Excerpt
THE mathematical model EPIC (Erosion-Productivity Impact Calculator) was developed recently to determine the relationship between soil erosion and soil productivity in the United States (6). To accomplish this complex objective, four goals were set in the model development process. The model must be (a) physically based and capable of simulating the processes involved simultaneously and realistically using readily available inputs; (b) capable of simulating hundreds of years, if necessary, because erosion can be a relatively slow process; (c) applicable to a wide range of soils, climates, and crops encountered in the United States; and (d) efficient, convenient to use, and capable of assessing the effects of management changes on erosion and soil productivity.
EPIC is composed of physically based components for simulating erosion, plant growth, and related processes. It also includes economic components for assessing the cost of erosion and determining optimal management strategies. …
Footnotes
J. R. Williams is a hydraulic engineer and P. T. Dyke is an agricultural economist with the Agricultural Research Service, U.S. Department of Agriculture, P.O. Box 748, Temple, Texas 76503. K. G. Renard is a hydraulic engineer, ARS, USDA, 2000 East Allen Road, Tucson, Arizona 85705. This article is a contribution from ARS, USDA, in cooperation with the Texas Agricultural Experiment Station, Texas A&M University.
- Copyright 1983 by the Soil and Water Conservation Society
