INFLUENCE OF VEGETATION,ROCK COVER,AND TRAMPLING ON INFILTRATION RATES AND SEDIMENT PRODUCTION1

ABSTRACT: This study evaluated the impact of selected soil surface characteristics on infiltration rates and sediment production from interrill erosion from loam soil. Treatments were two different grass species (crested wheatgrass and intermediate wheatgrass), three levels of grass cover (30, 50, and 80 percent), four levels of rock cover (5, 10, 15, and 20 percent), and six levels of simulated trampling (10 to 60 percent of the respective plot area by 10 percent increments). Results indicated that plots with sod forming grass infiltrated only slightly more water than plots with bunchgrass, though the differences were significant. Trampling reduced infiltration rates significantly. On uncompacted soil, infiltration rates increased as percentage of rock cover increased. Trampling gradually destroyed this relationship however. Rock cover did not significantly affect sediment production. The tradeoff between vegetal cover and rock cover was affected by simulated trampling. Once trampling disturbance reached 20 percent, no relationship between vegetal cover and rock cover existed. Trampling was the most important factor influencing infiltration rates, explaining 35 to 48 percent of the variation in infiltration rates. The most important factor influencing sediment production was grass cover, which explained 40 to 62 percent of the variations associated with sediment yield at various trampling percentages. Results strongly suggest that, for slopes and soils as used here, adequate watershed protection may be obtained by maintaining 50 percent protective ground cover. Additional validation studies are recommended.     

Riparian Grazing Impacts on Streambank Erosion and Phosphorus Loss Via Surface Runoff1

Tufekcioglu, Mustafa, Richard C. Schultz, George N. Zaimes, Thomas M. Isenhart, and Aydin Tufekcioglu, 2012. Riparian Grazing Impacts on Streambank Erosion and Phosphorus Loss via Surface Runoff. Journal of the American Water Resources Association (JAWRA) 1‐11. DOI: 10.1111/j.1752‐1688.2012.12004.x Abstract: Surface runoff is one of the major pathways of sediment and phosphorus (P) transport to surface waters. Rainfall simulations were conducted on nine grazed pasture sites with different stocking rates in three different Iowa (United States) regions. The purpose of the simulations was to determine the impacts of cattle grazing on the amounts of sediment and P in surface runoff within a 15‐m wide strip on both sides of the stream from different source areas (SAs). These riparian SAs included stream‐side loafing areas, cattle streambank access paths to the stream, and the other vegetated areas adjacent to the streambanks. The runoff samples collected during the simulations were analyzed for suspended sediment (SS) and total phosphorus (TP). Soil bulk density and antecedent soil moisture samples were collected around the rainfall simulation plots to identify differences in compaction, infiltration, and surface runoff among the SAs. SS and TP losses from access paths and loafing areas within the 15‐m wide strips accounted for up to 72 and 55% of the total losses, respectively, even though they accounted for only 2.7% of the total area within the 15‐m wide strips. This suggests that access paths and loafing areas require special attention to mitigate the impacts of cattle on stream water pollution. Significant correlations were found between stocking rates and both SS and TP losses suggesting that low stocking rates can reduce sediment and P export to streams from the SAs.     

Fluometuron and pendimethalin runoff from strip and conventionally tilled cotton in the southern atlantic coastal plain

