Soil erosion under different land uses: Assessment by the magnetic tracer method

A new method of magnetic tracer was applied by the authors for a quantitative assessment of erosional processes. The rates of erosion were determined for cultivated and virgin soils (predominantly, chernozems) on slopes in different parts of the United States and Russia. Quantitative parameters of soil loss and soil deposition for the slopes of different shapes and aspects were found. Specific features of erosional processes within different parts of slopes were revealed. The relationships between the intensity of erosion and the humus state of the soils were characterized, and the effect of land use on the rates of soil erosion was estimated.