Geology Reference
In-Depth Information
dates and typical tillage systems used in the CMZ.
Internally, the vegetations, operations and residues
used by these managements all came from the
same national NRCS RUSLE2 database. Users
could copy templates into a local management file
and change or edit the tillage system details, yields,
crops and dates of operations to tailor them for use
locally in specific runs, whereas the locked tem-
plates remained unedited for future use.
eral background requirements that would be
required of the trainees prior to full-scale train-
ing, including:
●
enough background in the underlying USLE/
RUSLE science to allow the trainee to understand
the conceptual approach, the use of the inputs,
and the meaning of the results; and
●
a general understanding of how the computer
program organizes information and reflects the
'conceptual model' behind RUSLE. This was
enhanced by the flexibility of the program in
developing very simple user interface templates,
which allowed the program to be introduced at a
rather basic level.
In addition, a fuller database adequately reflect-
ing the broad range of situations that users would
need to address was required for full-scale
training.
(iv) RUSLE2 database status
Although the data
developed for RUSLE1 (especially the vegetation
and operation descriptions) proved invaluable in
the NRCS database development efforts, develop-
ment of the RUSLE2 database was still a tremen-
dous effort. The USDA-NRCS, with initial
guidance from ARS and aided by university and
other cooperators, has compiled a database that
includes (as of 21 July 2008): (1) 105 residues,
describing how much cover each provides and
how fast it decomposes; (2) 917 vegetations, from
asparagus to zucchini, with each describing how
the vegetation grows in terms of providing can-
opy cover and biomass; (3) 438 field operations,
describing what happens to the soil, residue and
vegetation as a result of the operation; (4) 10,976
climate descriptions; (5) 1,048,659 soil compo-
nent descriptions, representing 649,032 soil map
units in 3100 soil survey areas; (6) 467 special
descriptions describing saved descriptions of
strip-cropping, contouring, terracing, and sedi-
ment control basin practices; and (7) 26,361 man-
agements for 75 CMZs, describing how the field
operations, vegetations and residues fit together
into management schemes.
(ii) NRCS RUSLE2 training
Beginning in the
summer of 2001, USDA-NRCS conducted
regional 'train the trainer' sessions for NRCS
state and area agronomists and others with ero-
sion prediction responsibilities. These sessions
were conducted by the NRCS Water Erosion
cooperating scientist, national database manager,
and the RUSLE2 development team. Training
focused on the erosion science on which RUSLE2
is based, how to navigate the user interface, how
the database structure is organized, the content
of records in the various parts of the database, and
hands-on experience in creating management
scenarios and making simple RUSLE2 runs. One
or two individuals from each state attended and
began learning the model as well as learning how
to train field office employees within their states.
Each of these trainers then went back and con-
ducted a series of 1-2 day RUSLE2 model train-
ing sessions to allow field office staff to develop
sufficient skills such that they could make soil
loss estimates using a relatively simple user
template.
The regional 'train the trainer' sessions proved
very valuable not only to the NRCS state person-
nel but also to the RUSLE2 development team, in
that several NRCS user needs were identified that
eventually led to enhancements and modifications
8.3.3
Implementation needs and training
requirements
(i) Preliminary training
Initial RUSLE2 training
was conducted by NRCS with assistance from
the RUSLE2 development team in regional test-
ing sessions during the period from 1999 to 2000.
A minimal database, which included generic soils
and only a few major crops and operations, was
used for testing RUSLE2. As the training sessions
progressed, it became clear that there were sev-
