masuk ke saluran drainase yang akan menyebabkan sedimentasi pada saluran drainase tersebut, akhirnya akan berkurang efektifitas kinerja saluran drainase tersebut. Metode yang digunakan untuk memprediksi laju rata-rata erosi di area Air Strip Runway 2600 dengan memperhitungkan faktor erosivitas hujan, erodibilitas tanah, kemiringan lereng atau panjang lereng, pengelolaan tanaman dan konservasi tanah, yang masing masing tata guna lahan tersebut mengacu pada Masterplan Ultimate Bandara Depati Amir (PGK). Perhitungan dilakukan menggunakan persamaan USLE (Universal Soil Loss Equation) yang dikembangkan oleh Wischmeier dan Smith (1965, 1978), kemudian Sediment Delivery Ratio (SDR) dan Sediment Yield.Hasil penelitian ini, prediksi laju erosi permukaan pada area Air Strip Runway 2600 Bandara Depati Amir (PGK) tahun pertama yang mencapai 5,60 mm/tahun atau 100,76 Ton/Ha/tahun, laju erosi tahun kedua mencapai 3,38 mm/tahun atau 60,84 Ton/Ha/tahun dapat diklasifikasikan ke dalam kelas bahaya erosi sedang (kelas III) dan nilai SDR adalah sebesar 56,3%, nilai sediment yield (SR) pada tahun pertama sebesar 5.887,59 Ton/Tahun, pada tahun kedua ketika rumput pada area Air Strip telah tumbuh dengan sempurna terjadi penurunan hasil sediment yield yaitu nilai SR sebesar 3.554,85 Ton/Tahun.


2010 ◽  
Vol 90 (4) ◽  
pp. 585-596 ◽  
Author(s):  
S. Pongsai ◽  
D. Schmidt Vogt ◽  
R.P. Shrestha ◽  
R.S. Clemente ◽  
A. Eiumnoh

In this study, model testing, calibration, and validation of the Modified Universal Soil Loss Equation (MUSLE) model were carried out in Khun Satan catchment, Thailand, for the estimation of sediment yield in plots of different slopes using the S factor from the classic Universal Soil Loss Equation (USLE) and the McCool model, as the calibration parameter. In situ experimental plots were established with five different inclinations (9, 16, 25, 30, and 35%), with the other model parameters (e.g., erodibility, conservation practice, etc) being treated as constants. Sediment yields were recorded from 27 rainfall events between July and October 2003. It was found that both the classic USLE and the McCool models over-estimated sediment yields at all slope angles. However, the classic USLE produced a smaller relative error (RE) than the McCool model at plots with slopes of 9 and 16%, while the McCool model performed better at plots with slopes over 16% inclination. The calibration of the model using the S factor was then made for two slope range intervals, and the slope algorithm was later modified. The calibrated S factors were used in the prototype model for slope ranges of 9 to 16% using classic USLE and for slopes from 16 to 35% using the McCool model. The results revealed that an acceptable accuracy can be obtained through model calibration. The model validation based on paired t-test, on the other hand, showed that there was no difference (α = 0.05) between measured and estimated sediment yield using both models. This result indicates that if data on various slope gradients are limited, MUSLE needs to be calibrated before application, especially with respect to topographic factors, in order to obtain an accurate estimate of the sediment yield from individual rainfall events.


1997 ◽  
Vol 12 (2) ◽  
pp. 55-58 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kim L. Fleming ◽  
William L. Powers ◽  
Alice J. Jones ◽  
Glenn A. Helmers

AbstractThe soil erodibility factor (K) of the Revised Universal Soil Loss Equation is currently considered a constant for all soils in the same type, regardless of production practice. To examine the effect of alternative production systems on the K-factor we compared pairs of alternatively and conventionally farmed fields on a Judson silt loam (Fine-silty, mixed, mesic Cumulic Hapludolls), a Yutan silty clay loam (Fine-silty, mixed, mesic Mollic Hapludalf), and a Wann fine sandy loam (Coarse-loamy, mixed, mesic Fluvaquentic Haplustolls). Soil cores were taken from the surface 10 cm and analyzed for organic matter, permeability, structure, and texture. These data were used to estimate K-factors from a nomograph. All soils in the study had a fine granular structure. Organic matter content and permeability were significantly higher for the alternatively managed field at every location, except for no difference in permeability on the Judson soil. However, the K-factor was significantly lower for the alternative system on the Judson soil. Of all the parameters, texture has the greatest influence in determining K-factors within the nomograph, with soils higher in silt being more erodible than soils higher in sand or clay. Thus, the influences of alternative production systems affected the Judson soil to a greater degree than other textures because of its higher inherent susceptibility to erosion. This study shows that alternative production systems affect the K-factor of some soil types and can reduce soil erodibility, and therefore should be considered when developing conservation plans.


Water ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 12 (1) ◽  
pp. 135 ◽  
Author(s):  
Pavisorn Chuenchum ◽  
Mengzhen Xu ◽  
Wenzhe Tang

The Lancang–Mekong River basin, as an important transboundary river in Southeast Asia, is challenged by rapid socio-economic development, especially the construction of hydropower dams. Furthermore, substantial factors, such as terrain, rainfall, soil properties and agricultural activity, affect and are highly susceptible to soil erosion and sediment yield. This study aimed to estimate average annual soil erosion in terms of spatial distribution and sediment deposition by using the revised universal soil loss equation (RUSLE) and GIS techniques. This study also applied remote sensing and available data sources for soil erosion analysis. Annual soil erosion in most parts of the study area range from 700 to 10,000 t/km2/y with a mean value of 5350 t/km2/y. Approximately 45% of the total area undergoes moderate erosion. Moreover, the assessments of sediment deposition and erosion using the modified RUSLE and the GIS techniques indicate high sediment erosion along the flow direction of the mainstream, from the upper Mekong River to the Mekong Delta. The northern part of the upper Mekong River and the central and southern parts of the lower Mekong River are the most vulnerable to the increase in soil erosion rates, indicating sediment deposition.


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