In the Atlantic Coastal Plain region of southern Georgia (USA), cotton (Gossypium hirsutum L.) acreage increased threefold in the past decade. To more effectively protect water quality in the region, best management practices are needed that reduce pesticide runoff from fields in cotton production. This study compared runoff of two herbicides, fluometuron [N,N-dimethyl-N'-[3-(trifluoromethyl)-phenyl]-urea] and pendimethalin [N-(1-ethylpropyl)-3,4-dimethyl-2,6-dinitro-benzenamine], from plots in strip-tillage (ST) and conventional-tillage (CT) management near Tifton, GA. Rainfall simulations were conducted one day after preemergence herbicide applications to 0.0006-ha plots and runoff from 0.15-ha plots due to natural rainfall following preemergence pendimethalin and fluometuron and postemergence fluometuron use was monitored. Pendimethalin runoff was greater under CT than ST due to strong pendimethalin soil sorption and higher erosion and runoff under CT. The highest losses, 1.3% of applied in CT and 0.22% of applied in ST, were observed during rainfall simulations conducted 1 DAT. Fluometuron runoff from natural rainfall was substantially lower from ST than from CT plots but the trend was reversed in rainfall simulations. In all studies, fluometuron runoff was also relatively low (<1% of applied), and on plots under natural rainfall, desmethylfluometuron (DMF) represented about 50% of total fluometuron runoff. Fluometuron's relatively low runoff rate appeared linked to its rapid leaching, and high DMF detection rates in runoff support DMF inclusion in fluometuron risk assessments. Results showed that ST has the potential to reduce runoff of both herbicides, but fluometuron leaching may be a ground water quality concern.     

Runoff and soil loss from steep slopes treated with low cost bioengineering measures

Soil loss and surface runoff patterns were studied in erosion plots developed on manmade steep slopes (60 percent) over three years (1997–2000) in which rainfall ranged from 1338.4 to 1429.2 mm/year. Surface runoff and soil loss was examined under three different rainfall intensity classes. Runoff was mainly controlled by the rainfall distribution pattern on the seasonal scale. The soil loss was influenced by runoff during the first year. Both soil loss and runoff were reduced due to bioengineering measures in the first year irrespective of species planted. In the third year, combined effects of growth of grasses on protected plots, soil compaction and sediment exhaustion was noticed on runoff and soil loss. This was reflected by reduction in the runoff and soil loss from untreated and treated plots. In the high intensity class, reduction in runoff in treated plots was about 50 percent in three years and reduction in soil loss ranged between 94–95 percent in all plots. Physical treatment with brushwood structures was more efficient in erosion control in the low intensity class.     

Evaluation of phosphorus transport in surface runoff from packed soil boxes

Evaluation of phosphorus (P) management strategies to protect water quality has largely relied on research using simulated rainfall to generate runoff from either field plots or shallow boxes packed with soil. Runoff from unmanured, grassed field plots (1 m wide x 2 m long, 3-8% slope) and bare soil boxes (0.2 m wide and 1 m long, 3% slope) was compared using rainfall simulation (75 mm h(-1)) standardized by 30-min runoff duration (rainfall averaged 55 mm for field plots and 41 mm for packed boxes). Packed boxes had lower infiltration (1.2 cm) and greater runoff (2.9 cm) and erosion (542 kg ha(-1)) than field plots (3.7 cm infiltration; 1.8 cm runoff; 149 kg ha(-1) erosion), yielding greater total phosphorus (TP) losses in runoff. Despite these differences, regressions of dissolved reactive phosphorus (DRP) in runoff and Mehlich-3 soil P were consistent between field plots and packed boxes reflecting similar buffering by soils and sediments. A second experiment compared manured boxes of 5- and 25-cm depths to determine if variable hydrology based on box depth influenced P transport. Runoff properties did not differ significantly between box depths before or after broadcasting dairy, poultry, or swine manure (100 kg TP ha(-1)). Water-extractable phosphorus (WEP) from manures dominated runoff P, and translocation of manure P into soil was consistent between box types. This study reveals the practical, but limited, comparability of field plot and soil box data, highlighting soil and sediment buffering in unamended soils and manure WEP in amended soils as dominant controls of DRP transport.     

