Soil erodibility factor (K) in soils under varying stages of truncation

Abstract

Soil erosion is the most widespread problem in soil management. It leads to changes in the properties of soil horizons, which in turn can also affect the pace of slope processes. This may be signifi cant problem in young morainic areas where truncation of clay-illuvial soils (Luvisols, Retisols) transforms both the organic carbon content and texture of arable horizons. Changes in soil susceptibility to erosion can be measured using the soil erodibility factor (K) widely used in erosional models. The aim of the submitted study is a calculation of the erodibility factor (K) for soils represented different stages of truncation in a hummocky landscape of Northern Poland. Erodibility factor was calculated using the formula of the Erosion Productivity Impact Calculator (EPIC) model. For assessment of the factor, soil profi les were divided into four groups, varying degrees of soil truncation: completely eroded, strongly eroded, slightly eroded and non-eroded arable soils, noneroded forest soils. In the course of the performed study, it was noted that the soil erodibility K factor values were between 0.0172-0.0352 t•ha•h•ha -1 •MJ -1 •mm -1 and depended on the stage of soil truncation. Properties of surface horizons of completely eroded soils accelerate erosion about 6% compared to strongly eroded and 12% to slightly eroded soils and even 48% as against non-eroded forest Luvisols/Retisols. The main factors affecting erodibility growth in truncated profi les was a revealed decrease in both -ccarbon content and sand fraction in humus horizons. Susceptibility to erosion was also increased by exposure of Bt or C(k) horizons richer in clay fraction.

The Effect of Erosional Transformation of Soil Cover on the Stability of Soil Aggregates within Young Hummocky Moraine Landscapes in Northern Poland

“…All parameters of aggregate stability were very close in values without a statistically confirmed difference. This is also consistent with our previous observations, which showed that Eutric Regosols (Protocalcic) (Soils A) and Haplic Luvisol (Protocalcic) (Soils B) had the same erodibility K-factor, calculated by EPIC model [73]. A possible explanation for this might be that these soils have very similar soil organic carbon content (less than 0.8 percent) and an additional negative factor, specific in each soil group: secondary carbonates in the case of Soils A; and the value of clay content in Soils B which was insufficient to build stable aggregates (less than 40 percent).…”

Classification of alluvial soils - problematic issues on the examples from South Baltic Lakelands, north Poland

“…The leaching (eluviation) processes are very common in the soils of the described region. Among autogenous soils (not subject to a strong influence of groundwater), lessivage processes dominate in fine-grained soils (Radziuk and Świtoniak 2021;Świtoniak 2021) or podzolization in sandy materials (Jankowski, 2014;Sewerniak et al, 2017). Leaching processes are also noticed in alluvial soils in many parts of the World (e.g.…”

Assessment of soil erosion risk severity using GIS, remote sensing and RUSLE model in Oued Laou Basin (north Morocco)

“…The K-factor signifies the quantity of soil loss per unit of rainfall erosive energy, referring to a plot of the clean bare soil of 22 m long and 9% slope (Brady and Weil, 2012;Biswas and Pani, 2015). Regarding the physical characteristics, some soils are more susceptible to erosion than others (Miheretu and Yimer, 2018;Radziuk and Świtoniak, 2021). The chemical characteristics are also playing an important role in materials eroding.…”