Soil losses as affected by raindrop impact and aggregate sizes under different soil water potentials.

Abstract

Soil losses of different aggregate sizes were studied under a range of raindrop sizes and matric potentials .A single raindrop device was used to produce four different sizes of drops namely ,2.45,3.34,4.0 and 4.93 mm in diameter with a constant height (163) cm. Soil losses were collected by aluminum foil cups. The effect of raindrop sizes and aggregate sizes on soil losses under a range of soil matric potentials were statistically significant at (0.01) level. Soil losses increased with increasing raindrop sizes and aggregate sizes with respect to matric potential. On the other hand, soil losses decreased rapidly as matric potential increased from (0) to 40 cm. The higher amount of losses at (0) potential as compared with higher potential. Soil losses gives good indication for the stability of soil aggregates