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Title: DUST DEPOSITION NEAR AN ERODING SOURCE FIELD

Author
item Hagen, Lawrence
item Van Pelt, Robert - Scott
item Zobeck, Teddy
item RETTA, AMARE - KANSAS STATE UNIVERSITY

Submitted to: Earth Surface Processes and Landforms
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 4/11/2006
Publication Date: 7/26/2006
Citation: Hagen, L.J., Van Pelt, R.S., Zobeck, T.M., Retta, A. 2007. Dust deposition near an eroding source field. Earth Surface Processes and Landforms. 32:281-289.

Interpretive Summary: Deposition of suspended sediments (aggregates less than 0.10 mm diameter) near eroding source fields can have detrimental effects on vegetation, as well as on soil and water quality. We measured suspended sediment eroding from a small, fine sandy loam field at field at Big Spring, TX. Suspended sediment discharge averaged 33% of the total sediment discharge. On average, 34% of the suspended sediment was deposited on vegetation within 200 m of the source field. Predicted deposition, according to a line source model, was 43%. Total deposition was likely near that predicted, because of some under-sampling by the deposition samplers. Thus, the line source model seems useful in estimating both the pattern and quantity of deposition. About 30% of the suspended sediment was deposited within 50 m of the source field, but only about 12 to 15% was deposited in the initial 10 m. This result suggests typical 10-m-wide buffer strips will not capture much of the suspended sediment leaving source fields.

Technical Abstract: Deposition of suspended sediments near eroding source fields can have detrimental effects on vegetation, as well as on soil and water quality. This study was undertaken to quantify near-source (0 to 200 m) sediment deposition during wind erosion events. Erosion was measured with BSNE samplers on a small, fine sandy loam field at field at Big Spring, TX. Suspended sediment discharge averaged 33 ± 5 % of the total sediment discharge and ranged from 18.0 to 147.4 kg/m during eight selected storm events. Within 200 m of the source field boundary, sediment collected in deposition samplers placed above a vegetated surface averaged 34% of initial sediment discharge. Predicted deposition, according to a line source model, was 43%. Total deposition was likely near that predicted, because of lateral diffusion of the sediment and some under-sampling by the disk samplers. Thus, the line source model seems useful in estimating both the pattern and quantity of deposition. About 30% of the suspended sediment was deposited within the initial 50 m of vegetated surface, but only about 12 to 15% was deposited in the initial 10 m.