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10 Modelling Soil Erosion

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37 views47 pages

10 Modelling Soil Erosion

Uploaded by

Alyssa Gonzales
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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MODELLING SOIL

EROSION
INTRODUCTION
• Long period measurements are required to study how erosion rates respond to
changes in land use and climate or the use of erosion-control measures.
• In order to overcome the problem, models can be used to predict erosion under
wide range of conditions.
Types of
models
Predicting and Estimating Soil
Erosion

► The most widely used tool to estimate


erosion is the Universal Soil Loss Equation
(USLE).
A = 0.224.R.K.L.S.C.P
Predicting and Estimating Soil
Erosion
A = 0.224.R.K.L.S.C.P,
where:
A = estimated annual soil loss per unit area
(t/ha/yr)
R = the rainfall erosivity factor
K = the soil erodibility factor
L = the slope length factor
S = the slope gradient factor
C = the cropping management factor
P = the erosion control practice factor
Acceptable amount of soil erosion: 5-11
tons/ha/yr
LIMITATIONS OF THE USLE
☺ Developed mainly for the U.S., east of
the Rocky Mountains. Variations in
sites and conditions exist
☺ It does not explicitly represent
hydrologic and erosion processes, i.e.
runoff
☺ There is considerable interdependence
between variables

 Only predicts the amount of soil loss that


results from sheet or rill erosion on a
single slope and does not account for
additional soil losses that might occur
from gully, wind or tillage erosion
Universal Soil Loss Equation
(USLE)
● Developed at the USDA National Runoff
and Soil Loss Data Center at Purdue
University in a national effort led by
Walter H. Wischmeier and Dwight D.
Smith
● Hailed as one of the most significant
developments in soil and water
conservation in the 20th century
Universal Soil Loss Equation
(USLE)
● USLE was the first empirical erosion
equation that was not tied to a specific
region of the United States, thus the
title "Universal" Soil Loss Equation
● USLE as a complete technology was first
published in 1965 in USDA Agriculture
Handbook 282. An updated version was
published in 1978 in Agriculture Handbook
537
USLE
Factors
A - represents the potential long-term average annual
soil loss in tons per hectare per year. This is the
amount compared to the "tolerable soil loss"
limits.

● A tolerable soil loss is the maximum annual amount of


soil, which can be removed before the long-term natural
soil productivity is adversely affected

R - rainfall and runoff factor . The greater the intensity


and duration of the rain storm, the higher the
erosion potential

● R is based on the total erosive power of storms during an


average year and depends on local weather conditions
USLE
Factors
K - the soil erodibility factor. It is the
average soil loss in tons/hectare for a
particular soil in cultivated, continuous
fallow with an arbitrarily selected slope
length of 22.13 m (72.6 ft) and slope
steepness of 9%
● K is a measure of the susceptibility of soil
particles to detachment and transport by
rainfall and runoff

● Texture is the principal factor affecting K,


but structure, organic matter and
permeability also contribute
USLE
Factors
► A simpler method to predict K was
presented by Wischmeier et al.
which includes the particle size of
the soil, organic matter content,
soil structure and profile
permeability. The soil erodibility
factor K can be approximated
from a nomograph if this
information is known
USLE
Factors
Soil properties that tend to result in
high K values:

1) High contents of silt and very


find sand
2) Expansive types of clay minerals
3) A tendency to form surface
crusts
4) Presence of impervious soil
layers
5) Blocky, platy, or massive
USLE
Factors
Soil properties that tend to make
the soil more resistant to erosion
(lower K values):

1) High SOM content


2) Non-expansive types of clays
3) Strong granular structure
USLE
Factors
LS - slope length-gradient factor. The LS
factor represents a ratio of soil loss
under given conditions to that of a
site with the "standard" slope
steepness of 9% and slope length of
22.13 m (72.6 ft)
● Expressed as a unitless ratio with soil loss
from the area in question in the numerator,
and that from a standard plot (9% slope; 22
m long) in the denominator

● The steeper and longer the slope, the


higher the risk for erosion
USLE
Factors
C - crop/vegetation and management
factor. It is used to determine the
relative effectiveness of soil and crop
management systems in terms of
preventing soil loss
● The C factor is a ratio comparing soil loss
from land under a specific crop and
management system to the corresponding
loss from continuously fallow and bare soil

