• Journal of the Korean GEO-environmental Society
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• v.18 no.1
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• pp.37-47
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• 2017

The Mekong River plays an extremely important role in Southeast Asia. Flowing through six countries, including China, Myanmar, Thailand, Laos PDR, Cambodia, and Vietnam, it is a site of great biological and ecological diversity and the habitat of numerous species of fish. It also supports a very large population that lives along the river basin. Therefore, much attention has been focused on the giant Mekong River Basin, particularly, its soil erosion and sedimentation problems. In fact, many methods have been used to calculate and simulate these problems. However, in the case of the Mekong River Basin, the available data is limited because of the extreme size of the area (about $795,000km^2$) and lack of equipment systems in the countries through which the Mekong River flows. In this study, we applied the Universal Soil Loss Equation (USLE) model in a GIS (Geographic Information System) framework to calculate the amount of soil erosion and sediment load during the selected period, from 1951 to 2007. The result points out dangerous areas, such as the Upper Mekong River Basin and 3S Basin (containing the Sekong, Sesan, and Srepok Rivers) that are suffering the serious consequences of soil erosion problems. Moreover, the present model is also useful for supporting river basin management in the implementation of sustainable management practices in the Mekong River Basin and other basins.

• Korean Journal of Soil Science and Fertilizer
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• v.29 no.4
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• pp.336-341
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• 1996

This study was conducted to investigate the effects of compost application on the soil loss and physico-chemical properties at the slope land from 1990 to 1991. Lysimeters with 15% slope. 5m slope length. 2m width and 1.2m depth were constructed in 1984 and filled with sandy loam, loam, clay loam. and clay soils. Treatments were bare soil, compost(1.5ton/10a) and non-compost with soybean-barley cropping system from 1984. Losses of soil were increased with the order of sandy loam, clay, loam and clay loam. Run-off was increased with the order of sandy loam, loam, clay loam and clay, but leachate was decreased with the same order. Compost treatments decreased 33.6-44.6% of soil loss and 17.0-24.0% of run-off but increased 17.1-33.7.% of leachate as compared with the non-compost treatments. The amount of soil loss was positively correlated with the amount of run-off by Y = 12.125+0.063X (r=$0.970^{**}$)and negatively correlated with the leachate by Y=43.425-0.096X(r=$-0.917^{**}$). The application of compost increased soil pH, OM, CEC and extractable cations. Application of compost decreased bulk density but increased porosity, water stable aggregate and available water. These results provide that the compost application plays an important role in conserving soil and water, and improving soil physico-chemical properties.

• Korean Journal of Soil Science and Fertilizer
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• v.44 no.6
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• pp.991-997
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• 2011

Soil erosion and sediment has been known as one of pollutants causing water quality degradation in water bodies. With global warming issues worldwide, various soil erosion studies have been performed. Although on-site monitoring of sediment loss would be an ideal method to evaluate soil erosion condition, modeling approaches have been utilized to estimate soil erosion and to evaluate various best management practices on soil erosion reduction. Although the USLE has been used in soil erosion estimation for the last 40 years, the USLE model has limitations in estimating event-based soil erosion reflecting rainfall intensity and rainfall duration for long-term period. Thus, the calibrated model, capable of simulating soil erosion using hourly rainfall data, was utilized in this study to evaluate the effects of rainfall amount and rainfall intensity on soil erosion. It was found that USLE soil erosion value is $3.06ton\;ha^{-1}\;yr^{-1}$, while soil erosion values from 2006~2010 were $2.469ton\;ha^{-1}\;yr^{-1}$, $0.882ton\;ha^{-1}\;yr^{-1}$, $1.489ton\;ha^{-1}\;yr^{-1}$, $2.158ton\;ha^{-1}\;yr^{-1}$, $1.602ton\;ha^{-1}\;yr^{-1}$, respectively. Especially, soil erosion from single storm event for 2008-2010 would be responsible for 30% or more of annual soil loss. As shown in this study, hourly soil erosion estimation system would provide more detailed output from the study area. In addition, the effects of rainfall intensity on soil erosion could be evaluated with this system.

• Korean Journal of Soil Science and Fertilizer
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• v.42 no.4
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• pp.231-238
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• 2009

