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Sealing, Amendment, and Rain Intensity Effects on Erosion of High‐Clay Soils
Author(s) -
Reichert José Miguel,
Norton L. Darrell,
Huang Chihua
Publication year - 1994
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/sssaj1994.03615995005800040028x
Subject(s) - vertisol , soil water , surface runoff , erosion , alfisol , soil science , ultisol , geology , environmental science , geomorphology , ecology , biology
The physicochemical composition of and processes acting on the soil‐fluid interface determine detachment and transport of soil particles by erosive forces at the surface during rain. It is hypothesized that fluidized bed combustion (FBC) bottom ash and soil surface condition change the relationship between rain intensity and runoff and sediment yield. On small erosion pans, aggregates from five clayey soils (Alfisol, Oxisol, Ultisol, and Vertisols) with distinct swelling and flocculation characteristics were subjected to simulated rainfalls of 74, 39, and 107 mm h −1 for 90, 30, and 30 min, respectively. This rain sequence was applied on freshly tilled (FT), dried‐crust (DC) and wet‐crust (WC) soil. Fluidized bed combustion bottom ash was spread on FT soil at a rate of 5 Mg ha −1 . Power functions described well sediment yield as a function of rain intensity, with exponents of 1.97 for FT, 1.74 for DC, and 1.72 for WC; thus as the soil sealed and consolidated, rain intensity influenced the erosion rates less. Dried‐crust was the most erodible surface for half of the soils. Clay shrinkage disrupted aggregates and preformed crusts, whereas rewetting caused differential swelling and raindrops pitted the soil surface. Runoff decreased from FT to DC, but no increase was observed from DC to WC. Smectitic and illitic soils had a longer‐lasting positive effect of FBC bottom ash on reducing soil and water losses. For the highly smectitic Vertisols, FBC bottom ash was effective on reducing erosion even after 552 mm of rain. Kaolinitic soils were more stable, generating lower runoff and soil loss rates.