Premium
A Wind Erosion Equation
Author(s) -
Woodruff N. P.,
Siddoway F. H.
Publication year - 1965
Publication title -
soil science society of america journal
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.836
H-Index - 168
eISSN - 1435-0661
pISSN - 0361-5995
DOI - 10.2136/sssaj1965.03615995002900050035x
Subject(s) - universal soil loss equation , erosion , environmental science , field (mathematics) , cover (algebra) , ridge , hydrology (agriculture) , mathematics , soil science , geology , soil loss , geotechnical engineering , geomorphology , engineering , mechanical engineering , paleontology , pure mathematics
The amount of erosion, E, expressed in tons per acre per annum, that will occur from a given agricultural field can be expressed in terms of equivalent variables as: E = f(I′, K′, C′, L′, V) where I′ is a soil erodibility index, K′ is a soil ridge rougness factor, C′ is a climatic factor, L′ is field length along the prevailing wind erosion direction, and V is equivalent quantity of vegetative cover. The 5 equivalent variables are obtained by grouping some and converting others of the 11 primary variables now known to govern wind erodibility. Relations among variables are extremely complex. Charts and tables have been developed to permit graphical solutions of the equation. The equation is designed to serve the twofold purpose of providing a tool to (i) determine the potential erosion from a particular field, and (ii) determine what field conditions of soil cloddiness, roughness, vegetative cover, sheltering by barriers, or width and orientation of field are necessary to reduce potential erosion to a tolerable amount. Examples of these applications of the equation are presented. Weaknesses in the equation and areas needing further research are discussed.