Excerpt
EASTERN Nebraska, especially the northeastern portion, has a history of severe soil erosion, due in part to a predominance of steep slopes and highly erodible soils (12). While the average annual allowable soil loss (“T” value) for most of these soils is five tons per acre, some fields have annual soil erosion rates that exceed 100 tons per acre. The loss of topsoil is critical, of course, but erosion from cropland also results in the removal of fertilizers and pesticides, which degrades water quality.
Even though farmers are generally aware that soil erosion is a national problem, many fail to recognize it as a problem in their own farming operation. Nowak (14) indicated that sheet and rill erosion often is largely invisible to farmers. Furthermore, while soil erosion has occurred, farmers generally have not experienced corresponding losses in productivity. In some cases, potential losses have been masked by use of fertilizers, improved hybrids, and irrigation. Conservation practices, both structural and nonstructural, can be used to reduce soil erosion to acceptable levels. Existing conservation structures in many parts of …
Footnotes
David R Shelton is a professor and extension agricultural engineer and David A. Biere is a former extension engineer at the University of Nebraska Northeast Research and Extension Center, Concord, 68728. Elbert C. Dickey is a professor and extension agricultural engineer, Paul J. Jasa is an extension engineer, and Susan Symdra Krotz is a former extension assistant at the University of Nebraska Biological Systems Engineering Department, Lincoln, 68583. Journal Ser. No. 9299, Agricultural Research Division, University of Nebraska. The authors acknowledge the support, financial and otherwise, of the Soil Conservation Service; Lower Elkhorn Natural Resources District; and businesses, agencies, organizations, and the farmers in the study area.
- Copyright 1991 by the Soil and Water Conservation Society
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