THE SEASONAL VARIATION OF SOIL EROSION BY WATER IN SOUTHWESTERN QUEBEC

Abstract

Fallow plots were maintained at four sites that varied with respect to soil type and slope aspect and gradient to determine seasonal patterns of soil loss in southwestern Quebec. Equipment used to measure and record runoff included tipping-bucket flowmeters and Datapod digital recorders. Soil loss was measured on a seasonal basis from September 1983 to August 1985, to compare the percentage of annual soil loss by water that occurred during winter and summer months. Summer soil loss accounted for approximately 80% of the total annual soil loss from coarse-textured sites. Winter soil losses at the fine-textured site were responsible for almost 90% of the annual soil loss from that site. Key words: Soil erosion, universal soil loss equation, spring runoff