Skip to main content

Main menu

  • Home
  • Content
    • Current Issue
    • Early Online
    • Archive
    • Subject Collections
  • Info For
    • Authors
    • Reviewers
    • Subscribers
    • Advertisers
  • About
    • About JSWC
    • Editorial Board
    • Permissions
    • Alerts
    • RSS Feeds
    • Contact Us

User menu

  • Register
  • Subscribe
  • My alerts
  • Log in
  • My Cart
  • Log out

Search

  • Advanced search
Journal of Soil and Water Conservation

  • Register
  • Subscribe
  • My alerts
  • Log in
  • My Cart
  • Log out
Journal of Soil and Water Conservation

Advanced Search

  • Home
  • Content
    • Current Issue
    • Early Online
    • Archive
    • Subject Collections
  • Info For
    • Authors
    • Reviewers
    • Subscribers
    • Advertisers
  • About
    • About JSWC
    • Editorial Board
    • Permissions
    • Alerts
    • RSS Feeds
    • Contact Us
  • Follow SWCS on Twitter
  • Visit SWCS on Facebook
Research ArticleResearch Section

WEPP simulations of dryland cropping systems in small drainages of northeastern Oregon

J.D. Williams, S. Dun, D.S. Robertson, J.Q. Wu, E.S. Brooks, D.C. Flanagan and D.K. McCool
Journal of Soil and Water Conservation January 2010, 65 (1) 22-33; DOI: https://doi.org/10.2489/jswc.65.1.22
J.D. Williams
  • Find this author on Google Scholar
  • Find this author on PubMed
  • Search for this author on this site
S. Dun
  • Find this author on Google Scholar
  • Find this author on PubMed
  • Search for this author on this site
D.S. Robertson
  • Find this author on Google Scholar
  • Find this author on PubMed
  • Search for this author on this site
J.Q. Wu
  • Find this author on Google Scholar
  • Find this author on PubMed
  • Search for this author on this site
E.S. Brooks
  • Find this author on Google Scholar
  • Find this author on PubMed
  • Search for this author on this site
D.C. Flanagan
  • Find this author on Google Scholar
  • Find this author on PubMed
  • Search for this author on this site
D.K. McCool
  • Find this author on Google Scholar
  • Find this author on PubMed
  • Search for this author on this site
  • Article
  • References
  • Info & Metrics
  • PDF
Loading

Abstract

Computer simulation models are essential tools for evaluating soil erosion potential over large areas of cropland. Small-plot and field-scale evaluations are commonly conducted for federal farm program compliance, but producers are now faced with off-farm water quality concerns. Predicting the potential contribution of upland sediment is of interest to producers and state and federal agencies. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the applicability of the Water Erosion Prediction Project (WEPP) model for quantifying hydrological and erosion processes in the semiarid croplands of the Columbia Plateau. Two headwater drainages managed using conventional inversion tillage (CT) or no-tillage (NT) management techniques were monitored from 2001 through 2007 in the dryland cropping region of northeastern Oregon. The WEPP model was parameterized primarily from field data, including management and weather data. Crop parameters (above-ground biomass and crop yield), water balance components (volumetric soil water, evapotranspiration [ET], and surface runoff), and soil loss were observed and subsequently used to evaluate WEPP simulations. This detailed dataset allowed for a unique opportunity to evaluate not only the WEPP routines for runoff and erosion but also the routine for crop growth, which greatly influences the erodibility and hydraulic conductivity of top soil layers. Graphical and goodness-of-fit analyses indicate that WEPP generated satisfactory estimates for volumetric soil water and crop yields in NT and CT and above-ground biomass production in NT. Gross patterns of ET simulated by WEPP were compatible with those determined using observed precipitation and soil water data. Observed annual runoff and erosion values from both drainages were low (NT: 0.1 mm [0.004 in], 2.5 kg ha−1 [0.001 tn ac−1]; CT: 0.9 mm [0.04 in], 72.0 kg ha−1 [0.03 tn ac−1]). On average only 0.3% and 0.03% of total precipitation left the catchment as runoff during the six-year study period for CT and NT, respectively. No runoff was predicted by WEPP when default input values for a Walla Walla silt loam soil were used in the model. Simulated runoff and erosion agreed well with field observations after the effective surface hydraulic conductivity Keff and rill erodibility Kr were calibrated. With minimal calibration, the WEPP model was able to successfully represent the hydrology, sediment transport, and crop growth for CT and NT cropping systems in northeastern Oregon during years of below normal precipitation, mild weather, and little runoff.

