Quantifying the Effects of Erosion on Soil Productivity for the Northern Great Plains

威尔逊教授和共同研究员尼尔森将分析土壤和作物产量信息，以开发一种改进版本的土壤生产力指数，该指数是由拉森和他在明尼苏达大学的同事开发的。该指数还将进行修改，以便适用于谷类作物。研究人员将使用蒙大拿州的气候、土壤和种植系统的数据来进一步修改指数，以便它可以用于比较不同地理区域的生产力指数值。他们将在两个小流域测试模型的准确性，并获得详细的侵蚀和生产力测量数据。土壤侵蚀与生产力之间的关系是复杂的。它们引起全世界的关注，因为严重的侵蚀会造成生产力的巨大损失。制定一个可以跨区域应用的生产率指数将具有相当大的理论意义。这样的指数也有助于制定减少与种植有关的侵蚀的政策和计划。

Professor Wilson and coinvestigator Neilsen will analyze soil and crop yield information to develop an improved version of the soil productivity index developed by Larson and associates at the University of Minnesota. The index will also be modified so it can be applied to cereal grain crops. The investigators will use data on Montana's climates, soils, and cropping systems to further modify the index so that it can be used to compare productivity index values across geographic regions. They will test the accuracy of the resulting model in two small drainage basins for which they will obtain detailed erosion and productivity measurements. Relationships between soil erosion and productivity are complicated. They are of worldwide concern because of the great losses of productivity that can result from severe erosion. Developing a productivity index that could be applied across regions would be of considerable theoretical interest. Such an index would also be helpful in developing policies and programs to reduce erosion associated with cropping.