Suitability of Universal Soil Loss Erodibility, Inter-rill and Rill Erodibility Models for Selected Tropical Soils

Oshunsanya, Suarau Odutola; Nwosu, Nkem Joseph

doi:10.1515/ats-2017-0020

Abstract

The universal soil loss equation (USLE) and water erosion prediction project (WEPP) (inter-rill and rill) erodibility factors are important indicators for land degradation assessment all over the world, which were primarily developed for the United States of America (USA). However, information on suitability of USLE and WEPP for tropical environment is scarce. Therefore, studies were carried out to investigate the suitability of USLE and WEPP for selected tropical soils of Southwestern Nigeria. Four pedons classified based on USDA soil taxonomy as Plinthic Petraquept (Adio series), Kanhaplic Haplaustalf (Oyo series), Typic Plinthustalf (Temidire series) and Typic Haplaustalf (Owutu series) were used for the study. Soil erodibility factor was determined using USLE and WEPP models. Origin-Pro. 8.1 software was employed to compare USLE and WEPP models for conformity and suitability. The results showed perfect agreement (R² = 1.0; P < 0.001) between the two WEPP (inter-rill and rill) erodibility models in all the four soil types investigated. In addition, WEPP models (inter-rill and rill erodibility) significantly (R² = 0.82; P < 0.001) related to USLE (El-Swaify and Dangler, 1977) erodibility model. There was a poor relationship (R² = 0.46; P < 0.06) between USLE (Wischmeier and Mannering, 1968) and the WEPP erodibility factors. The WEPP erodibility models with a perfect relationship with soil properties of the four soil types are more suitable than USLE models for predicting soil erodibility of the identified soil types in tropical environments.

