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The WEPP model for runoff and erosion prediction under sprinkler irrigation

El Modelo WEPP para la Predicción de la Erosión y Deslave Bajo irrigación por Aspersión

Kincaid, D.C. (2002) The WEPP model for runoff and erosion prediction under sprinkler irrigation. Transactions of the ASAE. 45(1):67-72.

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Abstract

Potential runoff and erosion is a serious problem for some types of sprinkler irrigation systems, particularly
traveling laterals and center pivots on medium– to heavy–textured soils operating on sloping land. Prediction of when runoff
might occur is part of the system design process. The USDA–ARS Water Erosion Prediction Project (WEPP) model was tested
with 3 years of field data under high–rate sprinklers in southern Idaho. Runoff and soil loss were measured on the upper,
middle, and lower portions of a hillslope. The main parameter affecting infiltration and runoff was the effective hydraulic
conductivity. Model predictions for average runoff and soil loss were improved when hydraulic conductivity values were
adjusted to account for soil variability across the field. Runoff amounts were small, and prediction variability for individual
furrows was quite high, but no more than would be expected from previous studies of infiltration variability. Soil loss
predictions were unreliable for the small runoff amounts occurring in this study. The most reasonable use of WEPP for
sprinkler irrigation would be for estimating when potential runoff might occur under center pivots for different soils, slopes,
and crop management practices, and to determine limits on application depths and rates to avoid serious runoff

Item Type: Article
NWISRL Publication Number: 1063
Subjects: Irrigation > Furrow irrigation > Erosion
Irrigation > Furrow irrigation > Runoff losses
Irrigation > Sprinkler irrigation
Soil > Erosion
Research methodology
Mass Import - autoclassified (may be erroneous)
Depositing User: Dan Stieneke
Date Deposited: 20 Nov 2010 21:50
Last Modified: 14 Nov 2016 15:56
Item ID: 135
URI: https://eprints.nwisrl.ars.usda.gov/id/eprint/135