Impacts of Water Erosion on Soil Physical Properties

Abstract

The aim of the paper is to determine the effect of water erosion on maximum capillary water capacity, bulk density, soil airiness, total porosity and minimal air capacity. For this purpose, 13 plots located in South Moravia were selected. Each plot was divided into three positions. The first one, eluvial, was located on the top of the slope. These were always flat and water erosion did not occur there. The second one was midslope position where soil was damaged by water erosion. Soil washed down from the midslope position was accumulated in the third one. It has been found that water erosion has a statistically significant effect on minimal air capacity of topsoil, and on bulk density and airiness of subsoil. Variance analysis showed less variance of values​​ referring all characteristics beyond these: the minimal air capacity of the midslope position damaged by erosion regarding topsoil; and maximum capillary water capacity, soil airiness and porosity regarding the subsoil.

Keywords

• soil
• physical properties
• water erosion
• soil degradation
• porosity
• bulk density