Soil loss tolerance

Soil loss tolerance for a specific soil, also known as the T value, is the maximum average annual soil loss expressed as tons per acre per year that will permit current production levels to be maintained economically and indefinitely. T values range from 1 to 5 tons per acre per year.[1] According to the United States Department of Agriculture's National Resource Conservation Service, in 2007 in the US, 99 million acres (28% of all cropland) were eroding above soil loss tolerance (T) rates. This was compared to 169 million acres (40% of cropland) in 1982.[2]

History

In the United States

The idea of soil loss tolerance was initially devised by the SCS (known presently as the NRCS). It was based on the minimum soil loss rate required to reduce organic content and harm crop productivity. In its early stages of development, soil loss tolerance rates were inconsistent because they were obtained based on rough estimates. From 1961 to 1962, several groups of soil in the United States were designated with T rates ranging from 2 to 6 tons per acre per year. The rate was subsequently adjusted to 1 to 5 tons per acre per year.[3] The value was adapted for use in conservation management beginning in the mid-1960s.[4]

References
  1. "T Value". NRCS-USDA State Office of Michigan. Retrieved 9 December 2015.
  2. "Soil Erosion on Cropland 2007 | NRCS". Nrcs.usda.gov. Retrieved 2011-09-11.
  3. Frederick R. Troeh; J. Arthur Hobbs; Roy L. Donahue (2003). Soil and Water Conservation for Productivity and Environmental Protection (4th ed.). Prentice Hall. p. 129. ISBN 978-0130968074.
  4. R. Lal (2006). Encyclopedia of Soil Science. Vol. 1. CRC Press. p. 640. ISBN 9780849338304.


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