● This ratio C will approach 1.0 where there is


little soil cover
USLE
Factors
P - support practice factor. It reflects the
effects of practices that will reduce
the amount and rate of the water
runoff and thus reduce the amount of
erosion
● The P factor represents the ratio of soil loss by
a support practice to that of straight-row
farming up and down the slope

● If there are no support practices, the P factor =


1.0
USLE
Factors
The support practices P
include:
• contour cultivation
• contour strip-cropping
• terrace systems
• grassed waterways
USLE Practice Problem 1
Calculation of mean annual soil loss on a 100-m long slope of 7
degrees on soils of Sampaloc Series under pineapple cultivation
with contour spaced at 20m intervals. Residues are
incorporated after harvesting
Mean annual precipitation = 2695 mm
Percent silt and very find sand = 65%
Sand = 5%
OM = 2.8%
Structure = Fine granular
Permeability = Slow to moderate
1. Estimating R (Rainfall erosion index)
In the absence of locally published maps of R values, three
different procedures for estimating R from mean annual
precipitation (P) can be used.

Method 1
From Roose (1975), mean annual rainfall erosion index = 0.5 P
= 0.5 (2695)
= 1347.5
Conversion to Mg mm/ha/h = 1347.5 x 17.3
= 23, 311.8 Mg mm/ha/h
USLE Practice Problem 1
Method 2
From Morgan (1974), mean annual erosivity = 9.28 P – 8, 838
= (9.28 X 2695) – 8838
= 16,171.6 J/m
= 161.716 Mg/ha
Multiply by 75mm/h of rainfall – maximum value recommended by Wischmeier and
Smith (1978)
= 161.716 x 75
= 12,128. 7 Mg mm/ha/h
USLE Practice Problem 1
Method 3
From Foster et. al. (1981) = (0.276 P x 75)/100
= (0.276 x 2695 x 75)/100
= 55.79 Mg mm/ha/h

Best estimate: discard result from Method 3, which is rather low.


Take average value of Methods 1 and 2 = 17,720 Mg mm/ha/h
USLE Practice Problem
Estimatin
g K (Soil
erodibility
index)

See
nomograp
h

K = 0.041
USLE Practice Problem 1
Estimating LS ( Slope factor)
For slope length (I) and slope steepness (s) in meters and percent respectively,

LS = (I/22)0.5 (0.065+ 0.045s)+(0.0065s 2)

With contour spacing of 20m, I =20 m and s =12%


Without contour spacing, I = 100 m

LS = (20/22)0.5 (0.065+ 0.045 (12))+(0.0065 X 12 2)


= 0.95 x 1.54
= 1.47
USLE Practice
Problem 1
Estimating C (crop management factor)

C = 0.01
USLE Practice
Problem 1

P = 0.60
USLE Practice Problem
A = 0.224.R.K.L.S.C.P

A = 0.224 X 17,720 X 0.041 X 1.47 X 0.01 X 0.60

A = 1.44 t/ha mean annual soil loss


USLE Practice Problem 2
Calculation of mean annual soil loss on a 100-m long slope of 7
degrees on soils of Sampaloc Series under potato cultivation
downslope. Residues are incorporated after harvesting. T value
is 5t/ha.
Mean annual precipitation = 1473 mm
Percent silt and very find sand = 65%
Sand = 5%
OM = 2.8%
Structure = Fine granular
Permeability = Slow to moderate
1. Estimating R (Rainfall erosion index)
In the absence of locally published maps of R values, three
different procedures for estimating R from mean annual
precipitation (P) can be used.

Method 1
From Roose (1975), mean annual rainfall erosion index = 0.5 P
= 0.5 (1473)
= 736.5
Conversion to Mg mm/ha/h = 736.5 x 17.3
= 12741.45 Mg mm/ha/h
USLE Practice Problem
Method 2
From Morgan (1974), mean annual erosivity = 9.28 P – 8, 838
= (9.28 X 1473) – 8838
= 4831.44 J/m
= 48.31 Mg/ha
Multiply by 75mm/h of rainfall – maximum value recommended by Wischmeier and
Smith (1978)
= 48.31 x 75
= 3623.58 Mg mm/ha/h
USLE Practice Problem 2
Method 3
From Foster et. al. (1981) = (0.276 P x 75)/100
= (0.276 x 1473 x 75)/100
= 304.91 Mg mm/ha/h

Best estimate: discard result from Method 3, which is rather low.


