Seasonal evolution of runoff generation on agricultural land in the Belgian loess belt and implications for muddy flood triggering

Auteur(s) et Affiliation(s)

EVRARD, O.

Dept. de Géographie, Univ. catholique, Louvain-la-Neuve, Belgique

BIELDERS, C.

Dept. des Sciences du Milieu et de l'Aménagement du Territoire, Univ. catholique, Louvain-la-Neuve, Belgique

VAN WESEMAEL, B.

Dept. de Géographie, Univ. catholique, Louvain-la-Neuve, Belgique

Description :
Three soil surface characteristics are relevant to determine the runoff potential of cultivated soils : soil cover by crops and residues, soil surface crusting and roughness. These characteristics have been observed on 65 cultivated fields throughout 2005. A heavy rainfall event representative for events triggering muddy floods in the region has been simulated with the 17 most observed combinations of soil surface characteristics in central Belgium. A classification of runoff generation risk based on the surveys of soil surface characteristics has been applied to common crops of central Belgium. It appears from monitoring of a 16 ha catchment that the highest runoff volumes and peak discharges are recorded between May and August after heavy rainfall, explaining why 85% of muddy floods are recorded during this period in central Belgium.

Type de document :
Article de périodique

Source :
Earth surface processes and landforms, issn : 0197-9337, 2008, vol. 33, n°. 8, p. 1285-1301, nombre de pages : 17, Références bibliographiques : 48 ref.

Date :
2008

Editeur :
Pays édition : Royaume-Uni, Chichester, Wiley

Langue :
Anglais