WWRC 92-22
Allowable Soil Loss Tolerances for Rangelands Based on Sustained Plant Production and Stream Quality
Abstract
The relationship between ground cover and water
erosion on upland rangelands was investigated. Sites were
selected with different surface cover from 0 to 100% and
these sites received a simulated rainfall event. A rainfall
simulator was used to apply a high intensity (97.1 mm/h),
short duration (5 minute) rain storm to two similar plots.
Sediment leaving the plots was collected and used to
determine sediment eroded as a function of percentage of
ground cover. A graph of ground cover versus sediment yield
showed that if ground cover was maintained above 30%, then
the soil loss tolerance for poor soils (2.2 mt.ha-1) was
maintained.
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