Open AccessAnnual variations of soil erodibility of silt loam developed from loess based on 10-years runoff plot studies
Author(s) -
J. Rejman,
Ryszard Brodowski,
Iwona Iglik
Publication year - 2008
Publication title -
annals of warsaw university of life sciences-sggw. land reclamation
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
eISSN - 2081-9617
pISSN - 1898-8857
DOI - 10.2478/v10060-008-0007-4
Subject(s) - loam , loess , surface runoff , environmental science , silt , erosion , hydrology (agriculture) , soil water , soil science , tillage , soil texture , agronomy , geology , ecology , geotechnical engineering , paleontology , geomorphology , biology
Annual variations of soil erodibility of silt loam developed from loess based on 10-years runoff plot studies Results of 10-years runoff plot experiments carried out on two sites of the Lublin Upland were presented. Despite similar soils and climatic conditions, studies showed large differences in annual soil erodibility (K factor of the USLE) between both sites. Experimentally derived values of the factor were dependent on tillage direction and time of maintaining runoff-plots in fallow conditions. On a site cultivated in contour direction, 4-year period was insufficient to achieve K values similar to the predicted values from the USLE. In contrast to this, on a site cultivated up-down slope, similar experimental and predicted K values were obtained after 2 years and remained at the same level during next 4 years. Results enabled to identify limitations of the USLE application for erosion prediction in Poland. Studies proved that soil erodibility could be used for prediction of erosion risk for silt loam developed from loess. However, application of soil erodibility approach to the event-base models is questionable for variation of K factor in the initial years. As far, the factors affecting soil erodibility changes are not recognized and need further research.