SimPLE.ca: Simulator of productivity loss due to erosion for Canada

Abstract

:Simulator of productivity loss due to erosion for Canada. Can. J. Soil Sci. 88: 365Á376. Robust and practical estimates of the impact of soil erosion on crop productivity are essential for developing and implementing appropriate solutions for soil erosion on agricultural land. The objective of this study was to develop a simple model which captured the most important relationships between topsoil erosion and productivity loss for major agricultural regions of Canada. The model was developed for spring wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) and corn (Zea mays L.). Using annual time steps, maximum crop yields were reduced by soil erosion due to losses in available water-holding capacity, N-mineralization potential and available P. Using minimal input data, the model accounted for 56% of the variation in relative yields (fraction of non-eroded controls) determined in field studies using desurfacing or comparison plot methods.Key words: Available N and P, model, nutrients, productivity loss, simulator, soil erosion, soil properties, yield loss Bremer, E., Greer, K. J., Black, M., Townley-Smith, L., Malhi, S. S., Izaurralde, R. C. et Larney, F. J. 2008. SimPLE.ca: un logiciel simulant la diminution de rendement re´sultant de l'e´rosion au Canada. Can. J. Soil Sci. 88: 365Á376. On a absolument besoin d'estimations robustes et pratiques de l'incidence que l'e´rosion du sol a sur le rendement si l'on veut trouver des solutions convenables a`ce proble`me sur les terres agricoles et les mettre en aeuvre. L'e´tude devait conduire al 'e´laboration d'un mode`le simple qui saisirait les liens les plus importants entre l'e´rosion de la couche superficielle de sol et la diminution du rendement dans les principales zones agricoles du Canada. Le mode`le a e´te´e´labore´pour le ble´de printemps (Triticum aestivum L.) et le maı¨s (Zea mays L.). En recourant a`des intervalles de temps annuels, on se rend compte que l'e´rosion du sol re´duit le rendement maximal des cultures en abaissant la capacite´de re´tention de l'eau existante, le potentiel de mine´ralisation de l'azote et la quantite´de P disponible. Avec la saisie d'un minimum de donne´es, le mode`le re´ussit a`expliquer 56% de la variation du rendement relatif (partie des sites te´moins non e´rode´s) e´tablie lors des e´tudes sur le terrain par des techniques d'enle`vement de la surface et de comparaison des parcelles.

Assessment of vulnerability to erosion: Digital mapping of a loess cover thickness and stiffness using spectral analysis of seismic surface-waves

“…The combination of maps of soil stiffness and surficial sediment depths will allow the development and implementation of soil conservation measures to target high-priority areas. Where climatic scenarios are available, these maps can also be used to calculate the potential productivity loss using simulators, such as the SimPLE.ca model (Bremer et al, 2008). This method will also contribute to the broad discussion of reducing the inherent uncertainty in current soil mapping or attribute determinations.…”