THE INFLUENCE OF SLOPE CURVATURE ON SOIL EROSION AND DEPOSITION IN HUMMOCK TERRAIN

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Abstract
Soil losses or gains were measured in three areas of hummocky terrain by assessing 137Cs redistribution in the landscape. A net export of 16.9, 9.5, and 10.8 t/ha/yr occurred in the three areas. The majority of sites within each area lost soil, with deposition occurring at only 11–17% of the sites. The susceptibility of landform elements to erosion differs depending on the profile curvature, plan curvature, and gradient of a hillslope. The ranking of the landform elements from those with the highest erosion to those with the highest deposition was: convergent shoulders, divergent backslopes, convergent back-slopes, divergent shoulders, divergent foot-slopes, level areas, and convergent foot-slopes. The thickness of the Ah horizon and the depth to calcium carbonate proved to be poor indicators of the erosional status of a soil. Soil loss predictions for the areas from the Universal Soil Loss Equation were 2–9 times lower than the soil loss assessed by I37Cs redistribution methods. © Williams & Wilkins 1987. All Rights Reserved.