Applying the Wischmeier Equation to Determine the Erodibility Factor in Soils of Albania

• Published in: Albanian journal of agricultural sciences 2016-09, Vol.15 (3), p.137
• Main Authors: Mziu, Pranvera, Gjongecaj, Besnik, Lekaj, Oliver, Abazi, Demë
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• ISSN: 2218-2020; 2218-2020

At the centre of this study is the determination of the erodibility factor, which is known as K factor in theWischmeier universal equation of soil loss. It could be determined experimentally, in local conditions, or byderiving from the factors determining it. Before any determination or any quantifying, it should bear in mind that theerodibility factor is a physical quantity, which depends on the soil physical properties. So, it is an inherent propertyof soil itself. Experimentally, it can be derived from the Wischmeier universal equation of soil loss by measuring allother factors of the equation, turning it into an equation with one unknown: soil erodibility. In a large scale, soilerodibility would be determined by measuring four factors closely related with the soil physical status: soil texture,soil structure, soil permeability, and soil organic matter. In the presented study, soil erodibility factor wasdetermined in the second way and for the entire country of Albania. About twenty nine experimental plots were usedto measure the above mentioned factors determining K factor. The equation used was that of Wischmeier and amathematical model was created just for doing the right calculations. The K factor was found to be between 0.0137to 0.441, which means that there is a large variation in Albanian soils according to their behavior towards theerodibility, or finally, towards erosion. Based on the results found, a map is produced, in which, it is clearlyindicated the way the soils with various capacity to resist to erosion are spread throughout Albania. The zonescharacterized by high potential of erosion correspond with the zones where the majority of silt rich soils occur, asthe zones with low potential erosion correspond with the zones where the majority of light and heavy soils occur.