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Quantification of Soil Loss and Sediment Produced from Eroded Land
Author(s) -
Lewis D. T.,
Lepele M. J.
Publication year - 1982
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/sssaj1982.03615995004600020031x
Subject(s) - watershed , sediment , erosion , hydrology (agriculture) , environmental science , soil water , soil series , streams , land use , soil science , geology , soil classification , geomorphology , geotechnical engineering , computer network , machine learning , computer science , civil engineering , engineering
Soil eroded from slopes and sediment added to stream systems as non‐point pollution from a small watershed in southeastern Nebraska were quantified. The watershed studied was within delineation of severely eroded loessial soils. Calculations of soil loss were based on horizonation and clay distribution in eroded pedons as compared to slightly eroded pedons in the same soil series. Thickness and areal extent of soil loss were used to calculate weight and volume of soil moved from the slopes as well as volume and weight of sediment that remained near its source on the landscape. Amount of soil eroded minus that remaining in local storage suggested an amount added from the watershed as non‐point sediment pollution in streams. The method described suggests a way in which soil survey mapping units may be characterized in order to quantify the amount of sediment in storage on the landscape and in stream systems due to past erosion of agricultural land.