EVALUATION OF EROSION CONTROL PRODUCTS WITH AND WITHOUT ADDED POLYACRYLAMIDE1

ABSTRACT: Polyacrylamide (PAM) has been demonstrated to greatly reduce erosion in furrow irrigation, but much less is known about its effectiveness on the much steeper slopes typical of construction sites. The purpose of this study was to determine if anionic PAM would enhance erosion control either alone on bare soil or in combination with four types of ground covers commonly used for grass establishment: straw, straw erosion control blanket (ECB), wood fiber, and mechanically bonded fiber matrix (MBFM). Tests were conducted under natural rainfall and vegetation on a 4 percent slope (bare soil, straw, ECB, and MBFM) or using a rainfall simulator (bare soil, straw, wood fiber, MBFM) on either 10 percent or 20 percent slope on three different soil substrates. All ground cover treatments were evaluated with and without PAM applied in solution at 19 kg/ha. The straw, ECB, and MBFM significantly reduced runoff volume, average turbidity, and total sediment lost over five rainfall events on the vegetated plots. The addition of PAM to ground covers only occasionally had significant effects on runoff parameters but did significantly increase vegetative coverage overall. The rainfall simulator tests produced similar results after four events, with the straw, wood fiber, and MBFM all having significantly lower turbidity than the bare soil. The PAM significantly reduced turbidity for both the first and second events but did not consistently improve runoff quality after multiple rainfall events for any ground cover‐soil combinations tested. Separate tests of PAM applied before or after straw did not indicate a clear advantage of either approach, but runoff turbidity was often significantly reduced with PAM, especially at the 20 percent slope. Turbidity reductions were attributed to flocculation of eroded sediment.     

CONTROLLING PHOSPHORUS IN RUNOFF FROM LONG TERM DAIRY WASTE APPLICATION FIELDS1

ABSTRACT: Phosphorus (P) in runoff from long term animal waste application fields can contribute to accelerated eutrophication of surface waters. Manure when applied at nitrogen (N) agronomic rates generally increases soil P concentrations, which can increase runoff of soluble P. Along the North Bosque River in central Texas, dairy waste application fields are identified as the most controllable nonpoint source of soluble P in a total maximum daily load. To evaluate P reduction practices for fields high in soil extractable P, edge‐of‐field runoff was measured from paired plots of Coastal bermudagrass (Cynodon dactylon) and sorghum (Sorghum bicolor)/ winter wheat (Triticum spp.). Plots (about 0.4 ha) received manure at P agronomic rates following Texas permit guidelines and commercial N during the pretreatment period. During the post‐treatment period, control plots continued to receive manure at P agronomic rates and commercial N. Treatment plots received only commercial N during the post‐treatment period. Use of only commercial N on soils with high extractable P levels significantly decreased P loadings in edge‐of‐field runoff by at least 40 percent, but runoff concentrations sometimes increased. No notable changes in extractable soil P concentrations were observed after five years of monitoring due to drought conditions limiting forage uptake and removal.     

EFFECTS OF SIMULATED CANOPY COVER AND ANIMAL DISTURBANCES ON RILL AND INTERRILL EROSION1

ABSTRACT: A rainfall simulator was used on runoff plots to study the effects of simulated canopy cover, trampling disturbance, and soil type on nil and interrill erosion. Sandy loam soil was more erodible than clay loam soil. Furthermore, the simulated canopy cover signffi-Soilfactorsrelatedtonil cantly influenced nil and interrill erosion. The effect of trampling on rill and interrill erosion varied with soil type (clay loam versus sandy loam) and erosion type (nh versus interrill erosion). On large plots, where both nil and internill erosion were involved, 30 percent trampling significantly increased soil loss. However, on small plots, 30 percent trampling significantly reduced interrill erosion.     

Impact of Vegetative Cover on Runoff and Soil Erosion at Hillslope Scale in Lanjaron, Spain

Soil loss and surface runoff patterns over a four-year period (1997–2000) were studied in erosion plots from three hillslopes under different vegetative covers (Rosmarinus officinalis, Triticum aestivum and natural-spontaneous vegetation) in Lanjaron (Alpujarras) on the south flank of the Sierra Nevada of southeast Spain. The erosion plots were located on the hillslopes at 35.5% incline, at 1,480 m in altitude and with 41.8 m² (21 m×1.9 m) in area. The vegetative covers were tested for effectiveness in controlling the surface runoff and soil loss production. The highest runoff and erosion values, ranging from 114.1 to 1.7 mmyr^–1 and from 14,564.3 to 6.6 kgha^–1yr^–1, respectively, over the entire study period, were measured under the Triticum aestivum. In the Rosmarinus officinalis, runoff ranged from 7.9 to 1.3 mmyr^–1 and erosion from 156.4 to 2.3 kgha^–1yr^–1, while on the hillslope under natural-spontaneous vegetation, runoff ranged from 4.4 to 0.9 mmyr^–1 and erosion from 322.3 to 2.2 kgha^–1yr^–1. According to the results the vegetative covers of Rosmarinus officinalis and natural-spontaneous vegetation reduced the soil losses by 99 and 98%, with respect to the Triticum aestivum, and the runoff losses by 94 and 96%, respectively. Also, the Rosmarinus officinalis and natural-spontaneous plants influenced infiltration by intercepting much of the rainfall water respect to the Triticum aestivum. Monitoring allowed more direct linkages to be made between management practices and their impacts on runoff and soil erosion, thereby enabling to identify problems and take appropriate preventive measures to improve the management practices.     

