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Erosion, transport and deposition processes — theories and models
Soil& Tillage Research, 26 (1993) 93-96
93
Elsevier Science Publishers B.V., Amsterdam
Book Reviews EROSION, TRANSPORT AND DEPOSITION PROCESSES
Erosion, Transport and Deposition Processes - - Theories and Models. (H. Rohdenburg Memorial Symposium, Catena Supplement No. 19), H.R. Bork, J. de Ploey and A.P. Schick (Editors), Catena, Cremlingen, Germany, 1991, 153 pp., DM119/US$75, ISSN 0722-0723, ISBN 3-92338128-X.
The IGU Commission on Measurement, Theory and Application in Geomorphology, and the Technical University of Braunschweig, organized the symposium to commemorate Prof. Heinrich Rohdenburg. Papers and posters presented were closely related to Prof. Rohdenburg's fields of research: analysis and simulation of processes which occur at the soil surface and within it, soil infiltration, runoff, soil particles, erosion and soil water transport phenomena. Twenty posters, and 22 papers were presented, of these 11 papers were selected to be included in the book together with a commemoration paper by H.R. Bark and a preface. The first paper, by De Ploey, is a general overview, in which the current knowledge on transport and deposition processes at or near the soil surface, and the missing links between our modelling efforts, experiments in the laboratory or pilot plots and in nature, is reviewed with respect to Prof. Rohdenburg's contributions. In contrast to this general overview, the following articles are subject and phenomena-oriented. The article by Schmidt deals with the impact of rain on sheet flow and soil material transport in an empirical way. It points out problems related to scale differences in the surface roughness, surface detention and surface water film thickness and the slope length, which result in effects on observed soil sedimentation. The articles by Lavee et al. and Cervera et al., deal with climatic gradients, seasonal changes (frost in winter) and vegetative surface cover on "soil response" to rainfall. Both presentations, empirical in nature, yield interesting results, but do nothing to further broaden or deepen our understanding of the processes involved. Jungarius and Van den Brick, who worked in Morroco and Oostwond Wijdens and Bryan who worked in Kenya present observations, data sets and detailed soil and site descriptions but their analyses totally ignore the internal soil hydraulic regime which is crucial to an accurate on-site description of gulley and badland formation. The presentation of Mualem and Assuline, deals with dynamic modelling of crust formation and of the consequent, possible runoff inducement and initiation during soil crust formation. Schmidt presents a mathematical, semi-
94 empirical model of soil erosion caused by surface flow and raindrop impact. Kirby's article deals with modelling the travel of particulated sediments, where grain size, distance travelled and number of moving grains are dealt with in a probablistic, stochastic treatment. This article seems to point out the direction for further developments and research. His presentation differs from Torri and Borselli's rather mechanistic approach to overland flow and ensuance of soil erosion. Their approach serves as a good summary to the semi-empirical, rather than the theoretical relying on mean drag forces and homology to flow in very wide channels. The last presentation deals with model predictions of the soil-water dynamic regime, but has no direct relation to erosion runoff and sedimentation processes, as it is strictly limited to water flow in the root zones of plants. As such, it seems to be completely detached from the main stream of presentations compiled in the book. The selected papers, compiled in this book were chosen from those presented at the symposium and their selection was probably motivated to exhibit the best, most advanced material and concepts available. It is an interesting volume which serves rather as stock evaluation that will be most helpful for geomorphologists, hydrologists, soil scientists and environmental conservationists, and will be a valuable addition to any library. A. HADAS Department of Soil Physics Institute of Soils and Water Bet Dagan Israel SOIL MANAGEMENT Soil Management for Sustainability. R. Lal and F.J. Pierce (Editors), Soil and Water Conservation Society, Ankeny, IA, USA, 1991, 189 pp., US$15.00, ISBN 0-935734-23-6. The development of appropriate soil management practices in agroecosystems is a basic requirement for sustainable agriculture. Soil Management for Sustainability is compiled from the edited papers of a workshop held at Edmonton, Alberta, Canada in 1989. The publication honours Dr. William E. Larson for his life-long dedication to soil management and land stewardship. In all, the book contains 14 chapters which address three aspects of soil management in relation to sustainability: basic processes, management options, and policy issues and priorities. Five chapters dealing with basic soil processes provide brief summaries covering soil structure, soil compaction, and soil erosion. The basic processes
93
Elsevier Science Publishers B.V., Amsterdam
Book Reviews EROSION, TRANSPORT AND DEPOSITION PROCESSES
Erosion, Transport and Deposition Processes - - Theories and Models. (H. Rohdenburg Memorial Symposium, Catena Supplement No. 19), H.R. Bork, J. de Ploey and A.P. Schick (Editors), Catena, Cremlingen, Germany, 1991, 153 pp., DM119/US$75, ISSN 0722-0723, ISBN 3-92338128-X.