References

Amezketa E., Aragues R., Carranza R., Urgel B. (2003): Macro- and micro-aggregate stability of soils determined by a combination of wet-sieving and laser-ray diffraction. Spanish Journal of Agricultural Research 1: 83–94.10.5424/sjar/2003014-50
Search in Google Scholar Back to article
Babalola O., Zagal E. (2000): Physical conditions and degradation of Nigerian soils. In: O. Babalola (ed.). Land Degradation and Rehabilitation, Proceedings of the 26th Annual Conference of the Soil Science Society of Nigeria, 3 October–3 November, 2000, Ibadan, Nigeria.
Search in Google Scholar Back to article
Bremme J. M. (1996): Nitrogen – Total. In: Methods of Soil Analysis, Part 3, Chemical Method. 2nd Edition, ed., Sparks, D. L., Soil Science Society of America Book Series, No. 5. SSSA, Madison, WI. USA, pp. 1085–1121.
Search in Google Scholar Back to article
Castellanos-Navarrete A., Chocobar A., Cox R. A., Fonteyne S., Govaerts B., Jespers N., Kienle F., Sayre K. D., Verhulst N. (2013): Soil Aggregate Stability by Wet Sieving: A Practical Guide for Comparing Crop Management Practices. International Maize and Wheat Improvement Center, Spain, pp. 1–4.
Search in Google Scholar Back to article
Dangler E. W., El-Swaify S. A., Ahuja L. R., Barnett A. P. (1976): Erodibility of Selected Hawaii Soils by Rainfall Simulation. ARS W-35, ARS/USDA-University of Hawaii Agricultural Experiment Station, Honolulu, Hawaii, USA, pp. 10–31.
Search in Google Scholar Back to article
El-Swaify S. A., Dangler E. W. (1977): Erodibility of selected tropical soils in relation to structural and hydrologic parameters. Soil Erosion: Prediction and Control. Proceedings National Soil Erosion Conference at Purdue University, May 24–26, 1976. Soil and Conservation Society of America, Ankeny, Iowa, USA, pp. 105–114.
Search in Google Scholar Back to article
Ezeabasili A. C. C., Okoro B. U., Emengini E. J. (2014): Relative Erodibilities of some Soils from Anambra Basin. Sky Journal of Soil Science and Environmental Management 3: 83–90.
Search in Google Scholar Back to article
FAO/IUSS (2014): World Reference Base for Soil Resources. A Framework for International Classification, Correlation and Communication. Bulletin Report No. 106, FAO, Rome. 191 p.
Search in Google Scholar Back to article
Flanagan D. C., Nearing M. A. (1995): USDA-Water erosion prediction project: hillslope profile and watershed model documentation. NSERL Report No. 10. USDA-ARS National Soil Erosion Research Laboratory, West Lafayette, Indiana, 125 p.
Search in Google Scholar Back to article
Gee G. W., Or D. (2002): Particle size analysis. In: Dane, J., and Topp, G. C., eds., Methods of Soil Analysis, Part 4: Physical Methods. Soil Science Society of America, Madison, WI, pp. 255–294.
Search in Google Scholar Back to article
Grossman R. B., Reinsch T. G. (2002): Bulk density and linear extensibility. In: Methods of soil analysis Part 4. Physical Methods, Dane, J. H. and Topp, G. C. (Eds).: Soil Science Society of America Book series No 5, ASA and Soil Science Society of America, Madison, WI, pp. 201–228.10.2136/sssabookser5.4.c9
Search in Google Scholar Back to article
Hussein M. H., Kariem T. H., Othman A. K. (2007): Predicting soil erodibility in northern Iraq using natural runoff plot data. Soil and Tillage Research 94: 220–228.10.1016/j.still.2006.07.012
Search in Google Scholar Back to article
Laflen J. M., Elliot W. J., Simanton J. R., Holzhey C. S., Kohl K. D. (1991): WEPP soil erodibility experiments for rangeland and crop land soils. Journal of Soil and Water Conservation 46: 39–44.
Search in Google Scholar Back to article
Lal R. (1976): Soil erosion problems on an Alfisol in Western Nigeria and their control. IITA Monograph No. 1, Ibadan, Nigeria.
Search in Google Scholar Back to article
Lujan L. D. (2003): Soil Properties Affecting Soil Erosion in Tropical Soils. Lecture at the College of Soil Physics, Trieste, Italy, 3–21 March, 2003.
Search in Google Scholar Back to article
Manrigue L. A. (1988): Land Erodibility Assessment Methodology. LEAM Using Soil Survey Data Based on Soil Taxonomy. Editorial and Publication Shop, Hawaii, 40 p.
Search in Google Scholar Back to article
McLean E. V. (1982): Aluminium, In: Methods of soil analysis, Part 2, eds. Page, A. L., Miller, R. H. and Keeney, D. R. American Society of Agronomy, Madison WI., pp. 978–998.
Search in Google Scholar Back to article
Nearing M. A., Foster G. R., Lane L. J., Finker S. C. (1989): A process-based soil erosion model for USDA-water erosion prediction project technology. Transactions of the American Society of Agricultural Engineers 32: 1587–1593.10.13031/2013.31195