AGRICULTURE LAND‐USE EFFECTS ON NUTRIENT LOSSES IN WEST TIAOXI WATERSHED,CHINA1

ABSTRACT: Five types of land use/land covers in the West Tiaoxi watershed of China were studied for nutrient losses in artificial rainstorm runoff. A self‐designed rainfall simulator was used. In situ rainfall simulations were used to: (1) compare the concentrations of nitrogen and phosphorous in different land use/land covers and (2) evaluate the flux of nitrogen and phosphorous export from runoff and sediment in various types of land use/land covers. Three duplicated experiments were carried out under rain intensity of 2 mm/min, each lasting 32 minutes on a 3 m² plot. Characteristics of various species of nitrogen and phosphorous in runoff and sediment were investigated. The results showed that the concentrations of total nitrogen (TN) and total phosphorous (TP) were greatest in runoff from mulberry trees and smallest from pine forest. The TN and TP export was mainly from suspended particulate in runoff. TN and TP exports from the top 10 cm layer of five types of land use/land covers were estimated as high as 4.66 to 9.40 g/m² and 2.57 to 4.89 g/m², respectively, of which exports through sediment of runoff accounted for more than 90 percent and 97 percent. The rate of TN and TP exports ranged from 2.68 to approximately 14.48 and 0.45 to approximately 4.11 mg/m²/min in runoff; these rates were much lower than those of 100.01 to approximately 172.67 and 72.82 to approximately 135.96 mg/m²/min in the runoff sediment.     

Soil-erosion and runoff prevention by plant covers in a mountainous area (se spain): Implications for sustainable agriculture

In the Mediterranean region the intensities and amounts of soil loss and runoff on sloping land are governed by rainfall pattern and vegetation cover. Over a two-year period (1998–1999), six wild species of aromatic and mellipherous plants (Thymus serpylloides subsp. Gadorensis, Thymus baeticus Boiss, Salvia lavandulifolia Vahl., Santolina rosmarinifolia L., Lavandula stoechas L. and Genista umbellata Poiret) were selected for erosion plots to determine their effectiveness in reducing water erosion on hillslopes of the Sierra Nevada Mountain (SE Spain). The erosion plots (including a bare-soil plot as control), located at 1,345 m in altitude, were 2 m² (2 m × 1 m) in area and had 13% incline. The lowest runoff and soil erosion rates, ranging from 9 to 26 mm yr⁻¹ and from 0.01 to 0.31 Mg ha⁻¹ yr⁻¹, respectively, over the entire study period, were measured under the Thymus serpylloides. Lavandula stoechas L. registered the highest rates among the plant covers tested, runoff ranging from 77 to 127 mm yr⁻¹ and erosion from 1.67 to 3.50 Mg ha⁻¹ yr⁻¹. In the bare-soil plot, runoff ranged from 154 to 210 mm yr⁻¹ and erosion from 4.45 to 7.82 Mg ha⁻¹ yr⁻¹. According to the results, the lowest-growing plant covers (Thymus serpylloides and Salvia lavandulifolia Vahl.) discouraged the soil erosion and runoff more effectively than did the taller and open medium-sized shrubs (Santolina rosmarinifolia L., Genista umbellata Poiret, Thymus baeticus Boiss and Lavandula stoechas L.). Monitoring allowed more direct linkage to be made between plant covers and the prevention of erosion, with implications for sustainable mountain agriculture and environmental protection.     

