SOIL SCIENCE ANNUAL 2021, 72(1), 134621 https://doi.org/10.37501/soilsa/134621 Soil erodibility factor (K) in soils under varying stages of truncation Hanna Radziuk*, Marcin Świtoniak Nicolaus Copernicus University, Faculty of Earth Science and Spatial Management, Department of Soil Science and Landscape Management, Lwowska 1 Str., 87-100 Torun, Poland * H. Radziuk,
[email protected], ORCID iD: http://orcid.org/0000-0001-5279-2175 Abstract Received: 10.05.2020 Soil erosion is the most widespread problem in soil management. It leads to changes in the prop- Accepted: 18.03.2021 erties of soil horizons, which in turn can also affect the pace of slope processes. This may be sig- Associated editor: A. Łachacz nifi cant problem in young morainic areas where truncation of clay-illuvial soils (Luvisols, Retisols) transforms both the organic carbon content and texture of arable horizons. Changes in soil sus- ceptibility to erosion can be measured using the soil erodibility factor (K) widely used in erosional Keywords models. The aim of the submitted study is a calculation of the erodibility factor (K) for soils rep- resented different stages of truncation in a hummocky landscape of Northern Poland. Erodibility Hummocky landscape factor was calculated using the formula of the Erosion Productivity Impact Calculator (EPIC) model. Soil truncation For assessment of the factor, soil profi les were divided into four groups, varying degrees of soil Soil erodibility factor K truncation: completely eroded, strongly eroded, slightly eroded and non-eroded arable soils, non- Soil texture eroded forest soils. In the course of the performed study, it was noted that the soil erodibility K –1 –1 –1 Soil organic carbon factor values were between 0.0172-0.0352 t·ha·h·ha ·MJ ·mm and depended on the stage of soil Clay-illuvial soils truncation.