• Journal of The Korean Society of Agricultural Engineers
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• v.46 no.1
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• pp.87-97
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• 2004

The paper presents the results from the applications of the Water Erosion Prediction Project (WEPP) model to a single plot, and also a small watershed in the Mid Korean Peninsula which is comprised of hillslopes and channels along the water courses. Field monitoring was carried out to obtain total runoff, peak runoff and sediment yield data from research sites. For the plot of 0.63 ha in size, cultivated with com, the relative error of the simulated total runoff, peak runoff rates, and sediment yields using WEPP ranged from -16.6 to 22％, from -15.6 to 6.0％, and from 23.9 to 356.4％ compared to the observed data, respectively. The relative errors for the upland watershed of 5.1 ha ranged from -0.7 to 11.1 ％ for the total runoff, from -6.6 to 35.0 ％ for the sediment yields. The simulation results seem to justify that WEPP is applicable to the Korean dry croplands if the parameters are correctly defined. The results from WEPP applications showed that the major source areas contributing sediment yield most are downstream parts of the watershed where runoff concentrated. It was suggested that cultural practice be managed in such a way that the soil surface could be fully covered by crop during rainy season to minimize sediment yield. And also, best management practices were recommended based on WEPP simulations.