Furrow Erosion and Topsoil Losses

Everts, Christopher J. and Carter, David L. (1981) Furrow Erosion and Topsoil Losses. University of Idaho Current Information Series No. 586. University of Idaho College of Agriculture. 4 pp.

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Abstract

Furrow irrigation is an effective means of applying
water to a crop. Unfortunately, it can also be
effective in removing topsoil.
Annual soil losses on furrow-irrigated fields can
average from almost nothing on a nearly level alfalfa
field to 30 tons an acre on sugarbeet fields with
more than a 2 percent slope. Thirty tons of soil is
almost 25 cubic yards.
A 30-ton per acre yearly soil loss adds up to 1 inch
of topsoil lost every 5 years. Put another way, erosion
can haul away 40 pickup loads of topsoil from
each acre in one season.

Item Type:	Technical Bulletin
NWISRL Publication Number:	0459
Subjects:	Irrigation > Furrow irrigation > Erosion Irrigation > Furrow irrigation > Runoff losses Soil > Erosion Mass Import - autoclassified (may be erroneous)
Depositing User:	Dan Stieneke
Date Deposited:	20 Nov 2010 21:58
Last Modified:	27 Oct 2016 15:18
Item ID:	1163
URI:	https://eprints.nwisrl.ars.usda.gov/id/eprint/1163