Experimental validation of some basic assumptions used in physically based soil erosion models

Abstract. In spring 2009, four rill experiments were accomplished on a fallow land. Most external factors as well as discharge quantity (9 L min^-1) were held constant or at least in the same range. Following most process based soil erosion models, detachment or runoff values should therefore be similar, but the experimental results show clear differences in sediment concentration, runoff and other measured and calculated values. This fact underlines the problems of process based models: concerning rill erosion, different processes take part and the process described by the models is only responsible for a part of the eroded material.