ARS | Publication request: IDENTIFYING SPATIAL PATTERNS OF EROSION FOR USE IN PRECISION CONSERVATION

Submitted to: ASA-CSSA-SSSA Annual Meeting Abstracts
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: November 4, 2004
Publication Date: November 4, 2004
Citation: Schumacher, J.A., Venteris, E.R., Mccarty, G.W., Ritchie, J.C., Kaspar, T.C., Colvin, T.S., Jaynes, D.B., Karlen, D.L., Fenton, T.E., Schumacher, T.E., Lindstrom, M.J. 2004. Identifying Spatial Patterns of Erosion for Use in Precision Conservation [CD-ROM]. ASA-CSSA-SSSA Annual Meeting Abstracts. Madison, Wisconsin. p. 4780.

Technical Abstract: Cropland in hummocky landscapes of the North Central United States often has a history of erosion. Spatial erosion patterns can provide information on the association of crop production potential, soil properties, and problematic erosion/deposition areas. Two methods of defining soil erosion patterns were evaluated on two field sites in west-central Iowa: 1) Soil erosion patterns based on the soil displacement of 137Cs, a radionuclide deposited from nuclear weapon testing in the 1950s and 1960s, and 2) landscape erosion patterns generated from predictive models for tillage erosion and water erosion. Topography-driven modeling was used to estimate the erosion and deposition rates created by the water and tillage processes. The two erosion pattern estimates were compared using qualitative and quantitative methods. The tillage-water erosion model and 137Cs estimates were found to be highly correlated. Maps of spatial patterns resulting from past erosion could be used for planning precision conservation practices such as localized cover crops, soil organic matter additions, altered tillage practices, and other localized management options.