CGRG Bibliography of Canadian Geomorphology
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Author : Cao, Y.Z.; Coote, D.R.; Nolin, M.C.; and Wang, C.
Date : 1993
Title : Using 137Cs to investigate net soil erosion at two soil benchmark sites in Quebec.
Publication : Canadian Journal of Soil Science
Issue : 73(4):
Page(s) : 515-526
Abstract
137Cs in the soil was used to estimate soil erosion at two National Soil Conservation Program benchmark sites in the province of Quebec (sites 15-QU and 16-QU). The 137Cs baseline in an uneroded forest area was approximately 3100 Bq m-2. The 137Cs content at site 15-QU ranged from 1072 Bq m-2 to 6389 Bq m-2, while at site 16-QU it ranged from 663 Bq m-2 to 5444 Bq m-2. Computed net erosion over the past 30 yr at site 15-QU varied from a loss of 9.65 kg m-2 yr-1 to a gain of 10.88 kg m-2 yr-1 and at site 16-QU from a loss of 6.38 kg m-2 yr-1 to a gain of 1.73 kg m-2 yr-1. The average net erosion rates were 2.43 kg m-2 yr-1 at site 15-QU and 1.29 kg m-2 yr-1 at site 16-QU. Soil samples collected on a grid pattern indicated that 90% and 83% of the area at sites 15-QU and 16-QU, respectively, was subjected to net soil loss. A comparison of total super(137)Cs movement from eroded areas to depositional areas showed that 24.2% of 137Cs was lost from site 15-QU, while about 17.6% of 137Cs was lost from site 16-QU.. Mapping of 137Cs content and calculated soil loss and deposition showed that soil erosion was closely related to topography. Under similar slope conditions, the soil erosion rates were 27-68% higher at site 15-QU than at site 16-QU. Higher tillage frequency and use of silage corn were the suggested reasons for the higher soil erosion rates at site 15-QU compared with site 16-QU, which had been used for hay and small grains.
Bibliography of Canadian Geomorphology