Assessment of Soil Erosion in Saskatchewan
Date
1982-09
Authors
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Journal ISSN
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Publisher
ORCID
Type
Degree Level
Masters
Abstract
The objectives of this study were to determine which soil fractions
were removed during the erosion process and to estimate soil loss by the
use of a radionuclide tracer, Cesium-137. Soil fractions removed by
erosion were collected during the operation of a wind tunnel and a rainfall
simulator at four sites. Two pairs of basins, one in the Dark Brown soil
zone and one in the Black Soil Zone I were sampled for
137
Cs levels. Each
pair consisted of a cultivated and uncultivated basin. All soil samples
were analyzed for organic carbon, total nitrogen and phosphorus content,
particle size distribution, and l37Cs levels.
The suspension of the wind and water erosion was generally enriched
in carbon, nitrogen, and clay. wind erosion selectively removed organic
carbon from the soil. At three sites the wind and water erosion suspension
was enriched in l37cs• At the fourth site, the water suspension was lower
in 137Cs than the soil, however, the wind suspension was somewhat enriched
in l37cs• Analysis of the combined wind and water erosion ·samples indicated
a strong relationship between 137cs and organic carbon, and clay.
An inverse relationship between 137Cs and elevation was observed in
the cultivated basins. The length-slope factor in the Universal Soil Loss
Equation showed no consistent relationship to 137cs distribution. This was
probably due to the loss of soil on the knolls and deposition in the lower
areas of cultivated basins. Significant differences were found between
l37Cs levels at different slope positions in the cultivated basins, but not
in the non-eroded control basins. Estimates of the soil redistribution
within the basins were obtained using a 1 to 1 relationship between 137Cs
levels and soil movement.
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Degree
Master of Science (M.Sc.)
Department
Soil Science
Program
Soil Science