Table of Contents

 I. Welcome

Weps.Soil 1.0 is a standalone program which is part of the Wind Erosion Prediction System ( WEPS ) model. Weps.Soil 1.0 has several functions. It can used to read soil database ( .sol ) files and convert them to ( .ifc ) files. The .sol files represent the minimum set of soil information required by Weps.Soil 1.0. The .ifc files represent the minimum set of initial field conditions required by the WEPS model. Weps.Soil 1.0 also allows the user to edit values in the .sol and .ifc files and to save them to the same or diffierent file name. It takes two kinds of input formats, .sol or .ifc files, which are described later in this document and provides a friendly user interface.

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II. Installation Notes

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III. How to Run the Program

• Open an existing .sol or .ifc file

From file menu, choose open. Or click the open button, the open file dialogue appears. Choose a .sol or .ifc file, then click open.
 
• Save or Save Record As

You can save the table contents into corresponding .sol or .ifc files. From file menu, choose save or save record as. Or click the disk icon button, the save dialogue will appear. Type the desired file name and corresponding .sol or .ifc extension. Then click save. Note: you can only save Soil Database and Soil Properties into  a .sol file and save Field Initial Conditions into a .ifc file. Failure to do this will cause the file to be of the wrong format and thus will not be useable for later use.
 
• Cut, Copy or Paste on a row of data

Single mouse click on a row of data, you will see the color of this row changes to deep green. Then choose either from the menu or click the corresponding buttons to finish operation. Three operations available for a row of data--Cut, Copy and Paste.
You must cut or paste a row of data before paste.
 
• Insert or add a new layer

Mouse click on a row of data to select the desired row position of the new layer. Go to Edit->Insert New Layer in the menu bar, an empty new layer will be added.
 
• Edit on the data of a cell

Double click on the cell you want to make changes until the color of the cell becomes red. Then make your changes. Note: there will be warning on the cell if your input is out of range or you enter a false item. If this happens, check your input and repeat again.
 
• Help functions

Click the Question Icon button and a question icon will appear at the top of the mouse. Move your mouse to the place you want help and click, a help dialogue will appear. If you feel this help is not enough and want further information, please contact John Tatarko, USDA-ARS Wind Erosion Research Unit at jt@weru.ksu.edu or by phone at 785-532-6720, or WERU at 785-532-6495..
 
• View Soil Database or view Soil Initial Field Condition

You can choose view Soil Database or Initial Field Condition from the view menu bar. View Soil Database will let you view Soil ID and Surface Properties and Soil Layer properties. View Initial Field Conditions will let you view Soil ID and Surface Properties, Soil Surface Properties and Soil Layer Properties of initial field conditions required by WEPS.

IV. Soil Database Elements for WEPS (.sol files)

Soil Name - The name of the soil. The soil name is not critical to the operation of WEPS and is used for identification purposes only.

        Absolute = "any character"
        Typical = Soil Series Name
 

State - The state in which the soil occurs. The state is not critical to the operation of WEPS and is used for identification purposes only.

        Absolute = "any character"
        Typical = "any two character state abbreviation"
 

M.U.ID - The map unit identification for the soil. The map unit identification is not critical to the operation of WEPS and is used for identification purposes only.

        Absolute = "any character"
        Typical = "any two characters"
 

Soil Texture - The soil texture for the soil. The map unit identification is not critical to the operation of WEPS and is

used for identification purposes only.
        Absolute = "any character"
       Typical = "any valid soil texture abbreviation"
 

No. of Layers - The number of soil layers used in the subregion.

        Absolute range = 4 to 10
        Typical range = 4 to 10
 

Dry Albedo - The fraction of the solar radiation which is reflected back to the atmosphere (unitless).

        Absolute range = 0.05 to 0.25
        Typical range = 0.05 to 0.25

Layer - The layer number.

        Absolute range = 4 to 10
        Typical range = 4 to 10

• Depth - The depth of each soil layer from the soil surface (mm).

Sand - The fraction of the less than 2.0 mm soil consisting of mineral particles greater than 0.05 mm (kg/kg).

        Absolute range = (>0.0) to 1.0
        Typical range = [1.0 - (silt + clay)]
        Estimated by: sand = 1.0 - (silt + clay)

• Clay - The fraction of the less than 2.0 mm soil consisting of mineral particles less than 0.002 mm (kg/kg).

