Use of a submerged jet device to determine channel erodibility coefficients of selected soils of Mexico

ABSTRACT:

More than half of Mexico's soil and water resources are considered moderately to severely degraded, primarily due to erosion and sedimentation. Characterization of soil susceptibility to erosion in the field is often hampered by difficulty in obtaining adequate water supplies. We tested a method to determine soil erodibility coefficients for concentrated water flow that had not been previously applied to agricultural soils. The submerged jet method of determining soil erodibility coefficients was tested on six soils in central Mexico of varying texture and predominant clay mineralogy near the end of the corn (Zea mays L.) growing season. The resulting erodibility coefficients generally segregated soils of similar texture and mineralogy. Soil silt plus very fine sand percentage and Plasticity Index were important soil properties affecting the Jet Index values. Moldboard plowed soils were more erodible at the end of the growing season than no-tilled soils at all sites except for two recent volcanic soils. The results of these tests, along with the relative ease of use and minimum labor and water requirements, suggest that the submerged jet device is a useful tool to determine soil erodibility coefficients of agricultural soils.