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RUSLE 2RUSLE 2Wisconsin WebsiteWisconsin Website http://http://

www.wi.nrcs.usda.gowww.wi.nrcs.usda.gov/technical/consplan/v/technical/consplan/ruslerusle

Judy Derricks-WI RUSLE2 MANAGERJudy Derricks-WI RUSLE2 MANAGER

OBJECTIVESOBJECTIVES

• Understand erosion concepts important in RUSLE2Understand erosion concepts important in RUSLE2• Understanding RUSLE2 updates & installationsUnderstanding RUSLE2 updates & installations• Understand the RUSLE2 factors affecting erosion Understand the RUSLE2 factors affecting erosion

rates and soil qualityrates and soil quality• Understand the Application of Erosion Principles to Understand the Application of Erosion Principles to

Conservation PlanningConservation Planning• Explore Additional Uses and Application for RUSLE2Explore Additional Uses and Application for RUSLE2

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Visit RUSLE2 Website

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Beyond…RUSLEBeyond…RUSLE 2 2

Sheet & Rill Only…..No Concentrated Channels

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Types of Water ErosionTypes of Water Erosion

Rill / Rill / InterillInterill

(Sheet & (Sheet & Rill)Rill)

EphemeralEphemeralClassic GullyClassic Gully

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Why Erosion Is a ConcernWhy Erosion Is a Concern(What are the impacts of erosion?)(What are the impacts of erosion?)

Degrades soil resourceDegrades soil resource1. 1. Reduces soil productivityReduces soil productivity2. Reduces soil O. M.2. Reduces soil O. M.3. Removes plant nutrients3. Removes plant nutrients

Causes downstream Causes downstream sedimentationsedimentation

Produces sediment that Produces sediment that carries other pollutants carries other pollutants (eg. nutrients, pesticides)(eg. nutrients, pesticides)

Produces sediment which Produces sediment which is a pollutantis a pollutant

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Climate (R)Climate (R)Soil (K)Soil (K)Topography (LS)Topography (LS)Crops (C ) - ManagementCrops (C ) - ManagementSupporting Practices (P)Supporting Practices (P)

Erosion Contributing Factors?Erosion Contributing Factors?

Erosion Factors – Erosion Factors – ClimateClimate

Different geographic Different geographic areas have different areas have different climates.climates.

Each climate has a Each climate has a unique pattern of unique pattern of rainfall and storm rainfall and storm intensity.intensity. The influences of storm The influences of storm

energy and volume of energy and volume of water combine to detach water combine to detach soil and transport it.soil and transport it.

Erosion Factors -Erosion Factors - Climate, Erosivity - R Climate, Erosivity - R

Las Vegas, NVLas Vegas, NV 8 8Phoenix, AZPhoenix, AZ 22 22Denver, CODenver, CO 40 40Syracuse, NYSyracuse, NY 80 80Minneapolis, MNMinneapolis, MN 110110Chicago, ILChicago, IL 140140

Ashland 100Ashland 100

Dodge 130Dodge 130

Manitowoc 110Manitowoc 110

Richland 140Richland 140

Rock 150Rock 150

A measure of erosivity of climate at specific locations

Erosion Factors -Erosion Factors -Soil, Erodibility - KSoil, Erodibility - K

• During mapping, soils are assigned an erodibility During mapping, soils are assigned an erodibility factor based on their inherent potential to erode.factor based on their inherent potential to erode.

• Soil erodibility factors assigned to soils usually Soil erodibility factors assigned to soils usually range from values of 0.17 to 0.60. Organics can be range from values of 0.17 to 0.60. Organics can be as low as .02. as low as .02.

• The higher the erodibility factor, the greater the The higher the erodibility factor, the greater the inherent potential to erode.inherent potential to erode.

