Physical indicators of soil erosion, aggregate stability and erodibility

Abstract

The sustained interest in soil erosion research is an indication of both its importance and the lack of definite solutions that can halt its negative impacts on the environment. This study reviewed the literature on trends, new perspectives, gaps and conflicts in soil erosion studies in the South African context. The suitability of using the relationship between aggregate stability and interrill erodibility as a predictor of the soil susceptibility to erosion was also investigated. This relationship is often used instead of the expensive and time-consuming in situ soil erosion studies and models. There are contradictory reports on its ability to offer quick results on the susceptibility of soil to erosion. However, the reviewed South African and international literature showed that aggregate stability is a widely used physical indicator of soil interrill erodibility. Nevertheless, there is no general agreement on the most suitable aggregate stability indices to use.

Keywords:

• clay dispersion
• erosion models
• soil detachment
• soil loss
• soil stability indices

Acknowledgement

This work was supported by the Govan Mbeki Centre for Research and Development of the University of Fort Hare through post-doctoral grant to the first author.