The basis for soil loss tolerances

Excerpt

To evaluate soil erosion's seriousness requires knowledge about how much soil loss is occurring, given specific site conditions, and how much soil loss can be tolerated without damaging the resource. Considerable research has been done on methods to predict soil erosion, but limited research is available on which to base levels of soil loss that can be tolerated by various soils without damaging their productivity. To establish soil loss tolerances (T-values), therefore, assumptions had to be made. As a result, questions and controversies exist.

Why the concern?

Hugh Bennett (1) spoke about the lack of concern for the seriousness of erosion problems shortly after the turn of the century.

Much progress has since been made in realizing and understanding the seriousness of soil erosion.

Soil is an essential, nonrenewable, and limited resource. Economist C. V. Ciriacy FVantrup (3) pointed out that even before a resource is completely used up or significantly diminished, it may become uneconomical for further use (3). Land that was peviously farmed but now lies abandoned exemplifies this concept.

Understanding and believing in the concerns and concepts of Bennett and Ciriacy-Wantrup are fundamental to the task of esab1ishing soil loss tolerances. Without them …