        Absolute range = (>0.0) to 1.0
        Typical range = [1.0 - (sand + silt)]
        Estimated by: clay = 1.0 - (silt + sand)

Rock - The volume of rock greater than 2.0 mm (m3/m3).

        Absolute range = 0.0 to 1.0
        Typical range = 0.0 to 0.30
        Estimated by: rock fragments = user defined

Sand Fractions - Coarse - The fraction of coarse sand (0.5 - 1.0 mm). (kg/kg)

        Absolute range = 0.0 to 1.0
        Typical range = 0.0 to ?

Sand Fractions - Medium - The fraction of medium sand (0.2 - 0.5 mm). (kg/kg)

        Absolute range = 0.0 to 1.0
        Typical range = 0.0 to ?

Sand Fractions - Fine - The fraction of fine sand (0.1 - 0.2 mm). (kg/kg)

        Absolute range = 0.0 to 1.0
        Typical range = 0.0 to ?

Sand Fractions - Very Fine - The fraction of very fine sand (0.05 - 0.1 mm). (kg/kg)

        Absolute range = 0.0 to 1.0
        Typical range = 0.0 to ?

Water Disp. Clay - The fraction of the less than 2.0 mm soil consisting of water dispersible clay (kg/kg).

        Absolute range = 0.0 to 1.0
        Typical range = 0.0 to ?

Bulk Density - Dry - The mass per volume of oven dry soil (Mg/m^3 ).

        Absolute range = (>0.0) to 10.0
        Typical range = 0.8 to 1.6
        Estimated by: bulk density = user defined

Bulk Density - 1/3 Bar - The mass per volume of soil at 1/3 bar (Mg/m^3 ).

        Absolute range = (>0.0) to 10.0
        Typical range = 0.8 to 1.6

Water Content - Field Capacity - Soil water content retained at -33 J/kg soil matric potential (kg/kg).

        Absolute range = 0.012 to 0.335
        Typical range = varies with soil texture
        Estimate to ensure that: Field capacity water content > Wilting point water content

Water Content - Wilting Point - Soil water content retained at -1500 J/kg soil matric potential (kg/kg).

        Absolute range = 0.005 to 0.242
        Typical range = varies with soil texture
        Estimate to ensure that: Field capacity water content > Wilting point water content

Sat. Hydraulic Conductivity - The reciprocal of the resistance of the soil matrix to water flow (m/s).

        Absolute range = 0.0 to 1E-3
        Typical range = 0.0 to 1E-3
        Estimate: Tables H-3 and H-4 of the WEPS Technical Description list typical saturated hydraulic conductivity
        values by soil textural class.

Organic Matter - The soil organic matter content (kg/kg).

        Absolute range = 0.0 to 0.1
        Typical range = 0.0005 to 0.05

pH - The soil pH (unitless).

        Absolute range = 1.0 to 14.0
        Typical range = 4.0 to 9.0

CaCO3 - The calcium carbonate equivalent (kg/kg).

        Absolute range = 0.0 to 1.0
        Typical range = 0.0 to 0.3

CEC - The cation exchange capacity (cmol/kg).

        Absolute range = 0.0 to 150.0
        Typical range = ? to ?

Sum of Bases - The sum of base cations (cmol/kg).

        Absolute range = 0.0 to 150.0
        Typical range = ? to ?

EC - The soil electric conductivity (ds/m).

        Absolute range = 0.0 to ?
        Typical range = ? to ?

SAR - The sodium adsorption ratio (unitless).

        Absolute range = 0.0 to ?
        Typical range = ? to ?
 

V. Initial Field Conditions for WEPS ( .ifc files )

Soil Name - The name of the soil. The soil name is not critical to the operation of WEPS and is used for

        identification purposes only.
        Absolute = "any character"
        Typical = Soil Series Name

State - The state in which the soil occurs. The state is not critical to the operation of WEPS and is used for identification

purposes only.
        Absolute = "any character"
        Typical = "any two character state abbreviation"

M.U.ID - The map unit identification for the soil. The map unit identification is not critical to the operation of WEPS and

is used for identification purposes only.
        Absolute = "any character"
        Typical = "any two characters"

Soil Texture - The soil texture for the soil. The map unit identification is not critical to the operation of

WEPS and is used for identification purposes only.
        Absolute = "any character"
        Typical = "any valid soil texture abbreviation"

No. of Layers - The number of soil layers used in the subregion.

