A validation test of WEPP to predict runoff and soil loss from a pineapple farm on a sandy soil in subtropical Queensland, Australia

Soil Research ◽  
2000 ◽  
Vol 38 (3) ◽  
pp. 537 ◽  
Author(s):  
B. Yu ◽  
C. A. A. Ciesiolka ◽  
C. W. Rose ◽  
K. J. Coughlan
Keyword(s):  
Soil Properties ◽  
Soil Loss ◽  
Slope Length ◽  
Erosion Prediction ◽  
Water Erosion Prediction Project ◽  
Loss Prediction ◽  
Sandy Slope ◽  
Monthly Runoff ◽  
Parameter Values ◽  
Runoff And Soil Loss

Monthly runoff and soil loss simulated by WEPP (Water Erosion Prediction Project) were compared with field observations on a pineapple farm in south-east Queensland for a 3-year period. The soil at the site is sandy. Slope length and steepness are 36m and 5.5%, respectively. Three treatments, namely bare, farmers’ conventional practice, and mulching of the furrows, were used. Infiltration and erodibility parameters were determined using WEPP-recommended equations and measurable soil properties. These parameters were also calibrated using the runoff and soil loss data for the bare plot only. Apart from the soil loss prediction for the mulching treatment, for which WEPP did not perform well, the average coefficient of efficiency in runoff and soil loss predictions was –0.02 using soil property-based parameter values and 0.66 using calibrated parameter values. The corresponding r 2 values are 0.57 and 0.81, respectively. On the whole, WEPP is able to reproduce the trend and variations in runoff and soil loss among different treatments for the site. Parameter values based on measurable soil properties would greatly under-estimate the runoff and soil loss for the site. Thus, use of WEPP outside its US database requires calibration with locally obtained data. It was also found that WEPP does not seem to model effectively the situation where there is considerable flow impediment with the furrows covered with mulch. We are unable to reject WEPP because the statistical performance indicators are reasonable for the site, and because the model is so complex that it is nearly impossible to pinpoint the source of discrepancy and articulate the model deficiency on physical grounds.

Evaluation of WEPP for runoff and soil loss prediction at Gunnedah, NSW, Australia

Soil Research ◽  
2001 ◽  
Vol 39 (5) ◽  
pp. 1131 ◽  
Author(s):  
B. Yu ◽  
C. J. Rosewell
Keyword(s):  
Soil Loss ◽  
Prediction Models ◽  
Daily Rainfall ◽  
Sediment Concentration ◽  
Model Parameters ◽  
Slope Length ◽  
Erosion Prediction ◽  
Physically Based ◽  
Bare Fallow ◽  
Runoff And Soil Loss

It is important to use historical data to test physically based runoff and soil erosion prediction models as well as the method to estimate model parameters. WEPP (Water Erosion Prediction Project) was validated for bare fallow and annual wheat treatments at Gunnedah, New South Wales, Australia. Wheat stubble was either burned or mulched. Climate, soil, management, and runoff and soil loss data were collected for the period 1980–87 for 3 bare fallow plots, and 1950–74 for 10 annual wheat plots. Three slope lengths from 21 to 62 m were established for the treatment with stubble burned. Slope steepness varied from 8% to 9% at the site. Effective saturated hydraulic conductivity and soil erodibility parameters were estimated from measured soil properties. No further calibration of these parameters was attempted in order to assess the true potential of the model for runoff and soil loss predictions. WEPP worked well for the bare fallow plots with prediction efficiency of 0.97 for event runoff and soil losses. WEPP generally over-predicted the runoff, and consequently, the soil loss for annual wheat treatments for the site. WEPP was able to predict the effect of slope length on sediment concentration and soil loss for the site. CLIGEN, which provides the continuous climate input to WEPP, was found to produce adequately the mean daily rainfall, but produced higher than expected peak rainfall intensity, resulting in higher runoff and soil loss for all treatments.

scholarly journals MANAGEMENT AND CULTURAL PRACTICES OF IRISH POTATO AND SWEET POTATO AND THEIR EFFECT ON SOIL LOSS

HortScience ◽  
1992 ◽  
Vol 27 (6) ◽  
pp. 587d-587
Author(s):  
Iris Cole-Crosby ◽  
Jesse Harness ◽  
Patrick Igbokwe
Keyword(s):  
Sweet Potato ◽  
Soil Loss ◽  
Management Practices ◽  
Cultural Practices ◽  
Growth Parameters ◽  
Canopy Cover ◽  
Irish Potato ◽  
Area Index ◽  
Erosion Prediction ◽  
Water Erosion Prediction Project

The cultural and management practices for Irish Potato and Sweet Potato were monitored, along with various plant growth parameters. Data was collected on row width, plant spacing, irrigation, root mass, plant population, vegetative dry matter, canopy height, yeild, above ground biomass, root depth, canopy cover, leaf area index, and stem diameter. Climatic parameters such as rainfall, average daily temperatures, and growing degree days. The data was imputed into the erosion prediction model WEPP (Water Erosion Prediction Project) and the annual soil loss was compared between the crops. Results suggest that Irish Potato is better crop for conserving soil.

