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Soil Erosion Has Limited Effect on Field Scale Crop Productivity in the Southern Piedmont
Author(s) -
Daniels R. B.,
Gilliam J. W.,
Cassel D. K.,
Nelson L. A.
Publication year - 1989
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/sssaj1989.03615995005300030047x
Subject(s) - erosion , soil water , productivity , environmental science , hydrology (agriculture) , geology , soil science , geomorphology , geotechnical engineering , economics , macroeconomics
Many studies show that slightly eroded soils outyield severely eroded soils. We believe the yield differences between slightly and severely eroded soils is in part a misinterpretation of the data based on the assumption that all parts of a field were equally productive before man‐induced erosion began. The purpose of this study was to quantify the effects of surface horizon variability on the productivity of a soil map unit. Yield data from farmer‐managed Piedmont fields show that all parts of a field or soil map unit are not equally productive, regardless of erosion class. When yields are compared across erosion classes by landscape position, slightly eroded soils usually outyield severely eroded soils, but the differences are small. Because the area of severely eroded soils in most fields is small, their impact on field production is slight. Our analysis shows that when landscape position and erosion class variables are combined with the area of each, the average economic loss resulting from lower crop yields of eroded Piedmont soils is only $4.44 ha −1 yr −1 at 1987 prices.