Tillage-induced ephemeral gully erosion has been shown to
be a significant and sometimes dominant source of sediment
within a watershed. An approach has been developed within
AnnAGNPS to assess the impact of conservation practices on
ephemeral gully erosion as well as sheet and rill erosion.
Conservation management treatments should include
targeting practices specific for ephemeral gullies differently
than for sheet and rill erosion. Within watersheds, gullies are
becoming the dominate source of cropland erosion unless
preventative conservation practices are installed.
(Universidad Pública de Navarra / Nafarroako Unibertsitate Publikoa, 2007) Gordon, L.M.; Bennett, S.J.; Alonso, C.V.; Bingner, R.L.
While the perceived magnitude of ephemeral gully
erosion may be masked after gullies are repaired, the action
of plowing in these channels reduces topsoil thickness and
crop productivity over a much wider area than the channel
itself. This study demonstrates that filling ephemeral gullies
on an annual basis during tillage operations may be more
destructive than realized. These results should provide land
managers an additional incentive for adopting soil
conservation practices such as no-till.