Combined effects of rainfall regime and plot length on runoff and soil loss in the Loess Plateau of China

2018 ◽  
Vol 109 (3-4) ◽  
pp. 397-406
Author(s):  
Jianbo LIU ◽  
Guangyao GAO ◽  
Shuai WANG ◽  
Bojie FU
Keyword(s):  
Loess Plateau ◽  
Soil Loss ◽  
Rainfall Regime ◽  
Runoff Coefficient ◽  
Land Uses ◽  
The Loess Plateau ◽  
Slope Length ◽  
Erosive Rainfall ◽  
Runoff And Soil Loss ◽  
Rainfall Regimes

ABSTRACTThe purpose of this paper was to study the interaction effects of rainfall regime and slope length on runoff and soil loss under different land uses. Event runoff and soil loss in forest, shrub and grass were measured in plots with lengths of 5, 9 and 13m in the Loess Plateau from 2008 to 2016. A total of 59 erosive rainfall events were recorded and classified into three rainfall regimes. Firstly, the results showed that the runoff coefficient was grass>shrub>forest, and soil loss was grass>forest>shrub, but the differences between forest and shrub in runoff and between grass and forest in soil loss did not reach significant levels. Secondly, rainfall regimes had an important effect on runoff and soil loss under different land uses. The lowest runoff coefficients and the highest soil loss in regime 2 were found in shrub and forest land, respectively, which differed from that of regime 1. In total, rainfall regime 1 had the highest runoff coefficient of 0.84–2.06%, followed by regime 3 with 0.33–0.88% and regime 2 with 0.04–0.06%. Soil loss in forest and grass land had a different order of regime 3>regime 1>regime 2. Thirdly, both the runoff coefficient and soil loss decreased with increasing plot length, while the effect of slope length on runoff/soil loss were influenced by land use type and rainfall regimes.

SOIL EROSION LOSSES FROM WINTER RUNOFF IN SOUTHERN ONTARIO

1981 ◽  
Vol 61 (2) ◽  
pp. 451-454 ◽  
Author(s):  
L. J. P. VAN VLIET ◽  
G. J. WALL
Keyword(s):  
Soil Erosion ◽  
Soil Loss ◽  
Prediction Models ◽  
Universal Soil Loss Equation ◽  
Southern Ontario ◽  
Winter Runoff ◽  
Loss Prediction ◽  
Runoff And Soil Loss ◽  
Soil Loss Equation

Soil loss prediction models such as the universal soil loss equation do not usually reflect the influence of snowmelt events on annual soil loss estimates. Plot studies (2% and 6% slopes) conducted over three winters in Southern Ontario to measure runoff and soil loss from spring-plowed corn crops revealed that winter soil erosion losses represented up to 10% of annual soil loss.

A field study of the influence of land management and soil properties on runoff and soil loss in central Spain

1995 ◽  
Vol 37 (1-3) ◽  
pp. 333-345 ◽  
Author(s):  
Andrew G. Williams ◽  
J. Les Ternan ◽  
Andy Elmes ◽  
Marta Gonzalez del Tanago ◽  
Raoul Blanco
Keyword(s):  
Soil Properties ◽  
Field Study ◽  
Land Management ◽  
Soil Loss ◽  
Central Spain ◽  
Runoff And Soil Loss

scholarly journals Predicting plot soil loss by empirical and process-oriented approaches. A review

2018 ◽  
Vol 49 (1) ◽  
pp. 1-18
Author(s):  
Vincenzo Bagarello ◽  
Vito Ferro ◽  
Dennis Flanagan
Keyword(s):  
Soil Erosion ◽  
Soil Loss ◽  
Biological Diversity ◽  
Spatial Scales ◽  
Physical Models ◽  
Erosion Prediction ◽  
Water Erosion Prediction Project ◽  
Process Oriented ◽  
Loss Estimate

Soil erosion directly affects the quality of the soil, its agricultural productivity and its biological diversity. Many mathematical models have been developed to estimate plot soil erosion at different temporal scales. At present, empirical soil loss equations and process-oriented models are considered as constituting a complementary suite of models to be chosen to meet the specific user need. In this paper, the Universal Soil Loss Equation and its revised versions are first reviewed. Selected methodologies developed to estimate the factors of the model with the aim to improve the soil loss estimate are described. Then the Water Erosion Prediction Project which represents a process-oriented technology for soil erosion prediction at different spatial scales, is presented. The available criteria to discriminate between acceptable and unacceptable soil loss estimates are subsequently introduced. Finally, some research needs, concerning tests of both empirical and process-oriented models, estimates of the soil loss of given return periods, reliability of soil loss measurements, measurements of rill and gully erosion, and physical models are delineated.

