Soil erodibility calculations based on different particle size distribution measurements

Abstract

In this study we focused on the factors aff ecting fi nal outputs of the USLE (Universal Soil Loss Equation) model. In doing so, we conducted soil particle size measurements in diff erent institutions (University of Debrecen, University of Szeged and Geographical Institute, Research Centre for Astronomy and Earth Sciences of the Hungarian Academy of Sciences) with a variety of methodologies (laser, aerometer and pipett e methods) on various soil materials (sandy, loamy and clay). Statistical analyses of the eight examined soil samples have been shown some signifi cant and some non-signifi cant diff erences among the particle size measurements. This paper is aimed at i) to ascertain whether these signifi cant diff erences in particle size measurements cause signifi cant diff erences in soil erodibility calculations; and ii) to assess the amount of soil loss calculated by these K factors. The results suggest that regardless of the relatively small percentage between the smallest and the greatest K factor values, the amount of soil loss can be fairly high, especially when erosion occurs on a longer or steeper slope. In the present case, when we compare simulations results, the amount of soil loss is more important than the diff erence in percentage between the minimum and maximum values. Because the percentage of the diff erence can remain the same between the simulations, while the amount of soil loss increases way beyond soil loss tolerance limits.

Comparison of Different Texture Analysis for Soil Erodibility Calculations of Loamy and Sandy-Loam Soils in Moravian Regions

“…Differences can be caused by differences in the preparation of samples, or an error caused by human factor in reading the areometer, or error due to the surrounding environment. Also other foreign authors (Centeri, 2002;Centeri et al, 2015;Kondrlová et al, 2013) deal with a comparison of the standard methods with the laser diffraction method by means of regression analysis. Most commonly, the laser diffraction method is compared with the pipette method.…”

Differences in Mineral Phase Associated Soil Organic Matter Composition due to Varying Tillage Intensity

“…A Fritsch Analysette 22 MicroTec Plus (Fritsch GmbH, Idar-Oberstein, Germany) device was used in the range of 0.2-2000.0 µm. Particle sizes were calculated by applying the Mie theory with a refractive index of 1.45 [34]. To compare the particle size distribution results of this study with those measured by the pipette method, the higher boundary of the clay fraction was chosen as 5 µm [35].…”

Unique botanical values in a metropolitan area and the landscape history reasons of their occurrence on the Széchenyi Hill, Budapest

“…expansion of built-up areas), the heavy load of tourism (especially on non-designated routes), airsoft races, some illegal shelters for homeless people and game damage (recent study from an adjacent area by Tamás et al 2017a) threaten this unique refuge of high natural values. As soil loss is definitely larger on the steeper and longer slopes (Centeri and Pataki 2003;Centeri et al 2015), illegal off-road mountain biking should be stopped at least in the valuable grassland patches.…”