Soil loss through erosion is influenced by a variety of factors. According to Morgan (2005), the factors controlling soil erosion are the erosivity of the eroding agent, the erodibility of the soil, the slope of the land and the nature of the plant cover. The eroding agent essentially refers to eroding forces such as water and wind. However, the current study focuses only on erosion by water, even though wind erosion is also significant. The above factors are also highlighted by Wischmeier and Smith (1978) and incorporated into the Universal Soil Loss Equation (USLE):
A = RKLSCP, (Equation 1) where A represents the computed soil loss per unit area, R is rainfall, K is soil erodibility, LS is slope length, C is vegetation cover and P
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(1997), soil erodibility is the average long-term soil and soil profile response to the erosive power of rainstorms. The soil erodibility is therefore a lumped parameter that represents an integrated average annual value of the total soil and soil profile reaction to a large number of erosion and hydrologic processes (Tingting et al, 2008). Erodibility defines the resistance of the soil to both detachment and transport. Although the resistance of soil to erosion depends in part on topographic position, slope steepness and the amount of disturbance, such as during tillage, the properties of the soil are the most important determinants (Tya & Oluwaseye, 2015). Erodibility varies with soil texture, aggregate stability, shear strength, infiltration capacity and organic and chemical content (Renard et al., 1997). Large particles are resistant to transport because of the greater force required to entrain them and fine particles are resistant to detachment because of their cohesiveness (Renard et al., 1997). The least resistant particles are silt and fine sands. Thus, soils with silt content above 40% are highly erodible (Richter and Negendank, 1977). Evans (1980) examined erodibility in terms of clay content, and found that soils with clay content between 9%–30% are the most susceptible to erosion. High soil erodibility is usually observed at lower elevations where soil structure, profiles are more defined and soils much deeper, this also assumes that …show more content…
The above ground components, such as leaves and stems, absorb some of the energy of falling raindrops, running water and wind, so that less is directed at the soil, whereas the below-ground components, comprising the root system, contribute to the mechanical strength of the soil (Morgan, 2005). Interdependency is therefore established between the vegetation cover, whereby the cover increases the soil resistance to erosion, which collectively is termed erodibility.
An experiment demonstrating the effect of vegetation cover known as the mosquito gauze experiment was conducted by Hudson and Jackson (1959). Soil loss was measured from two identical bare plots on a clay loam soil. Over one plot, a fine wire gauze was suspended, which had the effect of breaking up the force of the raindrops, absorbing their impact and allowing the water to fall to the ground from a low height as a fine spray; the mean annual soil loss over a ten year period was 126.6 t ha-1 for the open plot and 0.9 t ha-1 for the plot covered by gauze (Morgan, 2005). There is therefore a very significant effect of vegetation on lowering erosion rates. Figure 1.1 demonstrates the relationship between the soil loss ratio (SLR) and vegetation
Think about what dirt is, unimportant debris. No! dirt is the foundation of all life, but its importance is overlooked. Sharon Olds, author of the poem "Ode to Dirt", tells of her point of view on dirt and how it has changed after realizing it, comparing it with other importances in nature. In "Ode to Dirt" Olds uses metaphors, personification, and word choices to change the general opinion about what dirt is. Olds uses metaphors to transcend the literal meaning of dirt and also to try to increase the value placed on dirt.
Freshwater is also looked at as floodplain management is observed. The patterns of environmental quality are also examined. My hypothesis is that pH levels and drainage account for the significant differences in vegetation between the areas. This is because both drainage and pH levels play a role in what type of soil is available. The pH level determines the types of plants that grow and the drainage effects the type of soil present, which influences the
Have you ever wondered what was on this campus before it became a university? Would you have looked up any information if you didn’t have to write an essay on it? In “Unbroken Ground”, by Savannah State University the article gave us an illustration of what Savannah State was like before it became a University. The land was once a place for slaves, immigrants, trade, and eventually to gain an education. Savannah was founded as a “social and religious utopia, mainly to attract as many adventurous people as possible to inhabit the area.”
