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Full-Text Articles in Physical Sciences and Mathematics
The Spatial Distribution Of K-Factor Values Across A Toposequence And A Soil Survey Map Unit, Jacqueline Elizabeth Tilligkeit
The Spatial Distribution Of K-Factor Values Across A Toposequence And A Soil Survey Map Unit, Jacqueline Elizabeth Tilligkeit
Master's Theses
Rivers and streams are adversely affected by an increase in sedimentation in their waters from eroding land. High sediment loads in streams can bury fish eggs and prevent hatching, increasing nutrients in the water causing algae blooms, or even contaminating the water with heavy metals carried in or on the aggregates. The erodibility of soil is valuable knowledge to all land users so that we may predict soil loss and its potential to pollute streams. This is done by using the Revised Universal Soil Loss Equation (RUSLE). By predicting soil loss from a given landscape, land managers can take mitigation …
A Chemical And Morphological Study Of Soils At The Cal Poly Vineyard, Glade A. Dlott
A Chemical And Morphological Study Of Soils At The Cal Poly Vineyard, Glade A. Dlott
Natural Resources Management and Environmental Sciences
Despite cultivation for close to a decade, the soils at the Cal Poly vineyard have never been studied in detail. This study was designed to gain a better understanding of the soils for better management. Soil pits and auger holes were dug throughout the site to accurately classify soils. Soils were classified using USDA-NRCS Soil Taxonomy, and samples were taken from each horizon of each soil pit for chemical analysis. Four soil map units were delineated on the site. The pH, EC, total percent carbon and nitrogen, and plant available nitrate, sulfate, phosphate, base cations, and metal micronutrients of each …
Post-Fire Near-Surface Runoff From Small-Scale Rainfall Simulations, Santa Cruz Mountains, Michael Founds
Post-Fire Near-Surface Runoff From Small-Scale Rainfall Simulations, Santa Cruz Mountains, Michael Founds
Natural Resources Management and Environmental Sciences
The influence of environmental variables on the runoff response to a fire is poorly understood. Small-scale rainfall simulation was used to study the factors impacting near-surface runoff following the Lockheed Fire, which occurred on August 12, 2009. A variable speed rainfall simulator was used to rain on 15 different test plots at an average rate of 50mmh-1. Variables of burn severity, time following the fire, soil parent material, vegetation type, and presence of a duff layer were all analyzed using the ratio of runoff to rainfall. The difference in-between burned sites and similar control sites were 19±6%. Only …