Assessment of soil erosion risk in England and Wales

Abstract. Information on rainfall erosivity, soil erodibility and land capability is combined to produce a map of England and Wales showing areas with a risk of soil erosion at rates above the soil loss tolerance level. About 20 500 km² or 37% of the arable area is at risk. Given the shallow soils and current rates of erosion, sustained use of this area for cereal, sugar beet and vegetable production beyond the first quarter of the next century is threatened. A further 4000 km² is at risk in non-arable areas, mainly associated with blanket peat in the uplands and with coastal sand dunes.