Skip to main content
ARS Home » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #52421
Title: SOIL LOSS FROM CONTOURED RIDGE-TILL

Author
item Mutchler, Calvin
item McGregor, Keith
item Cullum, Robert

Submitted to: Transactions of the ASAE
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 12/15/1993
Publication Date: N/A
Citation: N/A

Interpretive Summary: Soil loss from contour plots was compared to that from up-and-down slope plots to show the benefit of contour farming. Erosion was reduced about 70 percent by growing sorghum in contour rows using a ridge-till management system. Also, a contour practice value of 0.31 was established for use in validating RUSLE.

Technical Abstract: Soil loss from ridge-till sorghum was measured on 22.1-m long, up-and-down slope erosion plots and on contour tilled plots 45.8-m wide by 22.1-m long with the slope; both sets of plots were on a 5 percent slope. Contour factors (P) that represent the conservation benefit of conservation farming were computed as ratios of soil loss from the plots for use in the Rerised Universal Soil Loss Eauation (RUSLE). Four-year average P values for crop stages varied from 0.22 to 0.52; the average annual P value was 0.31. These P values from data are also useful for validation of RUSLE that considers slope, ridge height, storm severity, and off-grade contouring. KEYWORDS. Conservation tillage, Soil loss, Contour tillage, Erosion.