Effects of Splash Erosion over Different Land–Use Types in Çanakkale–Lapseki

Splash erosion is the initial stage of water erosion and displaces soil particles and destroys soil structure. This study was carried out to determine the splash erosion over 3 different land–use types (sweet cherry orchard, wheat field and rangeland) in Subaşı Village of Çanakkale–Lapseki. A total of 8 splash cups and splash funnels were placed for each land–use type (sweet cherry orchard, wheat field and rangeland). Splash erosion was measured under natural precipitation conditions between the dates of 21 November 2011 and 5 May 2012. Amount of mean soil in splash cups for sweet cherry orchard, wheat field and rangeland were measured as 1975 g m–2, 498.2 g m–2, 219.3 g m–2, respectively and the amounts of mean soil in splash funnels were 982.2 g m–2, 633.5 g m–2 and 465 g m–2, respectively. A proper cover crop should urgently be grown within sweet cherry orchards to reduce the soil loss through splash erosion.