Runoff and soil loss in a semi-arid shrub invaded Poplar Box (Eucalyptus populnea) woodland.

1983 ◽  
Vol 5 (1) ◽  
pp. 3 ◽  
Author(s):  
GG Johns
Keyword(s):  
Soil Loss ◽  
Moving Average ◽  
Monthly Rainfall ◽  
Run Off ◽  
Monthly Runoff ◽  
Runoff And Soil Loss ◽  
Eucalyptus Populnea ◽  
Soil Losses ◽  
Loss Rates

The ridges of the Cobar pediplain generally have only a sparce herbage cover. Much of the incident rainfall is reputed to run off, perpetuating the low pasture productivity and causing erosion. Woody shrubs have often invaded the woodlands of the pediplain. On some gentler sloping (1%) ridges dense patches of shrubs surround large eucalypts and together are known as 'thickets'. Between these thickets relatively sparsely shrubbed areas ('interthickets') occur. Runoff from small plots situated in thicket and interthicket areas of shrub invaded poplar box woodland was recorded during 1975-1981. Half the plots had been partially cleared by pushing over all shrubs with a bulldozer ('shrub-pushed', in contrast to 'unpushed'). Soil losses from the plots were measured over a four year period. Rainfall during the study was 26% greater than the long term average for the area, and provided many runoff events, particularly from intense summer storms. Runoff averaged 26% of rainfall for unpushed interthicket areas while thicket runoff was negligible. Runoff from the shrub-pushed plots was c. 25% less than from their unpushed counterparts, but this difference was not significant at P < 0.05. During the December-March period monthly runoff from unpushed interthicket plots averaged 41% of monthly rainfall in excess of 12 mm, while for the other eight months runoff averaged 24% of monthly rainfall in excess of 9 mm. Soil losses were greater during the stormier part of the year, with long term soil loss rates equivalent to 25 mm per 1000 years from enclosed interthicket plots and 55 mm per 1000 years from the gra7ed interthicket plots. Shrub-pushing appeared to increase soil losses in the short term but after two years soil loss rates decreased to be less than those from unpushed plots. Estimates of likely interthicket runoff based on long term rainfall records had a median value of 77 mm per year, or only 64% of that observed during the study period. Over the 88 years the 5 year moving average of estimated runoff fell to as low as 40 mm per year. The results are discussed in the context of waterspreading.

Effect of soil wetting conditions on seal formation, runoff, and soil loss in arid and semiarid soils—a review

Soil Research ◽  
2008 ◽  
Vol 46 (3) ◽  
pp. 191 ◽  
Author(s):  
Meni Ben-Hur ◽  
Marcos Lado
Keyword(s):  
Kinetic Energy ◽  
Soil Properties ◽  
Soil Loss ◽  
Aggregate Stability ◽  
Clay Content ◽  
Soil Surface ◽  
Infiltration Rate ◽  
Runoff And Soil Loss ◽  
Arid And Semiarid ◽  
Raindrop Impact

Soil surface sealing is one of the main causes for low infiltration rate (IR) and high runoff and soil loss under raindrop impact conditions in arid and semiarid regions. Many studies have focused on the effects of soil properties on seal formation under fast wetting conditions. However, in the field, soils can be exposed to different wetting conditions, before an intense rainfall event, which can affect the role of the soil properties on seal formation. The present paper reviews the effects of different initial wetting conditions and their interactions with soil properties on seal formation, IR, runoff, and soil loss in smectitic soils. Fast wetting of soil causes aggregate slaking, which enhances seal formation, runoff, and soil loss under rainfall, mainly in soils with > 40% clay content. An increase in clay content of the soil increases aggregate strength, but at the same time increases the slaking forces. Hence, in soils with low clay content (<40%) and low aggregate stability, raindrop impact alone was sufficient to break down the aggregates and to develop a seal. In contrast, in soils with > 40% clay content and high aggregate stability, slaking plays an important role in aggregate breakdown and seal formation. An increase of raindrop kinetic energy, from 8 to 15.9 kJ/m3, decreased the effect of the slaking forces on seal formation and runoff. It was suggested that the effects of raindrop kinetic energy and of the slaking forces on aggregate disintegration and seal formation are complementary. An increase in soil exchangeable sodium percentage (ESP), from 0.9 to 20.4%, decreased the effect of slaking forces on seal formation and runoff production under rainfall with 15.9 kJ/m3 kinetic energy. Probably, increasing the ESP increased the soil dispersivity, and therefore diminished the effect of the slaking forces on aggregate disintegration and seal formation. Aging (the time since wetting) of soil increased the stability of soil structure, decreased the seal formation, maintained high IR, and diminished soil loss amounts. These effects of soil aging depend on both the prewetting rate of the soil and soil texture.

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