In the years following World War I the increase in farmland only continued, but while farming stayed on an upward trend the average amount of rainfall per year was on a downward trend. As they reached the depression in the mid 1930’s the Great Plains states were in a drought falling from an average of 33.4 inches of rain a year to as low as 9.7 inches, while anything lower than 20 inches being considered catastrophic (Document E). This drought on its own would not have been problematic if not for the ever increasing amounts of topsoil that was left vulnerable by the farming methods of the time. All the loose topsoil due to farming methods hit by a nearly decade long drought and hard winds completely lifted the topsoil off of the ground and blew it away. Topsoil that originated in Texas was blown as far away as New
They saved thousands of acres of land from erosion. They kept farmland from ruining and land from fires and diseases. They decreased soil erosion by laying some topsoil to prevent landslides and mudslides. Another way to decrease soil erosion
DeekshithKumar Thadishetti Professor mankerian LS 690 July 31 2015 Climate change is one of the global issue that requires multiperspective approach. One of the key cause of climate change is air pollution. Air pollution occurs as a result of release of greenhouse gases to the atmosphere. There are two key sources of air pollution that should be targeted if the air pollution is to be reduced. The first source is the industrial stationay sources, which include electric power facilities.
How the landscape and soil shape middle,new england and southern colonies New England ; the Soil in the New England region is quite rocky, hilly, and shallow. It made England hard to plant and export cash crops England was by the Atlantic ocean. The land in New England was shaped by glaciers. During the Ice Age, thick sheets of ice cut through the mountains. Glaciers pushed rocks and rich soil south.
Symbols in the “August 2026: There Will Come Soft Rains” by Ray Bradbury In the short story August 2026: There Will Come Soft Rains Ray Bradbury focuses readers’ attention on the last day of a smart house. Unlike its owners and other people, the building survived in an unnamed disaster with all its mechanisms and continued to follow its habitual schedule for some time. But it lost the last battle with forces of nature.
The Wilderness of Death Summer camp is supposed to be a sunny, adventurous and fun time in a child's life, but not in Margaret Atwood's, Death By Landscape. Atwood tells a story of a women, Lois, that experiences the tragic loss of her best friend, Lucy, as a young girl. The story goes on to tell the effects the tragic disappearance had on Lois. In order to illustrate Lois’ symbolic death, Atwood uses the motif of landscapes as well as comparisons and imagery.
4. Habitat alteration: Removal and reduction of natural habitat by flooding, soil erosion and water
Agricultural practices did as well. Farmers had been using intensive farming techniques such as monoculture, overgrazing, and deep plowing to maximize their crop yields. These practices led to the depletion of soil nutrients, leaving it vulnerable to erosion by wind and water. Additionally, farmers had removed native grasses that held the soil together and replaced them with crops like wheat. When drought hit the region in the 1930’s, these unsustainable practices exacerbated its effects.
In Chapter 4 of Uneven Ground, Wilkins discusses the United States v. Winans case which regarded tribal rights. It held that the Yakamas tribe had “reserved rights” to hunt and fish because the Winans brothers had been depleting the salmon in the river. Wilkins also writes how the tribes implemented their rights based on their original and indigenous sovereignty. Chief Justice Fuller recognized this and confirmed the tribe’s rights to hunt and fish because of tribal sovereignty (125). In a similar case, Winters v. United States (1908), a man had built a dam that restricted all water flow down the Milk River.
Abstract: The purpose of this experiment was to determine whether the amount of topsoil would influence the growth of radish plants. It was hypothesized that if the amount of topsoil increased by 50% would increase because topsoil contains the essential nutrients which are required for proper plant growth. The principle findings indicated that a medium amount of topsoil is ideal for plant growth as the radish plant potted in 50 ml of topsoil experienced the most growth in comparison to the radish plants potted either in 25 ml or 200 ml of topsoil. Introduction: A healthy layer of topsoil comprises of a mixture of clay, sand, silt, and humus that supply the plants with vital nutrients, such as nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium and other necessary
Introduction: In this task I will be researching the effect that acid rain has on the rate of plant growth. Acid rain is any type of precipitation with a high pH, with high levels of nitric acids. The reason why I had chosen this topic was because acid rain seems to have a great effect on the effect of plant growth, and plants play a very important role in our ecosystem. Acid rain is a major problem in our environment when we are not able to neutralize the acidity.
Introduction Plants are a major necessity in the balance of nature, people’s lives, and our terrain. We may not realize it, but plants are the ultimate source of food for almost 95% of the world population so says the National Group of Food. It’s a fact that over 7,000 species of plants are being consumed today. Plants are one of the reasons that we get clean water; as they help regulate the water cycle.