A Landscape Evolution Modeling Approach for Predicting Three‐Dimensional Soil Organic Carbon Redistribution in Agricultural Landscapes

Kwang, Jeffrey; Thaler, Evan A.; Quirk, Brendon; Quarrier, Caroline L.; Larsen, Isaac J.

doi:10.1029/2021jg006616

Cited by 6 publications

(26 citation statements)

References 75 publications

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“…The D values estimated by Kwang et al. (2022) are based on pixels throughout each field and hence are not influenced by the no‐flux boundary. The similarity in D values indicates that the erosion rates we measure near the boundary are of similar magnitude to erosion rates that are occurring throughout each field, and hence that our survey‐based erosion rates are not overestimates.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…A value of D has been independently determined for three of the field sites, Stinson, Hoffman, and Willis using decreases in soil thickness inferred from satellite imagery and the depth dependence of soil spectral reflectance in the adjacent prairies (Kwang et al., 2022). The mean D value for the three sites of 0.25 m 2 year −1 is of similar magnitude, though slightly higher than the value we have inferred from the topographic surveys and curvature data.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…We also performed the same Monte Carlo analysis for regression between erosion rate and curvature values (Figure 4b) and assessed the uncertainty in our estimate of D using the 68% confidence interval of the slope value. The D value determined using this approach is a time‐averaged value, as soil transport rates likely changed when non‐mechanized agriculture was replaced by mechanized farming practices (Kwang et al., 2022).…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…The fate of soil eroded from convex topography cannot be assessed using the methodology presented in our study; however, both 137 Cs budget and modeling studies indicate that the combination of tillage and water erosion on convex slopes leads to redistribution of soil to concave landscape positions (Govers et al, 1996;Kwang et al, 2022;Papiernik et al, 2009;Quine et al, 1994;Van Oost et al, 2000. The soil that is deposited in topographic concavities can be exported to drainage networks, but the rates of deposition have been shown to be greater than rates of soil export via water erosion (Pennock & De Jong, 1987;Van Oost et al, 2000), leading to an overall increase in soil thickness in concavities within agricultural fields.…”

Section: Soil Redistribution Processesmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…The mean D value for the three sites of 0.25 m 2 year −1 is of similar magnitude, though slightly higher than the value we have inferred from the topographic surveys and curvature data. The D values estimated by Kwang et al (2022) are based on pixels throughout each field and hence are not influenced by the no-flux boundary. The similarity in D values indicates that the erosion rates we measure near the boundary are of similar magnitude to erosion rates that are occurring throughout each field, and hence that our survey-based erosion rates are not overestimates.…”

Section: Influence Of Boundary Conditions and Topographic Diffusion O...mentioning

confidence: 99%

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Rates of Historical Anthropogenic Soil Erosion in the Midwestern United States

et al. 2022

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Conventional agricultural practices have accelerated soil erosion rates, resulting in widespread soil degradation throughout the world's agricultural regions (Montgomery, 2007b). Soil degradation diminishes soil fertility by removing organic matter and nutrients (Pimentel, 2006), which, without countervailing practices such as fertilization and genetic crop enhancements, leads to reductions in crop yields (Lal, 2004;Tilman et al., 2002). Fertilizer use, however, does not fully restore the productivity of eroded soils (Fenton et al., 2005), and because fossil fuels are required to generate the energy required for fertilizer production, the use of fertilizers to increase yields in degraded soils is not sustainable (Montgomery, 2007a). Further, soil erosion leads to increased agricultural production costs (Pimentel et al., 1995) and negative offsite effects such as increased sedimentation and nutrient export to downstream waterbodies (Tilman et al., 2002). In the United States, recognition of the high costs of soil erosion in the early twentieth century led to the development and implementation of soil conservation practices (Bennett, 1948). Field trials have demonstrated the efficacy of soil conservation efforts (Pimentel et al., 1976;Steiner, 1987), but it is unclear whether the advent of soil conservation practices and policies has led to a reduction of region-wide soil erosion rates in the U.S.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Soil Redistribution Processesmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Influence Of Boundary Conditions and Topographic Diffusion O...mentioning

confidence: 99%

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Rates of Historical Anthropogenic Soil Erosion in the Midwestern United States

et al. 2022

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Efficient data routing for agricultural landscapes: ensemble fuzzy crossover based golden jackal approach

Sivakumar,

Yamini,

Palaniswamy

et al. 2024

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The Future of Soils in the Midwestern United States

2023

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Soil is the source of the vast majority of food consumed on Earth, and soils constitute the largest terrestrial carbon pool. Soil erosion associated with agriculture reduces crop productivity, and the redistribution of soil organic carbon (SOC) by erosion has potential to influence the global carbon cycle. Tillage strongly influences the erosion and redistribution of soil and SOC. However, tillage is rarely considered in predictions of soil erosion in the U.S.; hence regionwide estimates of both the current magnitude and future trends of soil redistribution by tillage are unknown. Here we use a landscape evolution model to forecast soil and SOC redistribution in the Midwestern United States over centennial timescales. We predict that present‐day rates of soil and SOC erosion are 1.1 ± 0.4 kg ⋅ m−‐2 ⋅ yr−‐1 and 12 ± 4 g ⋅ m−2 ⋅ yr−1, respectively, but these rates will rapidly decelerate due to diffusive evolution of topography and the progressive depletion of SOC in eroding soil profiles. After 100 years, we forecast that 8.8 (+1.9/−2.1) Pg of soil and 0.17 (+0.03/−0.04) Pg of SOC will have eroded, causing the surface concentration of SOC to decrease by 4.4% (+0.9/−1.1%). Model simulations that include more widespread adoption of low‐intensity tillage (i.e., no‐till farming) determine that soil redistribution, SOC redistribution, and surficial SOC loss after 100 years would decrease by ∼95% if low‐intensity tillage is fully adopted. Our findings indicate that low‐intensity tillage could greatly decrease soil degradation and that the potential for agricultural soil erosion to influence the global carbon cycle will diminish with time due to a reduction in SOC burial.

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A Landscape Evolution Modeling Approach for Predicting Three‐Dimensional Soil Organic Carbon Redistribution in Agricultural Landscapes

Abstract: Plow-based agriculture causes soil erosion rates to increase by orders of magnitude relative to erosion rates in undisturbed landscapes (

Cited by 6 publications

References 75 publications

Rates of Historical Anthropogenic Soil Erosion in the Midwestern United States

Rates of Historical Anthropogenic Soil Erosion in the Midwestern United States

Efficient data routing for agricultural landscapes: ensemble fuzzy crossover based golden jackal approach

The Future of Soils in the Midwestern United States

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