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Submitted to: Book Chapter
Publication Type: Book / Chapter Publication Acceptance Date: 1/1/1998 Publication Date: N/A Citation: N/A Interpretive Summary: This paper reviews the history in the United States of research and technology development related to soil erosion. The major highpoints that seemed to be defining points included the marshaling of public support to control soil erosion-led by H. H. Bennett, the establishment of a series of erosion research stations, the acceptance of the concept of a tolerable soil loss limit, and research on fundamental erosion processes. Also included were the evolution of erosion prediction technology for selection of conservation practices, the widespread use of rainfall simulation as a useful tool in erosion research, growth of erosion modeling, and the propagation of erosion control technologies. Future emphasis in research and technology development will be on controlling runoff to halt and reverse land degradation, the development of economically viable production systems, and the engineering of plants for production and protection. It's shown here that science has contributed numerous solutions to the control of soil erosion by rainfall, having been driven by public support for a sustainable resource base that is able to provide for the production of food and fiber to meet the nations, and increasingly, the worlds' needs. Technical Abstract: Science has contributed numerous solutions to the control of soil erosion by rainfall. The contributions of American science in the last 100 years have been driven by the public support for a sustainable resource base that is able to provide for the production of food and fiber to meet the nations, and increasingly, the worlds' needs. Major scientific benchmarks have included the garnering of public support for support of soil and water conservation, establishment of a series of erosion research stations, the acceptance of the concept of a tolerable soil loss limit, a focus on fundamental erosion processes, evolution of erosion prediction technology, the widespread use of rainfall simulation, growth of erosion modeling, and the propagation of erosion control technologies. Future emphasis in research and technology development will be on controlling runoff to halt and reverse land degradation, the development of economically viable production systems, and the engineering of plants for production and protection. |
