Furrow irrigation erosion lowers soil productivity

Carter, D.L. (1993) Furrow irrigation erosion lowers soil productivity. Journal of Irrigation and Drainage Engineering. 119(6):964-974.

PDF 822.pdf Download (546kB)

Abstract

Recent research efforts have shown that soil erosion decreases soil
productivity. Erosion-caused crop production decreases of 15-40% are commonly
reported with some values over 50%. Furrow erosion on irrigated land in Idaho
decreases topsoil depth on the upslope approximately 33% of the field area and
may increase topsoil depth on the downslope 50-55%. Crop yields arc generally
decreased where topsoil depths are decreased, but yields are not generally increased
where topsoil depths are increased beyond a critical depth. Crops vary in their
sensitivity to decreases in topsoil depth, but all crops studied exhibited lower yields
on the eroded areas. Soil productivity potential of one area representing several
million ha of furrow irrigated land was reduced at least 25% by furrow erosion
over 80 irrigation seasons. Technology is not available to restore soil productivity
potential to the level that would exist had there been no erosion except for returning
topsoil to eroded areas. Research and technology applications arc needed to reduce
or eliminate topsoil loss and redistribution by irrigation erosion.

Item Type:	Article
NWISRL Publication Number:	0822
Additional Information:	ASCE Paper #4143
Subjects:	Irrigation > Furrow irrigation > Erosion Soil > Erosion Mass Import - autoclassified (may be erroneous)
Depositing User:	Dan Stieneke
Date Deposited:	20 Nov 2010 21:53
Last Modified:	01 Dec 2016 20:48
Item ID:	607
URI:	https://eprints.nwisrl.ars.usda.gov/id/eprint/607