ARS | Publication request: CROP RESIDUE DECOMPOSITION MODELS: EVALUATION

Submitted to: Agronomy Abstracts
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: June 30, 1995
Publication Date: N/A

Technical Abstract: Wind and water erosion models use estimates of crop residue soil cover when predicting soil erosion potential. Changes in residue quantity over time affect the amount of soil cover and therefore influence erosion predictions. Residue decomposition predictions by the Revised Universal Soil Lose Equation (RUSLE), the Revised Wind Erosion Equation (RWEQ), and the Wind Erosion Prediction System (WEPS) were compared for several locations across the US. Predictions of mass remaining at several locations were similar for all three models. Model performance for humid areas was better with RUSLE while WEPS and RWEQ tended to make better predictions in semi-arid areas. Problems with all three models were noted for residues in the Pacific Northwest where mass loss was greater than predicted, indicating climatic indices problems. Adjustments may be needed for specific locations and crops with each model, but for most locations predictions were within the variability range of the observed data.