Impact of subsurface rock fragments on runoff and interrill soil loss from cultivated soils

Auteur(s) et Affiliation(s)



Description :
In this study interrill laboratory experiments with simulated rainfall for 60 min were conducted to assess the influence of subsurface rock fragments incorporated in a disturbed silt loam soil at different depths below the soil surface, on infiltration, surface runoff and interrill erosion processes for small and large rock fragment sizes. Although only small differences in infiltration rate and runoff volume are observed between the soil without rock fragments (control) and the one with subsurface rock fragments, considerable differences in total interrill soil loss are observed between the control treatment and both contrasting rock fragments sizes. This is explained by a rapid increase in soil moisture in the areas above the rock fragments and therefore a decrease in topsoil cohesion compared with the control soil profile. The results highlight the impacts and complexity of subsurface rock fragments on the production of runoff volume and soil loss and requires their inclusion in process-based runoff and erosion models.


Type de document :
Article de périodique

Source :
Earth surface processes and landforms, issn : 0197-9337, 2011, vol. 36, n°. 14, p. 1929-1937, nombre de pages : 9, Références bibliographiques : 46 ref.

Date :
2011

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