PRESENTATION OF SOIL ERODIBILITY IN OSEČINA MUNICIPALITY: ONE EQUATION - TWO APPROACHES

Abstract

Soil water erosion is the most widespread form of land degradation in Serbia. The problem of soil erosion rose in the past with the intensification of agricultural activity and deforestation, and it is still very present with the potential to rise in the near future. Although a plenty of erosion combat measures were developed, they were not frequently used in agricultural systems in Serbia. The susceptibility of soils to water erosion could be estimated using soil erodibility factor (K) which is a part of USLE. The estimation of soil erodibility factor is obtained on a basis of soil water permeability, soil structure, particle size distribution and organic matter content. Oseĉina municipality is located in the western part of Central Serbia, in Kolubara district. The results of soil survey in the municipality were used in order to estimate K factor. Two maps of soil erodibility were made by two different approaches using same equation. The first approach is related to interpolation techniques between K values at sampling sites. The second approach is related to assignment of K-factor values to the soil types on soil map of Serbia in a scale 1:50 000. The advantages and disadvantages are present in both approaches and the most accurate map of soil erodibility could be obtained combining them.