Erosion Factors - Erosion Factors - Soil, Erodibility - K, Soil, Erodibility - K, Variable over TimeVariable over Time

• Varies during yearVaries during year

• High when rainfall is highHigh when rainfall is high

• Low when temperature is highLow when temperature is high

• Very low below about 25 Very low below about 25 ooFF

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Erosion Factors - Erosion Factors - Soil Tolerance to ErosionSoil Tolerance to Erosion

The “T” ValueThe “T” Value• Different soils have different tolerances to Different soils have different tolerances to

erosion.erosion.

• Soil scientists assign a soil loss tolerance “T” Soil scientists assign a soil loss tolerance “T” value to soil during mapping based on the soil’s value to soil during mapping based on the soil’s properties and potential for the soil to lose properties and potential for the soil to lose productivity over time from erosion.productivity over time from erosion.

• T values assigned to soils during mapping are 1, T values assigned to soils during mapping are 1, 2, 3, 4, or 5 tons per acre per year.2, 3, 4, or 5 tons per acre per year.

• Soils with lower T values are much more quickly Soils with lower T values are much more quickly damaged from erosion than soil with higher T damaged from erosion than soil with higher T values.values.

Erosion Factors - Erosion Factors - Topography “The Planning L”Topography “The Planning L”

Soil loss

Remote deposition

Sediment yield

Complex Slope – Convex/Concave

““L”L”

Soil Loss for PlanningSoil Loss for Planning

Overland flow slope length

Cover-Management EffectsCover-Management EffectsRaindrops intercepted by canopy cover

Raindrops not intercepted by canopy cover

Canopy cover

Ground cover

Ridges

Buried residue

Dead roots

Live roots

Soil consolidation

Random roughness

Management – “C” FactorsManagement – “C” Factors

The presence or absence The presence or absence of of crop canopycrop canopy or or crop crop residueresidue is one of the is one of the most important factors most important factors determining whether determining whether erosion will actually erosion will actually occur, even during occur, even during periods of high EIperiods of high EI..

Erosion FactorsErosion FactorsCover Management SubfactorsCover Management Subfactors

(Effect of Below Ground Biomass)(Effect of Below Ground Biomass)

• Roots mechanically hold the soilRoots mechanically hold the soil

• Add organic matter that improves soil quality, Add organic matter that improves soil quality, reduces erodibility, increases infiltrationreduces erodibility, increases infiltration

• Affect rill erosion more than interrill erosionAffect rill erosion more than interrill erosion

• Effect of buried residue over upper 3 inches, but Effect of buried residue over upper 3 inches, but depth decreases to 1 inch as soil consolidates (e.g. depth decreases to 1 inch as soil consolidates (e.g. no-till)no-till)

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Erosion FactorsErosion FactorsCover Management SubfactorsCover Management Subfactors

(Soil Consolidation)(Soil Consolidation)

• Overall, freshly tilled soil is about twice Overall, freshly tilled soil is about twice as erodible as a fully consolidated soil.as erodible as a fully consolidated soil.

• Erodibility decreases with timeErodibility decreases with time

>> 6 years in Wisconsin6 years in Wisconsin

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Supporting PracticesSupporting PracticesContour Contour StripcroppingStripcropping

ContouringContouring

TerracesTerraces

Contour Buffer StripsContour Buffer Strips

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Supporting PracticesSupporting Practices(Contour Farming)(Contour Farming)

• Redirects surface runoffRedirects surface runoff

• Effectiveness is determined by ridge height (no ridge Effectiveness is determined by ridge height (no ridge height = no contour effect).height = no contour effect).

• Effect is greatest when rows are aligned on the true Effect is greatest when rows are aligned on the true contour.contour.

• Fails on long slope lengths.Fails on long slope lengths.

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Supporting PracticesSupporting Practices(Contour Stripcropping)(Contour Stripcropping)

• Usually equal width Usually equal width strips.strips.

• Crops in the strips are Crops in the strips are rotated through a rotated through a rotation cycle. rotation cycle.

