Erosion, controlling irrigation-induced

Sojka, R.E. and Bjorneberg, D.L. (2002) Erosion, controlling irrigation-induced. In: Lal, R., (ed.) Encyclopedia of Soil Science (1st Edition). pp. 411-414. Marcel Dekker, Inc., New York.

PDF 1068.pdf Download (305kB)

Abstract

Erosion is the greatest threat to agricultural sustainability.
Most irrigation is on fragile arid soils that have enormous
crop yield potential when irrigated. However, that yield
potential is easily lost if the thin veneer of "topsoil" is eroded
(1). Erosion prevention on irrigated land is, arguably, more
important than on rainfed land. Yields from irrigated land
are more than double those from non-irrigated land, with
nearly triple the crop value per hectare (2). In addition,
runoff and irrigation return flows (necessary in many surface
irrigation schemes) deliver sediment; human, animal and
plant pathogens; nutrients and pesticides to downstream
fields and riparian waters. These pollutants accumulate in
runoff primarily as a result of erosion.

Item Type:	Book Section
NWISRL Publication Number:	1068
Subjects:	Irrigation > Furrow irrigation > Erosion Soil > Erosion Mass Import - autoclassified (may be erroneous)
Depositing User:	Users 6 not found.
Date Deposited:	20 Nov 2010 21:55
Last Modified:	10 Nov 2016 16:25
Item ID:	813
URI:	https://eprints.nwisrl.ars.usda.gov/id/eprint/813