CHANGES TO INFILTRATION AND INTERRILL EROSION FROM LONG-TERM PRESCRIBED BURNING IN LOUISIANA1

ABSTRACT: Effects of long-term prescribed burning on infiltration and interrill erosion were assessed on two longleaf pine-bluestem sites in Louisiana. Treatments represented biennially-applied winter, spring, or summer burning on an upland sandy loam site for 20 years; and annual winter or spring, and biennial winter or spring burns on a bottomland silt loam site for 10 years, with unburned controls. Immediate effects of burning were a reduction in surface cover, exposing soil to raindrop impact. Burning the sandy loam site increased interrill erosion after winter and spring treatments, but produced no immediate changes in infiltration capacity or time to runoff irrespective of treatment season. Rapid recovery of under-story vegetation mitigated soil exposure. Biennial burning did not increase interrill erosion, or reduce infiltration capacity and time to runoff on the sandy loam site after 20 years. A complete herbaceous understory covered the silt loam site two years after treatment. Interrill erosion was not significantly increased, or infiltration capacity and time to runoff decreased on burning treatments than unburned controls on the silt loam site. Litter biomass was important in predicting interrill erosion. No surface cover condition could be linked to variability in infiltration capacity. This study provides evidence for the resiliency of a longleaf pine-bluestem association to prescribed burning.     

Erosion control at construction sites on red clay soils

Five single-treatment methods used to stabilize seeded areas at urban and highway construction sites (asphalt-tacked straw, jute netting, mulch blanket, wood chips, excelsior blanket) were tested for their ability to control erosion of red clay soils by comparisons with exposed sites and multiple treatments. Sediment in runoff from experimental plots was characterized during low and high intensity precipitation from natural rainfall episodes during April, May, and June. Reductions in the total sediment concentration of runoff ranged from 28 percent (asphalt-tacked straw, 50 percent slope) to 90 percent (multiple treatments, 40 percent slope), with 85 percent of the eroded material composed of particles <0.04 mm in diameter. Larger size fractions were effectively reduced by all treatments tested regardless of slope (70 percent decrease). Established grass cover exceeded 90 percent on all plots after 60 days, but sediment release remained similar, attributable to high intensity rainfall, poor establishment of root systems, and piping on plots treated with tacked straw or jute netting. Results indicate that current stabilization methods shift sediment compostion toward a smaller particle size, causing single treatments to be minimally effective for controlling erosion of the major component of red clay soils. Because small particles have the greatest direct effect on aquatic biota, certain impacts of sedimentation may not be measurably lessened by single treatments in regions where red clays predominate even though the total sediment load is reduced by as much as 75 percent. Clearly, a multiple-treatment approach offers significantly greater control of erosion on red clay soils, however, current economic and construction policy represents a substantial deterrent to implementation.     

RUNOFF AND SEDIMENT PRODUCTION FROM BURNED FOREST SITES IN THE GEORGIA PIEDMONT1

ABSTRACT: Runoff and sediment production was measured under simulated and natural rain from 1×5 m plots established on a cutover and burned mixed pine-hardwood site in the Georgia Piedmont. Trees on the study site were cut and removed without mechanical disturbance. Slash was removed, kiln dried and replaced on the slope, and burned prior to plot installation. Three slopes, two rainfall intensities, three rainfall simulations representing three soil moisture conditions, and two replicate plots were used. The experiment was repeated four times during the period July 1989-July 1990 to investigate the effects of temporal changes in surface conditions and particularly root mat and residual forest floor decemposition. Runoff and sediment production from natural rainfall events was also measured from these plots during the period February-October 1990. Results of all measurements indicate that runoff and sediment production were generally low because of the protection afforded by the residual forest floor following burning. However, temporary hydrophobic conditions caused by a dry organic layer produced relatively high runoff rates and high sediment for the first few minutes of runoff for some of the simulated rainfall applications.     

