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 Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Guerrant, D. G. Articles by Narayanan, R. Search for Related Content PubMed Articles by Guerrant, D. G. Articles by Narayanan, R. Agricola Articles by Guerrant, D. G. Articles by Narayanan, R.

Site-Specific Erosivity Evaluation of a Sierra Nevada Forested Watershed Soil

Dep. Range, Wildlife, and Forestry, Univ. of Nevada, 1000 Valley Rd., Reno, NV 89512;

R. Narayanan

Dep. of Agric. Econ., Univ. of Nevada, Reno, NV 89512.

^* Corresponding author.

ABSTRACT

Little quantitative site-specific infiltration, runoff, and erosion data for forested watershed soils of the Tahoe Basin are available. A Modular-type rainfall simulator was used to examine these variables for the Cagwin (mixed Typic Cryopsamment) soil series. Three slope (0–15, 15–30, >30%) and four plot conditions (undisturbed with natural duff, undisturbed without natural duff, disturbed without natural duff, and disturbed with natural duff removed) were studied. Infiltration and runoff data were incorporated into a modified Philip's model whereas erosion data were incorporated into a general nonlinear model. Data sets were analyzed via nonlinear regression for slope and plot interaction. Slope had negligible effect on infiltration and runoff but had a significant effect on erosion. Plot condition had significant effects on infiltration, runoff, and erosion. Final infiltration rates ranged from 4.7 to 6.1 cm h^–1, runoff ranged from 36 to 59% of the application rates, and cumulative interrill erosion ranged from 37.5 to 108.4 g m^–2 for a simulated design storm of 8 to 10 cm h^–1. The findings of this investigation were consistent with those of related quantitative investigations and indicate that the Cagwin soil has a low relative erosivity. Data from this study further suggest that previously applied models used to estimate potential erosion hazards of forested watershed soils may well result in over-estimation of erosion potential.

A contribution of the Agric. Exp. Sin. (9-3-102-5006-637), Max C. Fleischmann College of Agriculture, University of Nevada, Reno.

Received for publication October 4, 1989.