ABSTRACT:
Traditionally, inputs for the universal soil loss equation have been based on cropland and soil erosion estimates obtained from field surveys and farmer interviews. But such data can also be obtained by using color-infrared photographs to delineate (a) homogeneous erosion mapping units, crop rotations, and management practices; (b) topographic maps for slope information; and (c) an improved soil map for soil erodibility. This new procedure was tested in a potato growing area near Grand Falls, New Brunswick. With accurate soil erodibility data, soil loss was estimated with an accuracy of 88% ± 1.2% compared to the traditional method. Such accuracy is sufficient for farm conservation planning. Accuracy dropped to 72% ± 2.5% when the existing soil map (1:63,360-scale) was used. The new method is two to four times faster and permits year-round mapping, compared to about 120 days for the traditional method in the study area. Aerial photographs also provide a valuable land cover record for future use.
Footnotes
P. R. Stephens, currently with the Water and Soil Organization, Ministry of Works and Development, Palmerston North, New Zealand, was a visiting scientist with Canada Centre for Remote Sensing, Ottawa, Ontario, K1A 0Y7. J. K. MacMillan is a pedologist and J. L. Daigle is a soil conservation engineer, New Brunswick Department of Agriculture and Rural Development, Fredericton and Grand Falls, New Brunswick, respectively; and J. Cihlar is a scientist, Canada Centre for Remote Sensing, Ottawa, Ontario. The authors acknowledge the field mapping assistance of L. H. Bates and J. Stephens.
- Copyright 1985 by the Soil and Water Conservation Society
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