        Absolute range = 4 to 10
        Typical range = 4 to 10

Soil Crust - Thickness - Average thickness of the consolidated zone in the surface layer (mm).

        Absolute range = (>0.0) to 23.0
        Typical range = 0.0 to 10.0
        Estimated as: crust thickness = 0.01

Soil Crust - Density - The density of the soil crust (Mg/m^3).

        Absolute range = 0.6 to 2.0
        Typical range = 0.8 to 1.6
        Estimated as: crust density = aggr. density

Soil Crust - Stability - Mean of natural log of crust crushing energies (ln(J/kg))

        Absolute range = 0.1 to 7.0
        Typical range = 0.3 to 5.0
        Estimated as: crust stability = aggr. stability

Soil Crust - Fraction - Fraction of surface covered with consolidated soil as opposed to aggregated soil (m^2/m^2).

        Absolute range = 0.0 to 1.0
        Typical range = 0.0 to 1.0
        Estimated as: crust fraction = 0.0

Loose Material on Crust - Mass - Loose, saltation-size soil on the surface soil crusted area (kg/m2).

        Absolute range = 0.0 to 2.0
        Typical range = 0.0 to 1.0
        Estimated as: loose matl. mass = 0.0
 

Loose Material on Crust - Fraction - Fraction of total soil surface area covered with loose material on the crust (m2/m2).

        Absolute range = 0.0 to soil crust fract.
        Typical range = 0.0 to 0.5
        Estimated as: loose matl. fraction = 0.0

Roughness - Random - The standard deviation of heights of a random soil surface including any flat biomass adjusted as

suggested by Allmaras (1966) (mm).
        Absolute range = 1.0 to 30.0
        Typical range = 2.0 to 10.0
        Estimated as: random roughness = 4.0

Roughness - Orientation - Direction of the tillage ridge, clockwise from true north (degrees).

        Absolute range = 0.0 to 179.0
        Typical range = 0.0 to 179.0
        Estimated as: ridge orient. = 0.0

Roughness - Height - The height of soil ridges from bottom of furrow to top of ridge (mm).

        Absolute range = 0.0 to 500.
        Typical range = 0.0 to 300.0
        Estimated as: ridge height = 0.0

• Roughness - Spacing - Spacing between ridge tops (mm).

        Absolute range = 10.0 to 2000.0
        Typical range = 60.0 to 1000.0
        if ridge height is > 0.0 then ridge spacing must be > 0.0
        Estimated as: ridge spacing = 0.0

Roughness - Width - Width of the top of the ridge (i.e. bed width) (mm)

        Absolute range = 10.0 to 4000.0
        Typical range = 100.0 to 2000.0
        Estimated as: ridge width = 0.0

Curve Number - Good Cond. - Runoff curve number which indicates the potential for runoff under good hydrologic

soil-cover complexes (unitless).
        Absolute range = 6.0 to 91.0
        Typical range = 6 to 91
        Estimate: Table H-1 of the WEPS Technical Description lists typical curve numbers for hydrologic soil-cover
        complexes.

Curve Number - Poor Cond. - Runoff curve number which indicates the potential for runoff under poor hydrologic

soil-cover complexes (unitless).
        Absolute range = 45.0 to 94.0
        Typical range = 45 to 94
        Estimate: Table H-1 of the WEPS Technical Description lists typical curve numbers for hydrologic soil-cover
        complexes.

Soil Albedo - Dry - The fraction of the solar radiation which is reflected back to the atmosphere (unitless).

        Absolute range = 0.05 to 0.25
        Typical range = 0.05 to 0.25
 

Crop Residue - Name - The name of the crop residue (character).

        Absolute range = "see crop list"
        Typical range = "see crop list"

        Crop List:
                alfalfa
                barley
                corn
                cotton - picker
                cotton - stripper
                lentles
                oats
                pasture - spring
                pasture - winter
                peas - winter
                peanuts
                potato
                ricesorghum - grain
                sorghum hay
                soybean
                sunflower
                wheat - duram
                wheat - spring
                wheat - winter
                ryea - spring
                ryea - winter
                watermelon
                spring canola
                winter canola

Crop Residue - No. of Stems - The number of standing crop residue stems. (# / m2)

        Absolute range = 0.0 to ?
        Typical range = 0.0 to 50.0

Crop Residue - Height - The average height of standing crop residue stems. (m)