Carbon and nitrogen losses by surface runoff following changes in vegetation

Rainfall simulation experiments were conducted on annual grassland and coastal sage scrub hillslopes to determine the quantities of C and N removed by surface runoff in sediment and solution. Undisturbed coastal sage scrub soils have very high infiltration capacities (> 140 mm h(-1)), preventing the generation of surface runoff. Trampling disturbance to the sage scrub plots dramatically reduced infiltration capacities, increasing the potential for surface runoff and associated nutrient loss. Infiltration capacities in the grassland plots (30-50 mm h(-1)) were lower than in the sage scrub plots. Loss rates of dissolved C and N in surface runoff from grasslands were 0.5 and 0.025 mg m(-2) s(-1) respectively, with organic N accounting for more than 50% of the dissolved N. Total dissolved losses with simulated rainfall were higher than losses in simulations with just surface runoff, demonstrating the importance of raindrop impact in transferring solutes into the flow. Experimental data were incorporated into a numerical model of runoff and sediment transport to estimate hillslope-scale sediment-bound nutrient losses from grasslands. According to the model results, sediment-bound nutrient losses are sensitive to the density of vegetation cover and rainfall intensity. The model estimates annual losses in surface runoff of 0.2 and 0.02 g m(-2) for sediment-hound C and N, respectively. The results of this study suggest that conversion of coastal sage scrub to annual grasslands increases hillslope nutrient losses and may affect stream water quality in the region.     

Effects of Stonewalled Terracing Techniques on Soil-Water Conservation and Wheat Production Under Mediterranean Conditions

A field plot experiment was conducted in the Palestinian Autonomous Areas to study the effect of stonewalled terracing on soil and water conservation as compared to the nonterraced areas. Effects of the wheat canopy were considered as a second treatment. The experiment was undertaken over a period of two seasons (2000 and 2001). The results of the experiment found that the mean soil erosion was significantly lower (P < 0.05) in the terraced plots than in those that were nonterraced (182 kg/ha and 3525 kg/ha during the first season, 1769 kg/ha and 5057 kg/ha during the second season for terraced and nonterraced plots, respectively). A similar trend was observed with respect to runoff in areas under the same treatments. The wheat canopy showed lower, but not significant runoff and erosion in most of the cases for both seasons. Due to better soil and water conservation, the terraced plots obtained significantly higher total plant dry matter than nonterraced plots (1570 and 630 kg/ha in 2000, 2545 and 889 kg/ha in 2001 for terraced and nonterraced treatment, respectively). The runoff coefficient was 20% and 4% for the nonterraced and terraced plots, respectively. Rainstorms with intensity ≥4 mm/hand rainfall ≥10 mm are more likely to cause runoff and erosion.     

A STRIP MODEL APPROACH TO PARAMETERIZE A COUPLED GREEN‐AMPT KINEMATIC WAVE MODEL1

ABSTRACT: Infiltration processes at the plot scale are often described and modeled using a single effective hydraulic conductivity (Kg) value. This can lead to errors in runoff and erosion prediction. An integrated field measurement and modeling study was conducted to evaluate: (1) the relationship among rainfall intensity, spatially variable soil and vegetation characteristics, and infiltration processes; and (2) how this relationship could be modeled using Green and Ampt and a spatially distributed hydrologic model. Experiments were conducted using a newly developed variable intensity rainfall simulator on 2 m by 6 m plots in a rangeland watershed in southeastern Arizona. Rainfall application rates varied between 50 and 200 mm/hr. Results of the rainfall simulator experiments showed that the observed hydrologic response changed with changes in rainfall intensity and that the response varied with antecedent moisture condition. A distributed process based hydrologic simulation model was used to model the plots at different levels of hydrologic complexity. The measurement and simulation model results show that the rainfall runoff relationship cannot be accurately described or modeled using a single Kg value at the plot scale. Multi‐plane model configurations with infiltration parameters based on soil and plot characteristics resulted in a significant improvement over single‐plane configurations.     

