The use of rainfall simulation tests to assess the influence of vegetation density on soil loss on degraded rangelands in the Baringo District, Kenya

D. J. Snelder; R. B. Bryan

doi:10.1016/0341-8162(95)00003-B

The use of rainfall simulation tests to assess the influence of vegetation density on soil loss on degraded rangelands in the Baringo District, Kenya

D. J. Snelder^*
, R. B. Bryan

^*Corresponding author for this work

Centre for International Cooperation

Research output: Contribution to Journal › Article › Academic › peer-review

Abstract

The relationship between cover density and soil loss under simulated rainstorms of 30 and 60-minute duration and 33 mm h^-1 intensity was investigated. Soil loss varied from 0-7.3 g m^-2 for cover of 55-95% and reached maximum values of over 80.0 g m^-2 (30-minute storms) and 140.0 g m^-2 (60-minute storms) for cover of 25% or less. A critical threshold occurred at 55% cover below which erosion rates rapidly increased to over 15.0 g m^-2 (30-minute storms) and 30.0 g m^-2 (60-minute storms) during single rainstorm events. Storm duration and frequency were important determinants of erosion over more prolonged time periods. Total calculated soil loss for an 18-year period under 55% cover for frequent 30-minute storms (frequency: 3-4 times a year) was 6 times that for infrequent 60-minute storms (5-year return period).

Original language	English
Pages (from-to)	105-116
Number of pages	12
Journal	Catena
Volume	25
Issue number	1-4
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1016/0341-8162(95)00003-B
Publication status	Published - 1 Jan 1995

Funding

The research was made possible by a research permit from the Government of Kenya. It was supported by a grants from the International Development Research Centre and the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council, Canada. Special thanks go to Murray Roberts and Elizabeth Meyerhoff of the Baringo Fuel and Fodder Project for providing research facilities. We are also grateful to many friends and colleagues for their assistance in field and laboratory work in Kenya and Canada.

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title = "The use of rainfall simulation tests to assess the influence of vegetation density on soil loss on degraded rangelands in the Baringo District, Kenya",

abstract = "The relationship between cover density and soil loss under simulated rainstorms of 30 and 60-minute duration and 33 mm h-1 intensity was investigated. Soil loss varied from 0-7.3 g m-2 for cover of 55-95\% and reached maximum values of over 80.0 g m-2 (30-minute storms) and 140.0 g m-2 (60-minute storms) for cover of 25\% or less. A critical threshold occurred at 55\% cover below which erosion rates rapidly increased to over 15.0 g m-2 (30-minute storms) and 30.0 g m-2 (60-minute storms) during single rainstorm events. Storm duration and frequency were important determinants of erosion over more prolonged time periods. Total calculated soil loss for an 18-year period under 55\% cover for frequent 30-minute storms (frequency: 3-4 times a year) was 6 times that for infrequent 60-minute storms (5-year return period).",

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N2 - The relationship between cover density and soil loss under simulated rainstorms of 30 and 60-minute duration and 33 mm h-1 intensity was investigated. Soil loss varied from 0-7.3 g m-2 for cover of 55-95% and reached maximum values of over 80.0 g m-2 (30-minute storms) and 140.0 g m-2 (60-minute storms) for cover of 25% or less. A critical threshold occurred at 55% cover below which erosion rates rapidly increased to over 15.0 g m-2 (30-minute storms) and 30.0 g m-2 (60-minute storms) during single rainstorm events. Storm duration and frequency were important determinants of erosion over more prolonged time periods. Total calculated soil loss for an 18-year period under 55% cover for frequent 30-minute storms (frequency: 3-4 times a year) was 6 times that for infrequent 60-minute storms (5-year return period).

AB - The relationship between cover density and soil loss under simulated rainstorms of 30 and 60-minute duration and 33 mm h-1 intensity was investigated. Soil loss varied from 0-7.3 g m-2 for cover of 55-95% and reached maximum values of over 80.0 g m-2 (30-minute storms) and 140.0 g m-2 (60-minute storms) for cover of 25% or less. A critical threshold occurred at 55% cover below which erosion rates rapidly increased to over 15.0 g m-2 (30-minute storms) and 30.0 g m-2 (60-minute storms) during single rainstorm events. Storm duration and frequency were important determinants of erosion over more prolonged time periods. Total calculated soil loss for an 18-year period under 55% cover for frequent 30-minute storms (frequency: 3-4 times a year) was 6 times that for infrequent 60-minute storms (5-year return period).

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The use of rainfall simulation tests to assess the influence of vegetation density on soil loss on degraded rangelands in the Baringo District, Kenya

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