HOME HELP FEEDBACK SUBSCRIPTIONS ARCHIVE SEARCH TABLE OF CONTENTS		QUICK SEARCH:   [advanced] Author: Keyword(s): Year:  Vol:  Page:

This Article Full Text (PDF) Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Services Similar articles in this journal Alert me to new issues of the journal Download to citation manager Citing Articles Citing Articles via HighWire Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Wendt, R. C. Articles by Hjelmfelt, A. T. Search for Related Content PubMed Articles by Wendt, R. C. Articles by Hjelmfelt, A. T., Jr. Agricola Articles by Wendt, R. C. Articles by Hjelmfelt, A. T.

Variability of Runoff and Soil Loss from Fallow Experimental Plots¹

ABSTRACT

The amount of unexplained variation in runoff and soil loss studies often limits the interpretation of data. In this study, variability in runoff and soil loss from 40 essentially uniform experimental plots was examined for 25 natural rainfall events occurring during a 155-d period. Plots had been maintained uniformly for the prior 3 yr and were kept fallow with periodic cultivation during the study period. Except for events producing low runoff and soil loss, event coefficients of variation were relatively constant for both runoff and soil loss at about 20%. Differences in runoff and soil loss among plots varied with event. Only minor amounts of observed variability could be attributed to any of several measured plot properties, and plot differences expressed by the 25 events did not persist in prior or subsequent runoff and soil loss observations at the site. The relatively large amount of unexplained variability shows that several replications of treatments are needed to confidently estimate mean runoff or soil loss for comparison purposes and that effects of factors having relatively minor effects on runoff or soil loss may be difficult to detect statistically. The fact that most variability is unexplained indicates important effects of factors or processes that are not currently understood.

¹ Contribution from the Watershed Research Unit, Agricultural Research Service, USDA, 207 Business Loop 70 E, Columbia, MO 65203.

² Soil Scientists and Research Hydraulic Engineer, respectively, Watershed Research Unit, USDA-ARS, Columbia, MO.

Received for publication July 5, 1985.

This article has been cited by other articles:

				F. Darboux and C.-h. Huang Does Soil Surface Roughness Increase or Decrease Water and Particle Transfers? Soil Sci. Soc. Am. J., May 6, 2005; 69(3): 748 - 756. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				H. Blanco-Canqui, C. J. Gantzer, S. H. Anderson, and E. E. Alberts Tillage and Crop Influences on Physical Properties for an Epiaqualf Soil Sci. Soc. Am. J., March 1, 2004; 68(2): 567 - 576. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				X. C. Zhang, J. M. Friedrich, M. A. Nearing, and L. D. Norton Potential use of Rare Earth Oxides as Tracers for Soil Erosion and Aggregation Studies Soil Sci. Soc. Am. J., September 1, 2001; 65(5): 1508 - 1515. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				A. Steegen, G. Govers, I. Takken, J. Nachtergaele, J. Poesen, and R. Merckx Factors Controlling Sediment and Phosphorus Export from Two Belgian Agricultural Catchments J. Environ. Qual., July 1, 2001; 30(4): 1249 - 1258. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				M. A. Nearing, G. Govers, and L.D. Norton Variability in Soil Erosion Data from Replicated Plots Soil Sci. Soc. Am. J., November 1, 1999; 63(6): 1829 - 1835. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				R. J. Loughran and R. J. Loughran The measurement of soil erosion Progress in Physical Geography, June 1, 1989; 13(2): 216 - 233. [PDF]