Purpose, development, and synthesis of the Soil Vulnerability Index for inherent vulnerability classification of cropland soils

Authors: THOMPSON, ALLEN - University Of Missouri; Baffaut, Claire; LOHANI, SAPANA - University Of Nevada; DURIANCIK, LISA - Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS, USDA); NORFLEET, LEE - Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS, USDA); INGRAM, KEVIN - Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS, USDA)

Submitted to: Journal of Soil and Water Conservation
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 6/19/2019
Publication Date: 1/1/2020
Citation: Thompson, A.L., Baffaut, C., Lohani, S., Duriancik, L., Norfleet, L., Ingram, K. 2020. Purpose, development, and synthesis of the Soil Vulnerability Index for inherent vulnerability classification of cropland soils. Journal of Soil and Water Conservation. 75(1):1-11. https://doi.org/10.2489/jswc.75.1.1.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.2489/jswc.75.1.1

Interpretive Summary: The Soil Vulnerability Index was developed by the USDA-NRCS to identify the risk that crop production has on soil and water resources. Crop production often causes sediment and nutrients to be transported off the field by the movement of water on the ground surface and in the soil. This transport can potentially decrease water quality in lakes, streams, and groundwater and be the cause of loss of productivity in the field. The index is based on the soil ability to infiltrate rainfall, the slope, and the soil erodibility, and is independent of specific land management. This article defines SVI, describes its purpose and scope, and introduces the various sites used in its evaluation. Additional articles in this special collection will discuss each of the following: the effect of slope or hydrologic soil group on SVI evaluation and its usefulness to evaluate vulnerability of sediment and nutrient loss via surface runoff and leaching; SVI vulnerability assessment in a drained cropland context; SVI capacity at explaining stream sediment and nutrient loads; and SVI vulnerability assessment compared to vulnerability based on sediment and nutrient losses simulated with a hydrologic model. These articles each focus on a specific aspect of SVI. Collectively, they identify when SVI works well, as well as its limitations in certain conditions. This article will be useful for practitioners and conservationists who wish to utilize SVI.

Technical Abstract: The Soil Vulnerability Index was developed by the USDA-NRCS to identify inherent risk that crop production has on soil and water resources by causing sediment and nutrients to be transported off the field by surface runoff and leaching. This transport can potentially decrease water quality in lakes, streams, and groundwater and cause a loss of productivity in the field. The index is based on hydrologic soil group, slope, and soil erodibility for cropland soils independent of specific land management. This article defines SVI, describes its purpose and scope, and introduces the various sites used in its evaluation. Additional articles in this special collection will discuss each of the following: the effect of slope or hydrologic soil group on SVI evaluation and its usefulness to evaluate vulnerability of sediment and nutrient loss via surface runoff and leaching; SVI vulnerability assessment in a drained cropland context; SVI capacity at explaining stream sediment and nutrient loads; and SVI vulnerability assessment compared to vulnerability based on sediment and nutrient losses simulated with a hydrologic model. These articles each focus on a specific aspect of SVI. Collectively, they identify when SVI works well, as well as its limitations in certain conditions.