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ARS Home » Pacific West Area » Tucson, Arizona » SWRC » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #158382
Title: TESTING THE HILLSLOPE EROSION MODEL FOR APPLICATION IN INDIA, NEW ZEALAND AND AUSTRALIA 1569

Author
item COGLE, A. - DEPT. NAT. RES. AND MINES
item LANE, L. - RETIRED ARS
item BASHER, L. - LANDCARE RESEARCH

Submitted to: Journal of Environmental Modeling and Software
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 12/20/2002
Publication Date: 9/20/2003
Citation: Environ. Modelling & Software 18:825-830.

Interpretive Summary: The hillslope erosion model (HEM) was developed to describe erosion and sediment yield on rangelands and is based on mathematical relationships among sediment yield, runoff, hillslope characteristics, and a relative soil erodibility value. It is available on the web site, http://www.eisnr.tucson.ars.ag.gov[HillslopeErosionModel. Currently, HEM has had limited application outside the USA. Our aim was to test the utility of the model with data from (a) a sandy. loam at Hyderabad, India; (b) a clay loam at Pukekohe, New Zealand; and (c) a heavy red clay soil in northern Australia. Calibration showed that derived relative soil erodibility values for Indian and Australian locations differed from those determined for the USA datasets, however the default value appeared to be applicable for the New Zealand data with some variability. Our testing suggests that further calibration and analysis are necessary before default values can be identified for all sites. We also suggest however, that cautious use with derived soil erodibilities is possible at these locations, as further model testing occurs.

Technical Abstract: The hillslope erosion model (HEM) was developed to describe erosion and sediment yield on rangelands and is based on mathematical relationships among sediment yield, runoff, hillslope characteristics, and a relative soil erodibility value. It is available on the web site, http://www.eisnr.tucson.ars.ag.gov[HillslopeErosionModel. Currently, HEM has had limited application outside the USA. Our aim was to test the utility of the model with data from (a) a sandy. loam at Hyderabad, India; (b) a clay loam at Pukekohe, New Zealand; and (c) a heavy red clay soil in northern Australia. Calibration showed that derived relative soil erodibility values for Indian and Australian locations differed from those determined for the USA datasets, however the default value appeared to be applicable for the New Zealand data with some variability. Our testing suggests that further calibration and analysis are necessary before default values can be identified for all sites. We also suggest however, that cautious use with derived soil erodibilities is possible at these locations, as further model testing occurs.