Productivity Losses from Soil Erosion on Dry Cropland in the Intermountain Area

Massee, T.W. and Waggoner, H.O. (1985) Productivity Losses from Soil Erosion on Dry Cropland in the Intermountain Area. Journal of Soil and Water Conservation. 40(5):447-450.

PDF 557.pdf Download (249kB)

Abstract

Soil erosion substantially reduces the productivity of deep, loessial soils on
dry cropland in the intermountain region. The eroded areas usually coincide with steeper
slopes where runoff is a problem. Reduced soil moisture limits crop growth, although the
eroded soils also have fertility limitations. Where erosion was simulated by removing
various amounts of topsoil from more level land, similar stored soil moisture readings
were obtained on all plots. On those plots, however, added fertilizer did not fully replace
lost topsoil for maintaining production. Also, poor soil profile moisture extraction by
crops led to reduced infiltration and increased runoff during fallow. Erosion thus seems
to be somewhat self-perpetuating, and there is no simple remedy once it has occurred.

Item Type:	Article
NWISRL Publication Number:	0557
Subjects:	Soil > Erosion Mass Import - autoclassified (may be erroneous)
Depositing User:	Dan Stieneke
Date Deposited:	20 Nov 2010 21:52
Last Modified:	13 Jan 2017 21:39
Item ID:	441
URI:	https://eprints.nwisrl.ars.usda.gov/id/eprint/441