ARS | Publication request: RECENT PROGRESSES IN SOIL EROSION PROCESS RESEARCH

Submitted to: Agronomy Abstracts
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: October 18, 1998
Publication Date: N/A

Technical Abstract: Recent laboratory rainfall simulation studies on a multiple-box system have produced new insights toward the understanding of soil erodibility, erosion processes and their relationships to surface hydrologic conditions. The design of the multiple-box system allows us to simulate hydrologic conditions and erosion processes occurring on a hillslope segment. Furthermore, the multiple-box system can be used to quantify sediment budget for calculating detachment or deposition rate at the control segment as both hydrologic and erosive conditions are changed. Experimental results demonstrated the effects of surface hydrologic condition on both soil erodibility and dominant erosion processes. Under drainage conditions, the sediment regime was detachment-limiting and the excessive sediment could be deposited. Under seepage conditions, severe rilling occurred and the sediment regime was transport-limiting. These findings lead to new erodibility and erosion process concepts in the development of a process-based erosion model.