Rainfall Erosivity and Erodibility of Inceptisols in the Southwest Colombian Andes

1996 ◽  
Vol 32 (1) ◽  
pp. 91-101 ◽  
Author(s):  
M. Ruppenthal ◽  
D. E. Leihner ◽  
T. H. Hilger ◽  
J. A. Castillo F.

SUMMARYThe rainfall erosivity (R) and soil erodibility (K) factors of the Universal Soil Loss Equation (USLE) were determined on two sites in the Colombian Cauca Department over a five year period when rainfall was mostly lower than average. The results showed that the high erosion potential of the soils can be attributed more to high rain erosivity than soil erodibility. The R factor explained between 59 and 81% of the variation in soil loss recorded on continuously clean-tilled fallow plots. The erodibility of Inceptisols in the study region is classified as low. Values for soil erodibility (K) ranged from 0.012 to 0.015 (measured in SI units) in the fifth year of permanent bare fallowing. K factors were higher in the rainy than in the dry season. Soils, previously under grass vegetation, were very resistant to erosion in the first two years of bare fallowing. In the third year erodibility increased sharply and continued to increase steadily until the sixth year. K factors predicted by the USLE nomograph underestimated the empirically-determined erodibility of these highly aggregated clay soils.


2019 ◽  
Vol 12 (3) ◽  
pp. 859
Author(s):  
Joaquim Pedro de Santana Xavier ◽  
Alexandre Hugo Cezar Barros ◽  
Daniel Chaves Webber ◽  
Luciano José de Oliveira Accioly ◽  
Flávio Adriano Marques ◽  
...  

Dentre os diversos métodos indiretos para estimar as perdas de solo por erosão, a Equação Universal de Perdas de Solo (EUPS) é a mais utilizada devido a sua robustez e por ser constituída de uma simples estrutura fatorial, que integra fatores naturais e antrópicos atuantes na perda de solos. A erosão é um dos fenômenos mais danosos ao solo e às atividades humanas e por isso seu estudo é importante. Para o cálculo das perdas de solo por meio da EUPS, a avaliação da erosividade das chuvas (fator R) é essencial, pois estima o fenômeno produzido pelas chuvas. O objetivo deste trabalho foi avaliar três metodologias disponíveis de obtenção da erosividade das chuvas para a região do semiárido pernambucano, avaliando sua influência nos resultados da EUPS. Os três modelos selecionados para estimar o Fator R foram desenvolvidos por Wischmeier e Smith (mais conhecido e utilizado), por Silva que estimou valores para diversas regiões do País e por Cantalice e outros que trabalharam especificamente para cada região climática do estado de Pernambuco. Os resultados indicam que as metodologias de Wischmeier e Smith e Silva obtiveram resultados de erosividade da chuva semelhantes, tendo Silva alcançado valores maiores. Cantalice e outros obtiveram os resultados mais baixos. Os resultados da EUPS indicam que, quantitativamente, os diferentes fatores R geram grande diferença nas perdas de solo, porém, qualitativamente chegam a resultados semelhantes na classificação de áreas de maior erosão, de acordo com a FAO. Logo, as três metodologias são viáveis na identificação de áreas prioritárias para a mitigação da erosão.   A B S T R A C TAmong several indirect methods to estimate soil erosion loss, the Universal Soil Loss Equation (EUPS) is the most used due to its robustness and because it is constituted of a simple factorial structure that integrates natural and anthropic factors which act in the loss of soils. Erosion is one of the most damaging phenomena to the soil and the human activities, evidencing the importance of studying it. The evaluation of rainfall erosivity (R factor) is essential for the calculation of soil loss through the EUPS, since it is possible to estimate how significant rainfall is to the occurrence of this phenomenon. The objective of this work was to evaluate three methodologies to obtain the rainfall erosivity available for the semi - arid region of Pernambuco, evaluating its influence on the results of the EUPS. The three models used to estimate the R-factor were developed by Wischmeier and Smith, the best known and used model, Silva who estimated values for several regions of the country and Cantalice and others who worked specifically for each climatic region of the state of Pernambuco. As a result, very similar results of rainfall erosivity were obtained between Wischmeier and Smith´s and Silva´s methodology, with Silva reaching higher values of energy amplitude, while Cantalice and others obtained the lowest results. The results of EUPS indicate that, quantitatively, the different R factors generate a large difference in soil loss, but qualitatively they reach similar results in the classification of areas where erosion are greater, according to the FAO. Therefore, the three methodologies are feasible in the identification of priority areas for erosion mitigation.Keywords: soil, rainfall erosivity, USLE, GIS





2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Maoqing Wang ◽  
Shuiqing Yin ◽  
Tianyu Yue ◽  
Bofu Yu ◽  
Wenting Wang

