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Measurement and simulation of wind erosion, roughness degradation and residue decomposition on an agricultural field
Author(s) -
van Donk Simon J.,
Skidmore Edward L.
Publication year - 2003
Publication title -
earth surface processes and landforms
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.294
H-Index - 127
eISSN - 1096-9837
pISSN - 0197-9337
DOI - 10.1002/esp.1037
Subject(s) - aeolian processes , environmental science , hydrology (agriculture) , erosion , sediment , surface roughness , storm , wind speed , sediment transport , soil science , geology , geotechnical engineering , geomorphology , oceanography , physics , quantum mechanics
The Wind Erosion Prediction System (WEPS) includes submodels to simulate soil erosion by wind, roughness degradation and residue decomposition. These WEPS submodels were tested using data measured on a 600 m by 415 m farmer's eld, planted with winter wheat, near Burlington, Colorado, USA. Big Spring Number Eight (BSNE) samplers were used to measure wind blown sediment ux and automated devices (Sensits) detected saltating sediment. A weather station recorded relevant meteorological data. Detailed measurements of eld surface conditions were taken on three dates. One signicant dust storm occurred during the experimental period (November 2000 to April 2001). Spatial variability of sediment discharge was high. This could partially be explained by spatial differences in residue cover and mass, leaf area index, sand fraction and wetness of the surface soil. WEPS overestimated the ability of small wheat plants to protect the soil against wind erosion. A simulation without any wheat plants produced a large eld sediment loss of 4·43 kg m −2 , whereas a simulation with very small wheat plants (height = 10 mm, leaf area index = 0·1, stem area index = 0·01) produced no erosion. This component of WEPS is based on laboratory wind tunnel experiments with simulated standing biomass uniformly spaced on a at surface. Wheat biomass in the eld is not uniformly spaced. WEPS should be modied to account for these non‐uniform realities. Mean ridge height was reduced from 42 mm on 19 December to 34 mm (36 mm simulated using WEPS) on 12 April. Mean random roughness was reduced from 5·8 mm on 19 December to 5·2 mm (5·3 mm simulated) on 8 March. Mean corn residue biomass was reduced only slightly from 1204 kg ha −1 on 19 December to 1174 kg ha −1 (1075–1175 kg ha −1 simulated) on 12 April. These differences between measured data and simulations were not signicant (P > 0·05), enhancing condence in the ability of WEPS to simulate roughness degradation and residue decomposition. Published in 2003 by John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.