Journal of Soil and Water Conservation 

About: Journal of Soil and Water Conservation is an academic journal published by Soil and Water Conservation Society. The journal publishes majorly in the area(s): Surface runoff & Soil water. It has an ISSN identifier of 0022-4561. Over the lifetime, 5605 publications have been published receiving 97400 citations. The journal is also known as: Journal of soil & water conservation.

RUSLE: Revised universal soil loss equation

Abstract: THERE are many changes for estimating erosion by water in RUSLE, the revised universal soil loss equation. The changes include the following: Computerizing the algorithms to assist with the calculations. New rainfall-runoff erosivity term values (R) in the western United States, based on more than 1,200 gauge locations. Some revisions and additions for the eastern United States, including corrections for high R-factor areas with flat slopes to adjust for splash erosion associated with raindrops falling on ponded water. Development of a seasonally variable soil erodibility term (K). A subfactor approach for calculating the cover-management term (C), with the subfactors representing considerations of prior land use, crop canopy, surface cover, and surface roughness. New slope length and steepness (LS) algorithms reflecting rill to interrill erosion ratios. The capacity to calculate LS products for slopes of varying shape. New conservation practice values (P) for rangelands, stripcrop rotations, contour factor values, and subsurface drainage. History of the USLE Although the universal soil loss equation (USLE) is a powerful tool that is widely used by soil conservationists in the United States and many foreign countries, research and experience since the 1970s have provided improved technology that is incorporated in the …

AGNPS: A nonpoint-source pollution model for evaluating agricultural watersheds

Abstract: A computer model to analyze nonprofit-source pollution and to prioritize potential water quality problems in rural areas is described. The event-based model uses geographic cells of data units at resolutions of 0.4 to 16 ha to represent upland and channel conditions. Within the framework of the cells, runoff characteristics and transport processes of sediment, nutrients, and chemical oxygen demand are simulated for each cell and routed to the outlet. This permits the flow at any point in the watershed to be examined. Upland sources contributing to a potential problem can be identified and prioritized where remedial measures could be initiated to improve water quality most efficiently.

Soil erodibility nomograph for farmland and construction sites

Abstract: A NEW SOIL PARTICLE-SIZE PARAMETER WAS FOUND AND USED TO DERIVE A CONVENIENT ERODIBILITY EQUATION THAT IS VALID FOR EXPOSED SUBSOILS AS WELL AS FARMLAND. A SIMPLE NOMOGRAPH PROVIDES QUICK SOLUTIONS TO THE EQUATION. ONLY FIVE SOIL PARAMETERS NEED TO BE KNOWN: PERCENT SILT, PERCENT SAND, ORGANIC MATTER CONTENT, STRUCTURE, AND PERMEABILITY. THE NEW WORKING TOOL OPENS THE DOOR TO SEVERAL NEW CONSIDERATIONS IN SEDIMENT- CONTROL PLANNING. /AUTHOR/

A GIS procedure for automatically calculating the USLE LS factor on topographically complex landscape units

Abstract: A computer algorithm to calculate the USLE and RUSLE LS-factors over a two-dimensional landscape is presented. When compared to a manual method, both methods yield broadly similar results in terms of relative erosion risk mapping. However, there appear to be important differences in absolute values. Although both methods yield similar slope values, the use of the manual method leads to an underestimation of the erosion risk because the effect of flow convergence is not accounted for. The computer procedure has the obvious advantage that it can easily be linked to GIS software. If data on land use and soils are available, specific K, C and P-values can be assigned to each land unit so that predicted soil losses can then be calculated using a simple overlay procedure. The algorithm leaves the user the choice to consider land units as being hydrologically isolated or continuous. A comparison with soil data showed a reasonably good agreement between the predicted erosion risk and the intensity of soil truncation observed in the test area.

Determinants of agricultural best management practice adoption: Evidence from the literature

Abstract: This article reviews 25 years of literature focused on the adoption of agricultural best management practices (BMPs) in the United States to examine general trends in the categories of capacity, awareness, attitudes and farm characteristics. The study uses a vote count methodology and counts every instance of positive, negative and insignificant relationships in 55 studies. Education levels, capital, income, farm size, access to information, positive environmental attitudes, environmental awareness, and utilization of social networks emerge as some of the variables that are more often positively, rather than negatively, associated with adoption rates. The type of statistical analysis used in the studies has a negligible effect on the results. When different types of BMPs are examined in similar groupings, the aggregated findings generally hold true. The study concludes that farmer adoption rates can be improved by focusing on the generally consistent determinants of agricultural BMP adoption. This paper also highlights future areas of research that are needed including a focus on the determinants of adoption of water and livestock management BMPs and more study of the role of tenure and farm proximity to a river or stream.