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Quantifying Intrinsic and Extrinsic Factors Affecting Soil Erodibility

Published by the American Society of Agricultural and Biological Engineers, St. Joseph, Michigan www.asabe.org

Citation:  International Symposium on Erosion and Landscape Evolution (ISELE), 18-21 September 2011, Anchorage, Alaska  711P0311cd Paper #11005.(doi:10.13031/2013.39207)
Authors:   S Kossi Nouwakpo, Chi-hua Huang
Keywords:   Erosion, Erodibility, Critical shear stress, Pore water pressure, Hydraulic gradient, Fluidized bed

Soil erodibility has traditionally been conceived as a soil dependent parameter that can be quantified from intrinsic soil properties that usually stay constant. Development of erosion prediction equations, from the empirical-based Universal Soil Loss Equation (USLE) to a more process-based Water Erosion Prediction Project (WEPP), all used erodibility terms based on the same perception that the erodibility is a soil dependent property that remains constant. Both USLE and WEPP erodibilities are derived either experimentally or through statistical regression from field plots under the most erodible condition which is defined as leaving the plot bare fallow under natural rainfall or freshly tilled seed-bed condition under simulated rain storms. This most erodible condition only considers the state of soil aggregates or particles without the influence of soil water that may in fact impose additional forces on the soil particles causing the soil to respond differently under erosive forces. If soil erodibility is defined as a measure of a soils susceptibility against erosive forces, then this erodibility concept will encompass both intrinsic and extrinsic factors affecting the strength of the soil.

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