• Crops are offset so that Crops are offset so that strips of close growing strips of close growing crops (small grain, crops (small grain, perennial crop) separate perennial crop) separate strips with more strips with more erodible crops row erodible crops row crops (corn, soybeans)crops (corn, soybeans)

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Erosion PredictionErosion PredictionConservation Planning Data NeededConservation Planning Data Needed

1.1. Locate the “Significant Planning Area” for the field.Locate the “Significant Planning Area” for the field.

2.2. Length and Steepness of Slopes.Length and Steepness of Slopes.

3.3. Crops grown and sequence of crops.Crops grown and sequence of crops.

4.4. Field Specific Crop Yields.Field Specific Crop Yields.

5.5. Soil types.Soil types.

6.6. Supporting Practices (where appropriate).Supporting Practices (where appropriate).

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Significant “Planning Area”Significant “Planning Area”

8% @ 200 ft. 8% @ 200 ft. 20% Area20% Area6% @ 200 ft. 6% @ 200 ft.

25% of area25% of area

4% @ 250 ft4% @ 250 ft

40% Area40% Area5% @ 250 ft 5% @ 250 ft 15% of Area15% of Area

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KEY CONCEPTSKEY CONCEPTS

Soil Condition Index (SCI)Soil Condition Index (SCI)

Soil Tillage Intensity Rating (STIR)Soil Tillage Intensity Rating (STIR)

Energy Calculator Energy Calculator

Residue Levels (FLAT RESIDUE)Residue Levels (FLAT RESIDUE)

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Soil Condition IndexSoil Condition Index

Rotation—OM returned to the soilRotation—OM returned to the soil

Field Operations—Type, speed & number Field Operations—Type, speed & number of passesof passes

Erosion FactorsErosion Factors

THE HIGHER THE NUMBER THE THE HIGHER THE NUMBER THE BETTER!!BETTER!!

““0” Means OM is being maintained0” Means OM is being maintained

(The numbers range from -2..0..+2)(The numbers range from -2..0..+2)

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ROTATION IS CRITICALROTATION IS CRITICAL

•OM OM •Canopy CoverCanopy Cover•Residue compositionResidue composition

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HOW CAN I IMPACT SCI??HOW CAN I IMPACT SCI??

High residue crops in rotationHigh residue crops in rotation

Cover crops where it mattersCover crops where it matters

Mulch & Manure applicationsMulch & Manure applications

Reduce the tillageReduce the tillage

Reduce the soil disturbanceReduce the soil disturbance

Minimize the erosion from wind & waterMinimize the erosion from wind & water

Increase crop production/residue levelsIncrease crop production/residue levels

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STIR (Soil Tillage Intensity Rating)STIR (Soil Tillage Intensity Rating)

Operating speedOperating speedTillage type—mechanical disturbanceTillage type—mechanical disturbanceTillage Depth-Residue incorporationTillage Depth-Residue incorporationSurface area disturbed as related to Surface area disturbed as related to consolidationconsolidation

STIR VALUE=0-200STIR VALUE=0-200 LOW NUMBER IS GOODLOW NUMBER IS GOOD Prefer under 30Prefer under 30

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Improve STIR Value……..Improve STIR Value……..

Reduce tillageReduce tillage

No Tillage SystemsNo Tillage Systems

Soil Conserving Crops such as Soil Conserving Crops such as Alfalfa/GrassAlfalfa/Grass

Next: Computer Application of Next: Computer Application of RUSLE2RUSLE2

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Most Common ErrorsMost Common Errors

Don’t Capture Enough InformationDon’t Capture Enough Information

Changing Yields & Residue LevelsChanging Yields & Residue Levels

Not Reviewing Soil Condition Index With Not Reviewing Soil Condition Index With LandownersLandowners

Using Profiles and not keeping common runs Using Profiles and not keeping common runs under worksheetunder worksheet

Not Using Manure CorrectlyNot Using Manure Correctly

WI First 3 Went Away…Keep Current!WI First 3 Went Away…Keep Current!

Not Using those Yellow Folders EnoughNot Using those Yellow Folders Enough

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Set up Template for county and common soil & Save as

“Dane”

Add several Profiles

Change Column Widths

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Start Here!

Once & Label

Last Step

Add uniqueness

Put in notes

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QUESTIONS??QUESTIONS??