Abstract
The effect of antecedent moisture on rainfall erosion was evaluated in a series of field experiments by applying artificial rainfall at 50 mm h−1 (0.189 J m−2 s−1), to two Gray-Brown Luvisols on plots of 7.8 m2. The measured soil loss is significantly related to antecedent moisture. Extrapolations from the data indicate that soil loss may differ by as much as 800 times if the full range of antecedent soil moisture is considered. For the Guelph silt loam, the maximum soil moisture effect was observed at 20 min after the beginning of simulated rainfall.