Fixing the holes in soil erosion modelling

Soil erosion remains the number one threat to soil resources around the world, adversely affecting our ability to produce food, protect air and water resources, and sustain the viability of communities and industries.  For several decades, models have been used to assess soil erosion and sedimentation, and the potential for soil conservation practices.  With advances in computing, modelling has become very sophisticated and widespread.

Although this technology is quite mature, there are major deficiencies in the development and application of existing erosion models: (i) Lack of integration of models for wind, water and tillage erosion, necessary to provide accurate estimates of soil losses.  (ii) Lack of accounting of historical soil losses.  (iii) Lack of coherence of model input scales within and across processes, creating substantial errors and uncertainties in model outputs and map products.  Consequently, these erosion models do not reflect the soils losses observed in fields by land managers, the losses that affect the production and profitability of crops.  These deficiencies are demonstrated based on experience in Canada.  The necessary path forward is clear, and is presented.