This study was carried out to investigate the effect of vegetative buffer to reduce runoff and soil and nutrient loss at highland agricultural area. The soil of experimental field was classified as Ungyo series (Fine, Humic Hapludults). An area of each field with lysimeter was $50m^2(width\;2.5m{\times}length\;20m)$ and was a gradient of 17%. Chinese cabbage (Brassica campestris L.) was cultivated by general management in each field. For establishing vegetative buffer, rye (Secalecereale L.), tall fescue (Festucaarundinacea Schreb) and orchard grass (Dactylis glomerata L.) were planted at the edge of field. Rye buffers were 1m, 2m and 4m wide. Both orchard grass and tall fescue buffers were 2m wide. Vegetative buffers were set up in September 2005 and chinese cabbage was planted in June 2006. Soil loss, runoff and nutrient loss were measured from June to August in 2006. Since the precipitation amount was heavy in July, amounts of runoff, soil erosion and nutrient loss were the highest in July during this study period. In comparison with control, vegetative buffers of rye 2m, orchard grass 2m and tall fescue 2m reduced runoff by 3%, 1% and 2%, respectively. In comparison among width of rye buffer, rye 1m, rye 2m, and rye 4m reduced by 1%, 4% and 13%, respectively. Vegetative buffers of rye 2m, orchard grass 2m and tall fescue 2m showed the reducing of soil loss by 59%, 46% and 28%, respectively. In comparison among width of rye buffer, the highest reducing effect of 88% was observed in 4m treatment. Additionally, vegetative buffer reduced N, P and K losses in runoff and eroded soil which were 10 to 54%, 7 to 24% and 11 to 21%, respectively. In different widths, wider vegetative buffer showed lower loss of N, P and K in runoff and eroded soil. As a result of this study, the vegetative buffer of rye was most effective for reducing runoff and soil loss in comparisons with other plants. In addition, wider range of buffers recommended for reducing runoff and soil loss, if possible.

• Korean Journal of Soil Science and Fertilizer
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• v.43 no.6
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• pp.789-792
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• 2010

Major impacts of climate change expert that soil erosion rate may increase during the $21^{st}$ century. This study was conducted to assess the potential impacts of climate change on soil erosion by water in Korea. The soil loss was estimated for regions with the potential risk of soil erosion on a national scale. For computation, Universal Soil Loss Equation (USLE) with rainfall and runoff erosivity factors (R), cover management factors (C), support practice factors (P) and revised USLE with soil erodibility factors (K) and topographic factors (LS) were used. RUSLE, the revised version of USLE, was modified for Korean conditions and re-evaluate to estimate the national-scale of soil loss based on the digital soil maps for Korea. The change of precipitation for 2010 to 2090s were predicted under A1B scenarios made by National Institute of Meteorological Research in Korea. Future soil loss was predicted based on a change of R factor. As results, the predicted precipitations were increased by 6.7% for 2010 to 2030s, 9.5% for 2040 to 2060s and 190% for 2070 to 2090s, respectively. The total soil loss from uplands in 2005 was estimated approximately $28{\times}10^6$ ton. Total soil losses were estimated as $31{\times}10^6$ ton in 2010 to 2030s, $31{\times}10^6$ ton in 2040 to 2060s and $33{\times}10^6$ ton in 2070 to 2090s, respectively. As precipitation increased by 17% in the end of $21^{st}$ century, the total soil loss was increased by 12.9%. Overall, these results emphasize the significance of precipitation. However, it should be noted that when precipitation becomes insignificant, the results may turn out to be complex due to the large interaction among plant biomass, runoff and erosion. This may cause increase or decrease the overall erosion.

• Journal of Korean Society for Geospatial Information Science
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• v.15 no.3
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• pp.77-85
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• 2007

Assessment of soil erosion is a cost and time-consuming task. There are many models developed to predict soil erosion from an area, but Universal Soil Loss Equation (USLE) is most widely used empirical equation for estimating annual soil erosion. Soil erosion depends upon-rainfall intensity, type of soil, land cover and land use, slope degree, slope length and soil conservation practice. All these parameters are have spatial distribution and hence satellite remote sensing and Geographic Information System (GIS) are applicable in the assessment of the influence on soil erosion. GIS has been integrated with the USLE (Universal Soil Loss Equation) model in identification of rainfall-based erosion to the Bocheong River which is the representative basin of IHP due to Typhoon Rusa. Similar studies are available in literature, ranging from those that use a simple model such as USLE to others of a more sophisticated nature.

• Korean Journal of Soil Science and Fertilizer
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• v.40 no.5
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• pp.383-391
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• 2007