Take average value of Methods 1 and 2 = 8182.52 Mg mm/ha/h
USLE Practice Problem
Estimatin
g K (Soil
erodibility
index)

See
nomograp
h

K = 0.041
USLE Practice Problem
Estimating LS ( Slope factor)
For slope length (I) and slope steepness (s) in meters and percent respectively,

LS = (I/22)0.5 (0.065+ 0.045s)+(0.0065s2)

I =100 m and s =12%

LS = (100/22)0.5 (0.065+ 0.045 (12))+(0.0065 X 122)


= 2.13 x (0.605 +0.936)
= 3.28
USLE Practice
Problem
Estimating C (crop management factor)

C= (0.20+0.50)/2
C = 0.35
USLE Practice
Problem

No erosion control practice


P=1
USLE Practice Problem
A = 0.224.R.K.L.S.C.P

A = 0.224 X 8192.52 X 0.041 X 3.28 X 0.35 X 1

A = 86.27 t/ha mean annual soil loss

Exceeded the T-value

What can you do to minimize erosion?


Ways to minimize erosion
• Practice level bench terracing with 20-m distance between contours

LS will be adjusted by adjusting the “I” value by 20

LS = (20/22)0.5 (0.065+ 0.045 (12))+(0.0065 X 12 2)


= 0.95 x 1.54
= 1.47

By planting the potatoes across slope, C will be adjusted to 0.25

By contouring, P factor will be 0.14


USLE Practice Problem
Computing the new A-value

A = 0.224.R.K.L.S.C.P

A = 0.224 X 8192.52 X 0.041 X 1.47 X 0.25 X 0.14

A = 3.87 t/ha mean annual soil loss


USLE - Assignment
Calculation of mean annual soil loss on a 150-m long slope of
10 degrees on soils of Bataan Series with no cultivation.
Mean annual precipitation = 3706 mm
Percent silt and very find sand = 70%
Sand = 10%
OM = 1%
Structure = coarse granular
Permeability = slow to moderate
1. Estimating R (Rainfall erosion index)

Method 1
From Roose (1975), mean annual rainfall erosion index = 0.5 P
= 0.5 (3706)
= 1853
Conversion to Mg mm/ha/h = 1853 x 17.3
= 32,056.9 Mg mm/ha/h
USLE Practice Problem
Method 2
From Morgan (1974), mean annual erosivity = 9.28 P – 8, 838
= (9.28 X 3706) – 8838
= 25,553.7 J/m
= 255.537 Mg/ha
Multiply by 75mm/h of rainfall – maximum value recommended by Wischmeier and
Smith (1978)
= 255.537 x 75
= 19,165.28 Mg mm/ha/h
USLE Practice Problem
Method 3
From Foster et. al. (1981) = (0.276 P x 75)/100
= (0.276 x 3706 x 75)/100
= 767.142 Mg mm/ha/h

Best estimate: discard result from Method 3, which is rather low.


Take average value of Methods 1 and 2 = 25,611.08 Mg
mm/ha/h
USLE Practice Problem
Estimating K
(Soil
erodibility
index)

See
nomograph

K = 0.065
USLE Practice Problem
Estimating LS ( Slope factor)
For slope length (I) and slope steepness (s) in meters and percent respectively,

LS = (I/22)0.5 (0.065+ 0.045s)+(0.0065s 2)

, I =150 m and s =18%

LS = (150/22)0.5 (0.065+ 0.045 (18))+(0.0065 X 18 2)


= 2.61 x (0.875+2.106)
= 2.61 x (2.981)
= 7.78
USLE Practice
Problem
Estimating C (crop management factor)

C=1
USLE Practice
Problem

P=1
USLE Practice Problem
A = 0.224.R.K.L.S.C.P

A = 0.224 X 25,611.08 X 0.065 X 7.78 X 1 X 1

A = 2,901.141 t/ha mean annual soil loss


END

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