Soil erosion modeling and conservation planning

Authors: Ascough Ii, James; Flanagan, Dennis; Tatarko, John; Nearing, Mark; KIPKA, HOLM - Colorado State University

Submitted to: Precision Conservation: Geospatial Techniques for Agricultural and Natural Resources Conservation
Publication Type: Book / Chapter
Publication Acceptance Date: 5/10/2017
Publication Date: 12/8/2017
Citation: Ascough II, J.C., Flanagan, D.C., Tatarko, J., Nearing, M.A., Kipka, H. 2017. Soil erosion modeling and conservation planning. In: Delgado,J.A, Sassenrath, G.F., Muller, T., editors. Precision conservation: geospatial techniques for agricultural and natural resources conservation Madison, WI: ASA, CSAA, CSSA. p. 384. https://doi.doi.org/10.2134/agronmonogr59.2013.0011.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.2134/agronmonogr59.2013.0011

Interpretive Summary: Simulation modeling is one of the most powerful scientific tools available to address questions, assess alternatives, and support decision making for natural resource management. Over the past three decades, a number of erosion models with varying levels of complexity (e.g., WEPP, WEPS, SWAT, RHEM, and KINEROS2) have been developed to address a wide range of environmental issues and describe/understand the behavior of land and water systems under prevailing and projected land use and climate conditions. They are increasingly used to evaluate potential water and air quality impacts of pollution control strategies, including agricultural practices. Selection, development, and application of erosion models should be conducted according to the intended modeling purpose, i.e., prediction, exploratory analysis, or knowledge building. Whatever the modeling purpose, the key issue is establishing reasonable practical credibility in the model-based analysis. This book chapter focuses on models of soil erosion as they are used for purposes of soil conservation planning. In particular, we concentrate here primarily on soil erosion by water but will also briefly touch on models of other agricultural erosion processes such as wind erosion which apply similar principles for modeling and conservation planning.

Technical Abstract: Accelerated soil erosion induced by human activities is a primary cause of soil degradation worldwide. The main driver behind the problem is agriculture, and at stake is the long-term sustainability of global agricultural production capacity. Barring major, unforeseen scientific advances in the future, and if soil erosion and population growth remain unconstrained from their current rates, humankind may eventually lose the ability to feed itself. A significant problem associated with soil erosion is off-site sediment pollution. Costs related to the delivery of sediment to streams and other water bodies worldwide are enormous. Simulation modeling is one of the most powerful scientific tools available to address questions, assess alternatives, and support decision making for natural resource management. Over the past three decades, a number of erosion models with varying levels of complexity have been developed to address a wide range of environmental issues and describe/understand the behavior of land and water systems under prevailing and projected land use and climate conditions. They are increasingly used to evaluate potential water and air quality impacts of pollution control strategies, including agricultural practices. For example, process-based models (e.g., WEPP, WEPS, SWAT, RHEM, and KINEROS2) are commonly used to assess field- to watershed-scale management practice effects (including conservation practices) on both on-site and off-site erosion concerns. Selection, development, and application of erosion models should be conducted according to the intended modeling purpose, i.e., prediction, exploratory analysis, or knowledge building. Whatever the modeling purpose, the key issue is establishing reasonable practical credibility in the model-based analysis. This book chapter focuses on models of soil erosion as they are used for purposes of soil conservation planning. In particular, we concentrate here primarily on soil erosion by water but will also briefly touch on models of other agricultural erosion processes such as wind erosion which apply similar principles for modeling and conservation planning.