Cesium-137-measured erosion rates for soils of five parent-material groups in southwestern Saskatchewan

Abstract

Despite the wide-spread perception that the soils of southwestern Saskatchewan are particularly erosion prone, few observations have been made on soil loss in this area. We used 137Cs redistribution to examine rates of soil loss associated with five parent-material groups in this area. Five sites were sampled in each parent-material group: one uncultivated site and four cultivated sites. Ten samples were taken at each site from landscape positions that have been shown in previous studies to have the highest rates of soil loss. The highest rates (median soil loss of −30 t ha−1 yr−1) were associated with glacial till landscapes; medium (−21 t ha−1 yr−1) but highly variable rates of loss, with coarse sandy glaciofluvial–lacustrine landscapes; and lower and consistent losses of around −12 t ha−1 yr−1, with silty glaciolacustrine and aeolian landscapes and with fine sandy glaciofluvial–lacustrine landscapes. The observed rates of loss can be used to calibrate models of geomorphic instability for this area. Key words: Soil erosion, soil quality, landscape-scale analysis, soil organic matter