WIND EROSION ON THE COLUMBIA PLATEAU

Authors: Sharratt, Brenton; FENG, GUANGLONG - WASHINGTON STATE UNIV.

Submitted to: American Society of Agronomy Meetings
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: 5/1/2004
Publication Date: 7/1/2004
Citation: Sharratt, B.S. and Feng, G. 2004. Wind erosion on the Columbia Plateau. Annual Meeting Abstracts [CD-ROM]. ASA, CSSA, and SSSA, Madison, WI. Abstract No. 3908.

Interpretive Summary:

Technical Abstract: Wind erosion contributes to poor air quality across the Columbia Plateau of eastern Washington, north central Oregon, and eastern Idaho. Indeed, several locations in eastern Washington have failed to meet the PM10 (particulates less than 10 micrometers) air quality standard due to elevated dust concentrations from erosion of agricultural fields during high wind events. Therefore, the intent of this study was to quantify the loss of soil and PM10 from an agricultural field during a high wind event. Instrumentation was installed in the autumn of 2003 to measure the loss of soil (using BSNE airborne sediment samplers) and PM10 (using high volume air samplers) from a 9-ha field site. The site was in fallow in 2003. A high wind event was recorded on October 28, 2003 with winds in excess of 15 m/s. This singular event resulted in a net loss of topsoil greater than 1200 kg/ha and a net loss of PM10 of 220 kg/ha from the field site. Management practices are sought that will reduce the loss of topsoil and PM10 from agricultural fields during high wind events.