Footnotes

  • John D. Williams is a research hydrologist for the USDA Agricultural Research Service (ARS), Pendleton, Oregon. Shuhui Dun is a graduate research associate in the Department of Biological Systems Engineering, Washington State University, Pullman, Washington. Dave S. Robertson is a hydrologic technician with the USDA ARS, Pendleton, Oregon. Joan Q. Wu is an associate professor in the Department of Biological Systems Engineering, Washington State University, Pullman, Washington. Erin S. Brooks is a research scientist in the Department of Biological and Agricultural Engineering, University of Idaho, Moscow, Idaho. Dennis C. Flanagan is an agricultural engineer for the USDA ARS, West Lafayette, Indiana. Don K. McCool is an agricultural engineer for the USDA ARS, Pullman, Washington.

  • © 2009 by the Soil and Water Conservation Society
PreviousNext
Back to top

In this issue

Journal of Soil and Water Conservation: 65 (1)
Journal of Soil and Water Conservation
Vol. 65, Issue 1
January/February 2010
  • Table of Contents
  • Table of Contents (PDF)
  • About the Cover
  • Index by author
  • Front Matter (PDF)
Download PDF
Article Alerts
Sign In to Email Alerts with your Email Address
Email Article

Thank you for your interest in spreading the word on Journal of Soil and Water Conservation.

NOTE: We only request your email address so that the person you are recommending the page to knows that you wanted them to see it, and that it is not junk mail. We do not capture any email address.

Enter multiple addresses on separate lines or separate them with commas.
WEPP simulations of dryland cropping systems in small drainages of northeastern Oregon
(Your Name) has sent you a message from Journal of Soil and Water Conservation
(Your Name) thought you would like to see the Journal of Soil and Water Conservation web site.
CAPTCHA
This question is for testing whether or not you are a human visitor and to prevent automated spam submissions.
3 + 0 =
Solve this simple math problem and enter the result. E.g. for 1+3, enter 4.
Citation Tools
WEPP simulations of dryland cropping systems in small drainages of northeastern Oregon
J.D. Williams, S. Dun, D.S. Robertson, J.Q. Wu, E.S. Brooks, D.C. Flanagan, D.K. McCool
Journal of Soil and Water Conservation Jan 2010, 65 (1) 22-33; DOI: 10.2489/jswc.65.1.22

Citation Manager Formats

  • BibTeX
  • Bookends
  • EasyBib
  • EndNote (tagged)
  • EndNote 8 (xml)
  • Medlars
  • Mendeley
  • Papers
  • RefWorks Tagged
  • Ref Manager
  • RIS
  • Zotero
Request Permissions
Share
WEPP simulations of dryland cropping systems in small drainages of northeastern Oregon
J.D. Williams, S. Dun, D.S. Robertson, J.Q. Wu, E.S. Brooks, D.C. Flanagan, D.K. McCool
Journal of Soil and Water Conservation Jan 2010, 65 (1) 22-33; DOI: 10.2489/jswc.65.1.22
del.icio.us logo Digg logo Reddit logo Twitter logo Facebook logo Google logo Mendeley logo
  • Tweet Widget
  • Facebook Like
  • Google Plus One

Jump to section

  • Article
  • Info & Metrics
  • References
  • PDF

Related Articles

  • No related articles found.
  • Google Scholar

Cited By...

  • Root:shoot ratios and belowground biomass distribution for Pacific Northwest dryland crops
  • Google Scholar

More in this TOC Section

  • Smart control of agricultural water wells in western Iran: Application of the Q-methodology
  • Soil health through farmers’ eyes: Toward a better understanding of how farmers view, value, and manage for healthier soils
  • Policy process and problem framing for state Nutrient Reduction Strategies in the US Upper Mississippi River Basin
Show more Research Section

Similar Articles

Content

  • Current Issue
  • Early Online
  • Archive
  • Subject Collections

Info For

  • Authors
  • Reviewers
  • Subscribers
  • Advertisers

Customer Service

  • Subscriptions
  • Permissions and Reprints
  • Terms of Use
  • Privacy

SWCS

  • Membership
  • Publications
  • Meetings and Events
  • Conservation Career Center

© 2023 Soil and Water Conservation Society