ABSTRACT:
Land capability class-subclass designations and the physical factors of the universal soil loss equation (RKLS categories) are compared for categorization of erodible lands. The ratio of RKLS divided by the soil loss tolerance (T) is used to define three categories of erosion potential on cropland. Land capability class-subclass and RKLS/T categories are compared in 17 major land resource areas where wind erosion is not a major problem. The data suggest that the capability class-subclass system identifies the most erodible soils with the subclass e designation. The system also provides, within a given region, a consistent, progressive ranking of soils with increasing physical limitations for use due to erosion. But the land capability class-subclass system does not provide a uniform erodibility ranking across regions or a precise categorization of highly erodible soils.
Footnotes
Linda K. Lee is a group leader, Natural Resource Economics Division, Economic Research Service, U.S. Department of Agriculture, Washington, D.C. 20250. J. Jeffery Goebel is a statistician, Resources Inventory Division, Soil Conservation Service, USDA, Washington, D.C. 20013. This article reflects the views of the authors, not official USDA policy.
- Copyright 1986 by the Soil and Water Conservation Society
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