This study was conducted for an assessment through the estimation of soil loss by each catchment classified by soil catena. Ten catchments, which are Geumgang21, Namgang03, Dongjincheon, Gapyongcheon01, Gyongancheon02, Geumgang16, Byongsungcheon01, Daesincheon, Bukcheon02, Youngsangang08, were selected from the hydrologic unit map and the detailed soil digital map (1:25,000) for this study. The catchments like Geumgang21, Namgang03, Dongjincheon, Gapyongcheon01 and Gyongancheon02 were mainly composed with soils originated from gneiss. The catchments like Geumgang16, Byongsungcheon01, Daesincheon, Bukcheon02 and Youngsangang08 were mainly composed with soils originated from granites. The grades, which are divided into seven grades with A(very tolerable), B(tolerable), C(moderate), D(low), E(high), F(severe), G(very severe), of soil erosion estimated by USLE in catchments were distributed in most A and B because of paddy land and forestry. In detailed, the soil erosion grade of catchments mainly distributing soils originated from gneiss showed more the distribution of B and C than it of catchments mainly distributing soils originated from granites. The reason of results would be derived from topographic characteristics of soils originated from gneiss located at mountainous. The soil loss according to soil catena linked with Songsan and Jigok series, which are soils originated from gneiss was calculated with $7.66ton\;ha^{-1}\;yr^{-1}$. The soil loss of Geumgang16, Byongsungcheon01, Daesincheon, Bukcheon02 which have the soil catena linked with Samgak and Sangju soil series originated from granite, was calculated with $5.55ton\;ha^{-1}\;yr^{-1}$. The soil loss of Youngsangang08 which have the soil catena linked with Songjung and Baeksan soil series originated from granite was calculated with $9.6ton\;ha^{-1}\;yr^{-1}$, but the conclusion on soil loss in this kind of soil catena would be drawn from the analysis of more catchments. In conclusion, the results of this study inform that the classification of soil catena by catchments and estimation of soil loss according to soil catena would be effective for analysis on the grade of non-point pollution by soil erosion in a catchment.

• Journal of The Korean Society of Agricultural Engineers
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• v.60 no.2
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• pp.37-44
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• 2018

Universal soil loss equation (USLE) had been employed to estimate potential soil loss since it was developed from the statewide data measured and collected in the United States. The equation had an origin in average annual soil loss estimation though, it was modified or improved to provide better opportunities of soil loss estimation outside the United States. The equation has five factors, most studies modifying them to adapt regional status were focused on rainfall erosivity factor and cover management factor. While the conservation practice factor (USLE P factor) is to represent distinct features in agricultural fields, it is challenging to find studies regarding the factor improvements. Moreover, the factor is typically defined using slopes. The factor defining approach was suggested in the study, the approach is a step-by-step method allowing USLE P factor definition with given condition. The minimum condition is slope and field location to provide an opportunity for using in any GIS software and to reflect regionally distinct features. If watershed location, slope, crop type, and mulching type on furrows are given, detailed definition of the factors are possible. The approach was developed from field survey in South-Korea, it is expected to be used for potential soil loss using USLE in South-Korea.

• Korean Journal of Soil Science and Fertilizer
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• v.43 no.6
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• pp.828-836
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• 2010

This study was conducted to evaluate soil erosion risk with a standard unit watershed in the upper Han river basin using the spatial soil erosion map according to the change of landuse. The study area is 14,577 $km^2$, which consists of 10 subbasins, 107 standard unit watersheds. Total annual soil loss and soil loss per area estimated were $895{\times}10^4\;Mg\;yr^{-1}$ and 6.1 Mg $ha^{-1}\;yr^{-1}$, respectively. A result of analysis with a subbasin as a unit showed that annual soil losses and soil loss per area in Namhan river basins was more than in Bukhan river ones. Predicted annual soil loss according to the landuse ranked as Forest & Grassland > Upland ${\gg}$ Urban & Fallow area > Paddy field > Orchard. Upland area covered 6.2% of the study area, but the contribution of total annul soil loss was 40.6% and that of Forest & Grassland was 44.2%. As a evaluation of soil erosion risk using the spatial soil erosion map, we could precisely conformed the potential hazardous region of soil erosion in each unit watersheds. The ratio of regions, graded as higher "Moderate" for annual soil loss, were respectively 8.7%, 7.9% and 7.8% in 1001, 1002 and 1003 subbasins in Namhan river basin. Most landuse of these area was upland, and these area is necessary to establish soil conservation practices to reduce soil erosion based on the field observation.

• Korean Journal of Soil Science and Fertilizer
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• v.40 no.2
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• pp.131-135
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• 2007

This study was performed as an effort to reduce soil loss by investigating the phase of water flow according to soil texture and rainfall pattern and by determining the canopy cover subfactor in the RUSLE (revised universal soil loss equation). Red pepper was planted at the 15% sloped lysimeter of $2m{\times}5m{\times}0.5m$ ($width{\times}length{\times}depth$) with three different textured soils (loam, clay loam and sandy loam) and the relationship between amount and intensity of rainfall; soil loss and the amount of runoff; and amount of rainfall and runoff at different soil texture were measured at the experiment station of the National Institute of Agricultural Science and Technology (NIAST) during May to October of 2005. The amount of runoff increased with increasing amount of rainfall, showing difference in the relative increase rate of runoff at different soil texture. The increase rate of runoff with unit increase of rainfall for the lysimeter with red pepper was 0.44, 0.41 and 0.13 for loam, clayey loam and sandy loam, respectively. The minimum amount of rainfall for runoff was 23.53 mm for sandy loam, 10.35 mm for loam and 5.46 mm for clayey loam, respectively. The canopy cover subfactors of red pepper were 0.425, 0.459, and 0.478 for sandy loam, loam and clayey loam, respectively.