Runoff and erosion in five land units of a closed basin of northeastern Patagonia

Soil loss and runoff were assessed in five land units (LUs) of a closed bas in by means of 18 experimental plots within a 42 month period. Temporal dis tribution of runoff and erosion was unequal. Among 120 rainfall events reco rded during the study period, only 15 events caused runoff. Maximum percent of runoff (79.9%) and maximum specific runoff (19.5 L m(-2)) were produced by the two events of highest intensity and were recorded in a LU character ized by a crusted and compacted sandy loam soil. These two events also acco unted for more than 60% of the total soil loss. Soil loss was negatively co rrelated to percent of sand in the top soil (r = -0.91 and vegetation cover (r = -0.69) and ranged from 37.0 g m(-2) (sand) to 1661.7 g m(-2) (clay).