Sediment Transfer through the Fluvial System (Proceedings of a symposium held in Moscow, August 2004). IAHS Publ. 288, 2004, 84–92

1 Department of Physical Geography, Macquarie University, North Ryde, New South Wales 2109, Australia

2 Geographisches Institut, Universität Bonn, Meckenheimer Allee 166, D-53115 Bonn, Germany

Abstract Sediment redistribution rates in a small agricultural catchment in the loess-covered hill country of western Germany have been modelled using ¹³⁷Cs. The study site comprises three parcels, two of which are cultivated and the third is pasture. The pattern of erosion and deposition is broadly controlled by water erosion, but the effect of tillage translocation is important. Tillage appears to enhance rates of water erosion within parcels, but it retards sediment export from the parcel, emphasizing the importance of land-use boundaries.

Key words configuration; ¹³⁷Cs; Germany; land-use; process interaction; sediment delivery; tillage; water erosion