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ARS Home » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #118175
Title: SOIL ORGANIC CARBON EROSION ASSESSMENT BY CESIUM-137

Author
item HAO, Y - OHIO STATE UNIVERSITY
item LAL, R - OHIO STATE UNIVERSITY
item Owens, Lloyd
item IZAURRALDE, R - PACIFIC NW NATIONAL LAB

Submitted to: Book Chapter
Publication Type: Book / Chapter
Publication Acceptance Date: 3/8/2001
Publication Date: N/A
Citation: N/A

Interpretive Summary:

Technical Abstract: Soil organic carbon (SOC) dynamics is an important issue in increasing soil fertility and improving water and air quality. SOC erosion is one of the processes depleting the SOC pool. The methods of assessment of SOC erosion can elucidate the effects of management on SOC dynamics by erosion, oxidation and leaching. Soil 137Cs method is a unique tool for assessing SOC erosion in that it can assess total erosion by water, wind, gravity an tillage. It is a simple, rapid and relatively low cost method for historic, comparative and long-term erosion studies for point, plot and watershed scales. The analyses of our and other data indicate that the revised exponential equation and proportional equation can provide a satisfactory assessment for historic and long-term soil and SOC erosion. The accuracy of the 137Cs method can be further improved by obtaining information about the potential loss of 137Cs with runoff, particulate organic matter and fine mineral particles.