STUDY OF HANGING VALLEY IN LOESS-PALEOSOIL SEDIMENTS WITH SOIL EROSION ASSESSMENT USING NUCLEAR AND EROSION POTENTIAL METHODS

This paper is dealing with soil erosion assessment using two different approaches: nuclear model and erosion potential method, also known as Gavrilovic's method. Complex valley systems on Titel Loess Plateau were selected for investigation. Radiocaesium is favored in many studies as an optimal erosion tracer due to its relatively long half-life, negligible renewal in the environment and strongly binding ability onto soil particles. The use of gamma-spectrometry in environmental testing laboratories acts as a precise and fast measurement technique for determination of Cs-137 activity concentrations, without the need for complicate preparation of samples. Annual erosion and deposition rates were estimated according to three conversion models for uncultivated land: the profile distribution model with two years of dominant fallout of Cs-137 (1963 and 1986) and the diffusion and migration model using WALLING software. The applied nuclear models were validated by comparison with erosion potential model which is the most relevant empirical model for erosion processes in torrent valleys. The obtained results indicate a good agreement with overall low values of average annual soil erosion rates on all soil profiles in the investigated area. Correlation analysis has determined the different influence of slope, terrain curvature, and vegetation index on the erosion models.

Automated summary

This paper discusses the use of two different approaches, nuclear model and erosion potential method, for soil erosion assessment. The study focuses on complex valley systems on the Titel Loess Plateau. Radiocaesium is used as a tracer for erosion due to its long half-life and ability to bind to soil particles. The use of gamma-spectrometry allows for precise and fast measurement of Cs-137 activity concentrations. The results show low soil erosion rates in the investigated area, and correlation analysis reveals the different influences of slope, terrain curvature, and vegetation index on the erosion models.