The IGU Commission on Measurement, Theory and Application in Geomorphology, and the Technical University of Braunschweig, organized the symposium to commemorate Prof. Heinrich Rohdenburg. Papers and posters presented were closely related to Prof. Rohdenburg's fields of research: analysis and simulation of processes which occur at the soil surface and within it, soil infiltration, runoff, soil particles, erosion and soil water transport phenomena. Twenty posters, and 22 papers were presented, of these 11 papers were selected to be included in the book together with a commemoration paper by H.R. Bark and a preface. The first paper, by De Ploey, is a general overview, in which the current knowledge on transport and deposition processes at or near the soil surface, and the missing links between our modelling efforts, experiments in the laboratory or pilot plots and in nature, is reviewed with respect to Prof. Rohdenburg's contributions. In contrast to this general overview, the following articles are subject and phenomena-oriented. The article by Schmidt deals with the impact of rain on sheet flow and soil material transport in an empirical way. It points out problems related to scale differences in the surface roughness, surface detention and surface water film thickness and the slope length, which result in effects on observed soil sedimentation. The articles by Lavee et al. and Cervera et al., deal with climatic gradients, seasonal changes (frost in winter) and vegetative surface cover on "soil response" to rainfall. Both presentations, empirical in nature, yield interesting results, but do nothing to further broaden or deepen our understanding of the processes involved. Jungarius and Van den Brick, who worked in Morroco and Oostwond Wijdens and Bryan who worked in Kenya present observations, data sets and detailed soil and site descriptions but their analyses totally ignore the internal soil hydraulic regime which is crucial to an accurate on-site description of gulley and badland formation. The presentation of Mualem and Assuline, deals with dynamic modelling of crust formation and of the consequent, possible runoff inducement and initiation during soil crust formation. Schmidt presents a mathematical, semi-
94 empirical model of soil erosion caused by surface flow and raindrop impact. Kirby's article deals with modelling the travel of particulated sediments, where grain size, distance travelled and number of moving grains are dealt with in a probablistic, stochastic treatment. This article seems to point out the direction for further developments and research. His presentation differs from Torri and Borselli's rather mechanistic approach to overland flow and ensuance of soil erosion. Their approach serves as a good summary to the semi-empirical, rather than the theoretical relying on mean drag forces and homology to flow in very wide channels. The last presentation deals with model predictions of the soil-water dynamic regime, but has no direct relation to erosion runoff and sedimentation processes, as it is strictly limited to water flow in the root zones of plants. As such, it seems to be completely detached from the main stream of presentations compiled in the book. The selected papers, compiled in this book were chosen from those presented at the symposium and their selection was probably motivated to exhibit the best, most advanced material and concepts available. It is an interesting volume which serves rather as stock evaluation that will be most helpful for geomorphologists, hydrologists, soil scientists and environmental conservationists, and will be a valuable addition to any library. A. HADAS Department of Soil Physics Institute of Soils and Water Bet Dagan Israel SOIL MANAGEMENT Soil Management for Sustainability. R. Lal and F.J. Pierce (Editors), Soil and Water Conservation Society, Ankeny, IA, USA, 1991, 189 pp., US$15.00, ISBN 0-935734-23-6. The development of appropriate soil management practices in agroecosystems is a basic requirement for sustainable agriculture. Soil Management for Sustainability is compiled from the edited papers of a workshop held at Edmonton, Alberta, Canada in 1989. The publication honours Dr. William E. Larson for his life-long dedication to soil management and land stewardship. In all, the book contains 14 chapters which address three aspects of soil management in relation to sustainability: basic processes, management options, and policy issues and priorities. Five chapters dealing with basic soil processes provide brief summaries covering soil structure, soil compaction, and soil erosion. The basic processes