THE CALCULATION OF THE MASS OF SOIL LOSSES IN THE HAN RIVER BUFFER ZONE, PALDANGDAM, KOREA

The objective of this study is to calculate the mass of soil losses (ton/ha/yr) in the area of the Han River buffer zone, Paldangdam, Korea. The Universal Soil Loss Equation (USLE) was used to calculate the mass of soil losses under different buffer zone scenarios. Also, the rainfall simulation experiments were carried out under different conditions of rainfall intensities, ground slope and soil organic contents. The two soil sampling sites for the rainfall simulation experiments were located on the adjacent farms of the riparian buffer zone of the Han river, South Chuncheon, Korea. Rainfall simulations were carried out within two weeks after soil sampling. Two digital flow monitors (Model Flow-575, Model Flow-350) and a invertor pump (Model PS-350 I) was used for rainfall simulation tests. Tap water with an electric conductivity of 105 uScm-1 was used for each test. The test results showed that the ground slope > rainfall intensity > organic contents of soil are main effective factors for soil losses. However, organic contents were determined to be the critical influencing factor for soil erosion based on the experimental results. The main causes of soil losses in the research area are sealing and erosion. The estimated mass of soil losses are 20 (ton/ha/yr.) during from 2015 to 2025 years. The results will aid the development of models aimed at predicting cropping system due to soil erosion. Also, the test results showed that geo-technical conditions and rainfall conditions, such as the ground slope, the compaction ratio, rainfall intensity and duration of rainfall are main factors for soil losses.