ARS | Publication request: TESTING THE APPLICABILITY OF THE WEPP MODEL FOR PREDICTING SOIL LOSS IN TROPICAL HILLSIDE LANDS IN THE TUXTLAS, VERACRUZ, MEXICO

Submitted to: ASA-CSSA-SSSA Proceedings
Publication Type: Proceedings
Publication Acceptance Date: October 29, 2004
Publication Date: October 31, 2004
Citation: Oropeza-Mota, J.L., Larose, M., Norton, L.D. 2004. Testing the applicability of the WEPP model for predicting soil loss in tropical hillside lands in the Tuxtlas, Veracruz, Mexico. ASA-CSSA-SSSA Proceedings, October 31-November 4, 2004, Seattle, Washington. 2004 CDROM.

Technical Abstract: Soil erosion by water has been recognized as Mexico's biggest environmental problem. In 1985 the government classified almost 17 percent of all land as totally eroded, 31 percent in an accelerated state of erosion, and 38 percent demonstrating signs of incipient erosion. The tropical region of eastern Mexico, where many crops are cultivated on steep, exposed mountainsides, has suffered from high soil loss rates due to traditional soil management practices. An experiment was laid out in San Andrés Tuxtla, Veracruz where the dominant soil is Typic Tropofluvent to test the hillslope application of the WEPP model for simulating runoff and soil loss in selected runoff plots with conventional tillage (CT) and a conservation practice called live tree hedgerow with animal traction (TMV-TA 1.0 m). Predictions of the WEPP model were compared with actual runoff and soil loss data measured at the experimental area. The soil loss in the CT and TMV-TA 1.0 m plots were periodically measured over a three-year period. The results indicated that the model over-predicted for smaller events and under-predicted for larger events for both soil loss and runoff. The validation model resulted in an over-prediction of soil loss and runoff in both practices. This over-prediction may be attributed to the limited information on soil management practices in the estimation of soil loss in this region.