        Absolute range = 0.0 to ?
        Typical range = 0.0 to 50.0

Crop Residue - Standing - The mass of standing crop residue stems. (kg/m2)

        Absolute range = 0.0 - ?
        Typical range = 0.0 to 50.0
 

Crop Residue - Surface - The mass of surface crop residue. (kg/m^2)

        Absolute range = 0.0 to ?
        Typical range = 0.0 to 50.0
        Layer - The layer number.
        Absolute range = 4 to 10
        Typical range = 4 to 10
        Estimated by = user defined

Thickness -The thickness of each soil layer (mm). WEPS requires a fixed layer structure for the upper 200 mm which is

divided into four layers as follows:
        layer 1 = 10.0 mm
        layer 2 = 40.0 mm
        layer 3 = 50.0 - 100.0 mm
        layer 4 = 50.0 - 100.0 mm.
        Below the upper 200.0 mm depth, the thicknesses usually correspond to the horizon thickness or is user specified.
        Estimated by: thickness = user defined within the guidelines listed above

Sand - The fraction of the less than 2.0 mm soil consisting of mineral particles greater than 0.05 mm (kg/kg).

        Absolute range = (>0.0) to 1.0
        Typical range = [1.0 - (silt + clay)]
        Estimated by: sand = 1.0 - (silt + clay)

Silt - The fraction of the less than 2.0 mm soil consisting of mineral particles less than 0.05 mm and greater than 0.002 mm

(kg/kg).
        Absolute range = (>0.0) to 1.0
        Typical range = [1.0 - (sand + clay)]
        Estimated by: silt = 1.0 - (sand + clay)

Clay - The fraction of the less than 2.0 mm soil consisting of mineral particles less than 0.002 mm (kg/kg).

        Absolute range = (>0.0) to 1.0
        Typical range = [1.0 - (sand + silt)]
        Estimated by: clay = 1.0 - (silt + sand)

Rock Fragments - The volume of rock greater than 2.0 mm (m3/m3).

        Absolute range = 0.0 to 1.0
        Typical range = 0.0 - 0.3
        Estimated by: rock fragments = user defined

Sand Fractions - Coarse - The fraction of coarse sand (0.5 - 1.0 mm). (kg/kg)

        Absolute range = 0.0 to 1.0
        Typical range = 0.0 to ?

Sand Fractions - Medium -The fraction of medium sand (0.2 - 0.5 mm). (kg/kg)

        Absolute range = 0.0 to 1.0
        Typical range = 0.0 to ?
 

Sand Fractions - Fine - The fraction of fine sand (0.1 - 0.2 mm). (kg/kg)

        Absolute range = 0.0 to 1.0
        Typical range = 0.0 to ?

Sand Fractions - Very Fine - The fraction of very fine sand (0.05 - 0.1 mm). (kg/kg)

        Absolute range = 0.0 to 1.0
        Typical range = 0.0 to ?

Water Disp. Clay - The fraction of the less than 2.0 mm soil consisting of water dispersible clay (kg/kg).

        Absolute range = 0.0 to 1.0
        Typical range = 0.0 to ?

Bulk Density - Dry - The mass per volume of oven dry soil (Mg/m3).

        Absolute range = (>0.0) to 10.0
        Typical range = 0.8 to 1.6
        Estimated by: bulk density = user defined

Bulk Density - 1/3 Bar - The mass per volume of soil at 1/3 bar (Mg/m3).

        Absolute range = (>0.0) to 10.0
        Typical range = 0.8 to 1.6

Aggregate - GMD - Soil aggregate geometric mean diameter of the modified log-normal distribution (mm).

        Absolute range = 0.03 to 30.0
        Typical range = 0.1 to 15.0
        aggr. gmd = exp(l.343 - 2.235 * sand - 1.226 * silt - 0.0238*sand/clay + 33.6*om + 6.85 * CaCO3)
        * (1.0 + 0.006 * layer depth)

Aggregate - GSD - Soil aggregate geometric standard deviation of the modified log-normal distribution (dimensionless).

        Absolute range = 1.0 to 20.0
        Typical range = 4.0 to 15.0
        Estimated for each layer by: aggr.gsd = 18.01 - 0.0741 * aggr. gmd

Aggregate - Max. Size - Upper limit of the modified log-normal aggregate size distribution (mm).

