A soil scientist measures soil erosion rates: 0.02 inches per acre per year on forested land and 0.18 inches per acre per year on bare agricultural land. If a watershed has 450 acres, half forested and half bare, how many total inches of soil are lost annually?

Thu, 07 May 2026 09:07:24 +0000

Understanding Soil Erosion Rates: Science, Land Use, and Watershed Impact Soil erosion is a critical environmental issue that affects agriculture, water quality, and long-term land productivity. A key insight from soil science is that erosion rates vary dramatically based on land use—particularly whether land is forested or bare farmland. Recent measurements show that healthy forested soils lose only 0.02 inches of topsoil per acre per year, while bare agricultural fields experience rapid erosion at 0.18 inches per acre annually. When assessing erosion across larger areas like a watershed, these differences translate into significant cumulative losses. Consider a balanced watershed with 450 acres in total, evenly split between forested land and open farmland—225 acres of forest and 225 acres of bare agricultural land. To calculate total annual soil loss: