Abstract
Abstract In this study topsoil samples of fifteen Georgia Ultisols and Alfisols were used to assess the relative importance of total and water‐disperslble particle size distribution, and aggregation by wet sieving on interrill erodibility. A measure of aggregate stability to raindrop impact and amounts of soil splash were also determined on the soils. Water‐dispersibility was hypothesized to more accurately reflect availability of particles for transport and crusting under rainfall conditions than total (chemically dispersed) particle size. Correlation analysis showed that total silt and clay were not related to soil loss measured on small pans (interrill processes), nor were meaures of soil splash or stability under rainfall. Dispersible clay content and percentage of aggregates > 1 mm diameter were correlated with soil loss. Regression of dispersible clay vs. soil loss gave significant linear and exponential predictive relationships. The effect of clay dispersion on both detachment and transport of sediments appears to explain these results.
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