Sediment size distributions predicted for selected soils

Surface samples of 21 agricultural soils were analyzed by laboratory procedures to predict the size distribution of sediment that would be eroded during rainstorms from interrill areas. The study was conducted to obtain sediment size data for soils of particular interest to erosion/sedimentation researchers and to further evaluate previously developed methodology by using soils with a wide range of properties. Generally, high-silt soils produced the finest sediment. Soils high in clay produced the coarsest aggregated sediment. Problems were encountered in evaluating the size distributions of sediment from soils with primary particles larger than coarse sand. However, the methods used in this study provide a reasonably accurate, simple, and inexpensive means of predicting sediment size distributions for most soils.