USDA
type: Concept

USDA/ARS/GSWRL/EPIC
type: Concept
in scheme: providers
definition: The Erosion-Productivity Impact Calculator (EPIC) (Williams et al., 1984) model was developed to assess the effect of soil erosion on soil productivity. It was used for that purpose as part of the 1985 RCA (1977 Soil and Water Resources Conservation Act) analysis. Since the RCA application, the model has been expanded and refined to allow simulation of many processes ... important in agricultural management (Sharpley and Williams, 1990). EPIC is a continuous simulation model that can be used to determine the effect of management strategies on agricultural production and soil and water resources. The drainage area considered by EPIC is generally a field-sized area, up to 100 ha (weather, soils, and management systems are assumed to be homogeneous). The major components in EPIC are weather simulation, hydrology, erosion-sedimentation, nutrient cycling, pesticide fate, plant growth, soil temperature, tillage, economics, and plant environment control. Summary provided by: EPIC