Assessment of soil erosion under rainfed sugarcane in KwaZulu‐Natal,South Africa

Soil erosion from agricultural land use runoff is a major threat to the sustainability of soil composition and water resource integrity. Sugarcane is an important cash and food security crop in South Africa, subjected to an intensive soil erosion, and consequently, severe land degradation. This study aimed to investigate soil erosion and associated soil and cover factors under rainfed sugarcane, in a small catchment, KwaZulu‐Natal, South Africa. Three replicated runoff plots were installed at different slope positions (down, mid and upslope) within cultivated sugarcane fields to monitor soil erosion during the 2016–2017 rainy season. On average, annual runoff (RF) was significantly greater from 10 m² plots with 1163.77 ± 2.63 l/m/year compared to 1 m² plots. However, sediment concentration (SC) was significantly lower in 10 m² (0.34 ± 0.04 g/l) compared to 1 m² (6.94 ± 0.24 g/l) plots. The annual soil losses (SL) calculated from 12 rainfall events was 58.36 ± 0.77 and 8.84 ± 0.20 t/ha from 1 m² and 10 m² plots, respectively. The 1 m² plot, SL (2.4 ± 1.41 ton/ha/year) in the upslope experienced 33% more loss than the midslope and 50% more loss than the downslope position. SL was relatively lower from the 10 m² plots than the 1 m² plots, which is explained by high sediment deposition at the greater plot scale. SL was negatively correlated with the soil organic carbon stocks (r = ?0.82) and soil surface cover (r = ?0.55). RF decreased with the increase of slope gradient (r = ?0.88) and soil infiltration rate (r = ?0.87). There were considerable soil losses from cultivated sugarcane fields with low organic matter. These findings suggest that to mitigate soil erosion, soil organic carbon stocks and vegetation cover needs to be increased through appropriate land management practices, particularly in cultivated areas with steep gradients.     

SEDIMENT,NITRATE, AND AMMONIUM IN SURFACE RUNOFF FROM TWO TAHOE BASIN SOIL TYPES 1

ABSTRACT: Few studies have addressed the natural pollution potential of pristine subalpine forested watersheds on a site-specific basis. Consequently, specific source and amounts of nutrient discharge to tributaries of the Tahoe Basin are difficult to identify. The sediment content and nitrate and ammonium levels in surface runoff from two soil types (Meeks and Umpa), four plot conditions (wooded natural and disturbed, open natural and disturbed), and three slopes (gentle, moderate, and steep) were studied using rainfall simulation that applied a 9 cm h¹, 1-h event. A significant (P ≤ 0.005) two-way interaction between soil type and plot condition affected runoff nitrate concentration. Runoff from natural or disturbed open plots contained significantly (P = 0.05) greater nitrate than wooded plots. Peak concentrations of nitrate commonly occurred during early runoff, suggesting that peak nitrate discharge to Lake Tahoe tributaries can be expected during early runoff from snowmelt and summer precipitation events. The highest nitrate runoff concentration and 1-h cumulative loading from the 0.46 m² plots were 6.7 mg L-¹ (Umpa, open natural, 15–30 percent slope), and 0.7 mg (Umpa, open natural, ≥ 30 percent slope), respectively. Ammonium in surface runoff was generally below detection limits (≤ 0.05 μg L^?1). No statistical relationship between runoff nitrate and sediment discharge was detected.     

Soil erosion under different vegetation covers in the Venezuelan Andes

This comparative study of soil erosion considered different environments in an ecological unit of the Venezuelan Andes. The soils belong to an association of typic palehumults and humic dystrudepts. Soil losses were quantified by using erosion plots in areas covered by four types of vegetation, including both natural and cultivated environments. The highest soil erosion rate evaluated corresponded to horticultural crops in rotation: reaching a value of 22 Mg ha^–1 per year. For apple tree (Malus sylvestris Miller) plots, soil losses reached values of 1.96 Mg ha^–1 per year. Losses from pasture (Pennisetum clandestinum Hochst. ex Chiov.) plots, without livestock grazing, were as high as 1.11 Mg ha^–1 during the second year of the experiment. The highest soil losses generated from plots under natural forest were equal to 0.54 Mg ha^–1 per year. Environmental factors such as total and effective rainfall, runoff, and some soil characteristics as those related to soil losses by water erosion were evaluated. The type of management applied to each site under different land use type and the absence of conservation practices explain, to a large extent, the erosive processes and mechanisms.