Soil loss tolerance: Maintenance of long-term soil productivity

Abstract

Based on a concept of multiple T values, a method is presented to establish a quantitative basis for soil loss tolerance, T1, to maintain long-term soil productivity. T1 is a function of a soil's productivity, its vulnerability to productivity losses from erosion, an allowable reduction in productivity, and a planning horizon in years. Soils with little vulnerability to productivity losses from erosion will have a soil loss tolerance, T2, determined by other erosion concerns. The method has broad application. It requires only that the index of soil productivity used be normalized to a range of 0.0 to 1.0.