Regional Effects of Soil Erosion on Crop Productivity—Great Plains

TL;DRAbstract

Erosion, particularly by wind, has been and continues to be severe in many parts of the Great Plains. Erosion adversely affects crop productivity over the long term by removing plant nutrients, reducing infiltration, and reducing topsoil thickness. Water erosion can reduce productivity directly by reducing plant stand due to washing or sediment deposition and wind erosion can reduce productivity directly by sandblasting small plants. The seriousness of the decline in productivity due to erosion is related to the degree of erosion, to soil profile characteristics, and to climate. The sorting action of erosion tends to remove the fine fraction, which contains most of the soil organic matter and plant nutrients, and thereby reduces fertility. Soil profile depth determines the crop rooting volume and plant available water. In most cases, deep soils of uniform silt loam, loam, or sandy loam texture continue to be productive with good management in spite of moderate erosion.

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