An improved rainfall erosivity index obtained from experimental interrill soil losses in soils with a Mediterranean climate

The most common index to predict rainfall erosivity is based on the kinetic energy (KE) and the maximum intensity in a 30-min period. However, rainfalls recorded in the Mediterranean climate are, in most cases, the short duration (<30 min) and the high intensity. The goal of this work was to improve rainfall erosivity indices for the Mediterranean conditions from experimental interrill soil losses measured in natural conditions in 1-m² plots. The plots were located in three vineyard fields, whose soils are classified as Typic Calcixerept, Typic Xerofluvent and Typic Xerorthent, and ploughed at the same time as the vineyards. Soil losses and runoff were collected after each rainfall event during 1 year and rainfall data were obtained from bucket gauges installed at the same places. Mean intensity of the storms was less than 10 mm h⁻¹, but maximum intensities in short periods were as high as 103 mm h⁻¹. Kinetic energy was calculated using different expressions proposed in the literature and improved with our data obtained with a disdrometer type Joss Waldvogel. Soil losses were related to kinetic energy and to different combinations of kinetic energy and maximum intensity for different time intervals. The best correlation was that obtained between soil losses and the product of kinetic energy by Sempere Torres and the maximum intensity in 5-min intervals (I₅), which explained more than 80% of the variability. When a surface crust was formed quickly there was no significant relation between soil loss and rainfall parameters.