Search in Google Scholar Back to article
Nelson D. W., Sommers L. E. (1982): Total carbon, organic carbon and organic matter. In: Methods of soil analysis, part 2, eds. Page, A. L., Miller, R. H. and Keeney, D. R. American Society of Agronomy, Madison WI., pp. 539–579.10.2134/agronmonogr9.2.2ed.c29
Search in Google Scholar Back to article
O’Geen A. T., Schwankl L. J. (2006): Understanding soil erosion in irrigated agriculture. Oakland: University of California Division of Agriculture and Natural Resources, Publication 8196.10.3733/ucanr.8196
Search in Google Scholar Back to article
Romero C. C., Stroosnijer L., Baigorri G. A. (2007): Interrill and rill erodibility in the northern Andean Highlands. Catena 70: 105–113.10.1016/j.catena.2006.07.005
Search in Google Scholar Back to article
Romkens M. J. M., Poesen J. W. A., Wang, J. Y. (1988): Relationship between the USLE soil erodibility factor and soil properties. In: Rimwanichland S. (ed.) Conservation for Future Generations (Bangkok: Department of Land Development), pp. 371–385.
Search in Google Scholar Back to article
Roose E. J. (1977): Use of the Universal Soil Loss Equation to predict erosion in West Africa. In: Soil Erosion: Prediction and control, 60–74. Soil Conservation Society of America. Special Publication No. 21.
Search in Google Scholar Back to article
Singh R. A. (1982): Soil physical analysis. Kalyani Publishers, New Delhi, 71 p.
Search in Google Scholar Back to article
Soil Survey Staff (2014): Keys to soil taxonomy. 12th Edition. Washington, DC. Natural Resources Conservation Service, United States Department of Agriculture.
Search in Google Scholar Back to article
Song Y., Liu L., Yan P., Cao T. (2005): A review of soil erodibility in water and wind erosion research. Journal of Geographical Sciences 15: 167–176.10.1007/BF02872682
Open DOI Search in Google Scholar Back to article
Torri D., Poesen J., Borselli L. (1997): Predictability and uncertainty of the soil erodibility factor using a global dataset. Catena 31: 1–22.10.1016/S0341-8162(97)00036-2
Open DOI Search in Google Scholar Back to article
Udo E. J., Ibia T. O., Ogunwale J. A., Ano A. O., Esu I. E. (2009): Manual of soil, plant and water analysis. Sibon Books Ltd., Lagos. 183 p.
Search in Google Scholar Back to article
Vanelslande A., Rousseau P., Lal R., Gabriels D., Ghuman B. S. (1984): Testing the applicability of a soil erodibility nomogram for some tropical soils. Challenges in African Hydrology and Water Resource. Proceedings of the Harare Symposium, July 1984. Publication No. 144.
Search in Google Scholar Back to article
Wang B., Zheng F. L., Römkens M. J. (2012): Comparison of soil erodibility factors in USLE, RUSLE2, EPIC and Dg models based on a Chinese soil erodibility database. Acta Agriculturae Scandinavica, Section B — Soil and Plant Science 63: 69–79.
Search in Google Scholar Back to article
Wang B., Zheng F., Romkens M. J., Darboux F. (2013): Soil erodibility for water erosion: A perspective and Chinese Experience. Geomorphomlogy 187: 1–10.10.1016/j.geomorph.2013.01.018
Search in Google Scholar Back to article
Wischmeier W. H., Mannering J. V. (1969): Relation of soil properties to its erodibility. Soil Science Society of America 33: 131–137.10.2136/sssaj1969.03615995003300010035x
Open DOI Search in Google Scholar Back to article
Wischmeier W. H., Smith D. D. (1965): Predicting rainfall erosion losses from cropland east of the Rocky Mountains. United States Department of Agriculture. U.S. Government Printing Office, Washington D.C. Agricultural Handbook, 282 p.
Search in Google Scholar Back to article
Zhang K. L., Shu A. P., Xu X. L., Yang Q. K., Yu B. (2008): Soil erodibility and its estimation for agricultural soils in China. Journal of Arid Environments 72: 1002–1011.10.1016/j.jaridenv.2007.11.018
Open DOI Search in Google Scholar Back to article
Zhang K., Li S., Peng W., Yu B. (2004): Erodibility of agricultural soils on the Loess Plateau of China. Soil and Tillage Research 76: 157–165.10.1016/j.still.2003.09.007
Search in Google Scholar Back to article
Zhang X. K., Xu J. H., Lu X. Q., Deng Y. J., Gao D. W. (1992): A study on the soil loss equation in Heilongjiang Province. Bulletin of Soil and Water Conservation 12: 1–9.
Search in Google Scholar Back to article
Zhou P., Wu C. (1993): The research method of soil anti-scourability experiment on the Loess Plateau. Journal of Soil and Water Conservation 7: 29–34.
Search in Google Scholar Back to article

Suitability of Universal Soil Loss Erodibility, Inter-rill and Rill Erodibility Models for Selected Tropical Soils

Abstract

Paradigm

My account