        Absolute range = 1.0 to 1000.0
        Typical range = 2.0 to 100.0
        Estimated for each layer by: max size = (aggr gsd)1.5 * aggr gmd + 0.84

Aggregate - Min. Size - Lower limit of the modified log-normal aggregate size distribution (mm).

        Absolute range = 0.001 to 5.0
        Typical range = 0.006 to 0.020
        Estimated for each layer by: min size = 0.01

Aggregate - Density - The aggregate density for (Mg/m^3).

        Absolute range = 0.6 to 2.5
        Typical range = 0.8 to 2.0
        Estimated for each layer by: aggr density = 2.0 for layer depth > 300 mm
        aggr density = 2.01 *(0.72 +.00092*layer depth) for layer depth < 300 mm

Aggregate - Stability - Mean of natural log of aggregate crushing energies (ln(J/kg))

        Absolute range = 0.1 to 7.0
        Typical range = 0.5 to 5.0
        Estimated for each layer by: aggr. stability = 0.83 + 15.7 * clay - 23.8 * clay2

Water Content - Initial - Soil water content at the beginning of the simulation (kg/kg).

        Absolute range = 0.005 to 0.440
        Typical range = varies with soil texture
        Estimation: initial water = user defined.
 

Water Content - Saturation - Soil water content when soil are completely filled (zero soil matric potential) (kg/kg).

        Absolute range = 0.208 to 0.440
        Typical range = varies with soil texture
        Estimate to ensure: Saturated water content > Field capacity water content > Wilting point water content

Water Content - Field Capacity - Soil water content retained at -33 J/kg soil matric potential (kg/kg).

        Absolute range = 0.012 to 0.335
        Typical range = varies with soil texture
        Estimate to ensure: Saturated water content > Field capacity water content > Wilting point water content

Water Content - Wilting Point - Soil water content retained at -1500 J/kg soil matric potential (kg/kg).

        Absolute range = 0.005 to 0.242
        Typical range = varies with soil texture
        Estimate to ensure: Saturated water content > Field capacity water content > Wilting point water content

CB - The power of Campbell's model of the soil water characteristics curve (unitless).

        Absolute range = 0.917 to 27.027
        Typical range = varies with soil texture

Air Entry Pot. - The air entry potential is defined as the potential at which the largest water-filled pores start to drain and

hence gas flow can be observed (Joules/kg ).
        Absolute range = -17.91 to 0.0
        Typical range = varies with soil texture

Sat. Hydraulic Conductivity - The reciprocal of the resistance of the soil matrix to water flow (m/s).

        Absolute range = 0.0 to 1E-3
        Typical range = 0.0 to 1E-3
        Estimate: Tables H-3 and H-4 of the WEPS Technical Description list typical saturated hydraulic conductivity
        values by soil textural class.

Organic Matter - The soil organic matter content (kg/kg).

        Absolute range = 0.0 to 0.1
        Typical range = 0.0005 to 0.05

pH - The soil pH (unitless).

        Absolute range = 1.0 to 14.0
        Typical range = 4.0 to 9.0

CaCO3 - The calcium carbonate equivalent (kg/kg).

        Absolute range = 0.0 to 1.0
        Typical range = 0.0 to 0.3

CEC - The cation exchange capacity (cmol/kg).

        Absolute range = 0.0 to 150.0
        Typical range = ? to ?

Sum of Bases - The sum of base cations (cmol/kg).

        Absolute range = 0.0 to 150.0
        Typical range = ? to ?

EC - The soil electric conductivity (ds/m).

        Absolute range = 0.0 to ?
        Typical range = ? to ?

SAR - The sodium adsorption ratio (unitless).

        Absolute range = 0.0 to ?
        Typical range = ? to ?

Avail. N - Available Nitrogen in the soil (kg/ha).

        Absolute range = 0.0 to 30.0
        Typical range = ? to ?

Avail. P - Available Phosphorus in the soil (kg/ha).

        Absolute range = 0.0 to 50.0
        Typical range = ? to ?

Biomass - Below Ground - Total crop residue (dead biomass) below ground (kg/m2).

        Absolute range = 0.0 to 50.0
        Typical range = ? to ?

Biomass - Root - Total crop root biomass below ground (kg/m2).

        Absolute range = 0.0 to 50.0
        Typical range = ? to ?

VI. Technical Support

Porject Programmer: Hong Hu
Project Supervisors:   John Tatarko and Larry Wagner

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