Abstract. Rainfall erosivity is one of the most important factors incorporated into the empirical soil erosion models USLE (Universal Soil Loss Equation) and RUSLE (Revised Universal Soil Loss Equation). Gridded precipitation datasets have been widely used in the estimation of rainfall erosivity, whereas biases due to scale differences between gridded data and gauge data have been ignored. Based on daily precipitation observations from over 2000 stations in China, as well as four widely used gauge-based gridded daily precipitation datasets, CPC, GPCC, CN05.1 and NMIC, this study compared the probability density functions (PDFs) of the gridded and gauge datasets using the skill score method, quantified the bias of rainfall erosivity (including the R-factor and 1-in-10-year event rainfall erosivity) estimated using the gridded daily precipitation datasets from that estimated using the gauge daily precipitation dataset based on the area reduction factor (ARF) method, and established correction factors for rainfall erosivity maps generated from gridded datasets. The results showed that the gridded daily data reduced the frequency of no-rain days and the intensity of heavy precipitation. In the eastern part of China, the grid-estimated R-factor values were underestimated by 15–40 % compared with the gauge-estimated values, and the grid-estimated 1-in-10-year event rainfall erosivity values were underestimated by 25–50 %, whereas in the western part of China, noticeable random errors were introduced. The lower probability and intensity of the daily precipitation larger than the 90th percentile in the gridded datasets were mainly responsible for the underestimation. CN05.1 was the most-recommended among the four datasets, as it had the lowest mean relative error (MRE), and the accuracy was higher for the eastern part of China than for the western part of China. The MREs were 16.1 % and 25.1 % for the R-factor after applying correction factors of 1.708 and 1.010, respectively, for the eastern and western part of China. The 1-in-10-year event erosivity had larger correction factors and MREs than did the R-factor, with the MREs being 22.1 % and 27.2 % after applying correction factors of 1.959 and 1.880, respectively, for the eastern and western part of China. This study pointed out that in the applications of gridded precipitation datasets, the empirical models established based on gauge precipitation data should not be used directly for the gridded data, or a bias correction process needed to be considered for the model outputs.



2012 ◽  
Vol 7 (No. 1) ◽  
pp. 1-9 ◽  
Author(s):  
M. Janeček ◽  
V. Květoň ◽  
E. Kubátová ◽  
D. Kobzová

The rain erosivity R-factor is one of the main parameters in the Universal Soil Loss Equation (USLE). This paper describes the procedure used to update, differentiate and regionalize the rainfall erosivity R-factor. For the Czech Republic it is recommended to use the average value R = 40.





Author(s):  
Hammad Gilani ◽  
Adeel Ahmad ◽  
Isma Younes ◽  
Sawaid Abbas

Abrupt changes in climatic factors, exploitation of natural resources, and land degradation contribute to soil erosion. This study provides the first comprehensive analysis of annual soil erosion dynamics in Pakistan for 2005 and 2015 using publically available climatic, topographic, soil type, and land cover geospatial datasets at 1 km spatial resolution. A well-accepted and widely applied Revised Universal Soil Loss Equation (RUSLE) was implemented for the annual soil erosion estimations and mapping by incorporating six factors; rainfall erosivity (R), soil erodibility (K), slope-length (L), slope-steepness (S), cover management (C) and conservation practice (P). We used a cross tabular or change matrix method to assess the annual soil erosion (ton/ha/year) changes (2005-2015) in terms of areas and spatial distriburtions in four soil erosion classes; i.e. Low (<1), Medium (1–5], High (5-20], and Very high (>20). Major findings of this paper indicated that, at the national scale, an estimated annual soil erosion of 1.79 ± 11.52 ton/ha/year (mean ± standard deviation) was observed in 2005, which increased to 2.47 ±18.14 ton/ha/year in 2015. Among seven administrative units of Pakistan, in Azad Jammu & Kashmir, the average soil erosion doubled from 14.44 ± 35.70 ton/ha/year in 2005 to 28.03 ± 68.24 ton/ha/year in 2015. Spatially explicit and temporal annual analysis of soil erosion provided in this study is essential for various purposes, including the soil conservation and management practices, environmental impact assessment studies, among others.



1997 ◽  
Vol 12 (2) ◽  
pp. 55-58 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kim L. Fleming ◽  
William L. Powers ◽  
Alice J. Jones ◽  
Glenn A. Helmers

AbstractThe soil erodibility factor (K) of the Revised Universal Soil Loss Equation is currently considered a constant for all soils in the same type, regardless of production practice. To examine the effect of alternative production systems on the K-factor we compared pairs of alternatively and conventionally farmed fields on a Judson silt loam (Fine-silty, mixed, mesic Cumulic Hapludolls), a Yutan silty clay loam (Fine-silty, mixed, mesic Mollic Hapludalf), and a Wann fine sandy loam (Coarse-loamy, mixed, mesic Fluvaquentic Haplustolls). Soil cores were taken from the surface 10 cm and analyzed for organic matter, permeability, structure, and texture. These data were used to estimate K-factors from a nomograph. All soils in the study had a fine granular structure. Organic matter content and permeability were significantly higher for the alternatively managed field at every location, except for no difference in permeability on the Judson soil. However, the K-factor was significantly lower for the alternative system on the Judson soil. Of all the parameters, texture has the greatest influence in determining K-factors within the nomograph, with soils higher in silt being more erodible than soils higher in sand or clay. Thus, the influences of alternative production systems affected the Judson soil to a greater degree than other textures because of its higher inherent susceptibility to erosion. This study shows that alternative production systems affect the K-factor of some soil types and can reduce soil erodibility, and therefore should be considered when developing conservation plans.



2002 ◽  
Vol 153 (1-2) ◽  
pp. 143-155 ◽  
Author(s):  
Guangxing Wang ◽  
George Gertner ◽  
Vivek Singh ◽  
Svetlana Shinkareva ◽  
Pablo Parysow ◽  
...  


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