Weak soil in semi-arid regions leads to drastic increase in erosion.
The study looked at how different land uses, farming methods, and slopes affect soil erosion in weakly aggregated soils in a dry region. Plots were set up with pasture and wheat crops on different slopes, and rainfall was measured over eight months. They found that consecutive rainfalls greatly increased runoff and soil loss. Wheat farming caused much more runoff and soil loss compared to pasture. Plots cultivated up and down slopes had more erosion than those along the contour. The impact of land use and slope gradient on erosion was bigger than expected, especially in soils with weak aggregates. Erosion was limited by how well the soil could transport particles, not just how easily they detached. Overall, land use and slope gradient have a significant impact on soil erosion in these conditions.