scholarly journals Runoff and Solute Outputs under Different Land Uses: Long-Term Results from a Mediterranean Mountain Experimental Station

Water ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 11 (5) ◽  
pp. 976 ◽  
Author(s):  
Estela Nadal-Romero ◽  
Makki Khorchani ◽  
Teodoro Lasanta ◽  
José M. García-Ruiz
Keyword(s):  
Soil Erosion ◽  
Water Chemistry ◽  
Fallow Land ◽  
Land Uses ◽  
Shrub Cover ◽  
Shifting Agriculture ◽  
Experimental Station ◽  
Abandoned Field ◽  
Land Covers

Water availability and quality in Mediterranean environments are largely related to the spatial organisation of land uses in mountain areas, where most water resources are generated. However, there is scant data available on the potential effects of land use changes on surface water chemistry in the Mediterranean mountain region. In order to address this gap in the research, this study investigates the effects of various mountain Mediterranean land covers/land uses on runoff water yielded and water chemistry (solute concentrations and loads) using data from the Aísa Valley Experimental Station (Central Pyrenees) for a long-term period (1991–2011). Nine land covers have been reproduced in closed plots, including dense shrub cover, grazing meadows, cereal, fallow land, abandoned field, shifting agriculture (active and abandoned) and 2 burned plots (one burned in 1991 and the second one burned twice in 1993 and 2001). Results show that all solute concentrations differed among land uses, with agricultural activity producing significantly higher solute loads and concentrations than the other types. Two groups have been identified: (i) the lowest solute concentrations and the smallest quantities of solute loads are recorded in the dense shrub cover, the plot burned once (at present well colonized with shrubs), meadows and abandoned field plots; (ii) the plot burned twice registered moderate values and the highest solute concentrations and loads are found in cereal, fallow land and shifting agriculture plots. Water chemistry is clearly dominated by Ca2+ and HCO3− concentrations, whereas other solutes are exported in very low quantities due to the poor nutrient content of the soil. These results complete the information published previously on soil erosion under different land uses in this experimental station and help to explain the evolution of land cover as a consequence of shifting agriculture, cereal farming on steep slopes and the use of recurrent fires to favour seasonal grazing. They also suggest that promoting the development of grazing and cutting meadows is a good strategy to reduce not only soil erosion but also the loss of nutrients.

scholarly journals Modelling surface runoff and soil erosion for Yen Bai Province, Vietnam, using the Soil and Water Assessment Tool (SWAT)

2016 ◽  
Vol 8 (1) ◽  
pp. 71-79 ◽  
Author(s):  
Hong Quang Nguyen ◽  
Thi Thu Hang Le ◽  
Thi Thanh Nga Pham ◽  
Martin Kappas
Keyword(s):  
Soil Erosion ◽  
Surface Runoff ◽  
Assessment Tool ◽  
Land Use Changes ◽  
Land Covers ◽  
Annual Water ◽  
The Tropics ◽  
Water Assessment ◽  
Soil And Water

Applications of the Soil and Water Assessment Tool (SWAT) are common. However, few attempts have focused on the tropics like in the Yen Bai province, Vietnam. Annual water-induced soil erosion (WSE) rates and surface runoff (SR) were estimated. The Nam Kim and Ngoi Hut watersheds were calibrated with accepted agreement between simulated and observed discharge. Correlations between precipitation, land covers, surface runoff and WSE were indicated. Although the estimated average WSE 4.1 t ha−1 year−1 (t ha−1 y−1) was moderate, some steep-bare areas were suffering serious soil loss of 26 t ha−1 y−1 and 15% of the province was calculated at the rate of 8.5 t ha−1 y−1. We found that the changes in WSE significantly correlated with land use changes. As calibrated SR matched closely with the measured data, we recommend SWAT applications for long-term soil erosion assessments in the tropics. Những ứng dụng của mô hình công cụ đánh giá đất và nước (SWAT) đã được sử dụng phổ biến. Tuy nhiên có rất ít nghiên cứu tập trung vào khu vực nhiệt đới như tỉnh Yên Bái của Việt Nam. Trong nghiên cứu này, giá trị trung bình năm (2001-2012) nước chảy bề mặt (NCM) và xói mòn đất do nước (XM) đã được đánh giá trên cơ sở mô hình SWAT. Các thông số thủy văn của hai lưu vực sông là Nậm Kim và Ngòi Hút được tính toán và kiểm nghiệm với sự trùng hợp tương đối tốt giữa kết quả mô hình và số liệu thực đo. Mối liên hệ giữa lượng mưa, phủ bề mặt, NCM và XM cũng được phân tích và trình bầy chi tiết. Mặc dù giá trị XM năm được ước lượng ở mức trung bình cho toàn Tỉnh (4,1 tấn/ha/năm) nhưng ở một số khu vực nơi có độ dốc lớn và phủ mặt ít lại có lượng XM năm ở mức cao, 26 tấn/ha/năm và 15% tổng diện tích của Tỉnh có giá trị XM là 8,5 tấn/ha/năn. Kết quả nghiên cứu cho thấy sự liên hệ mật thiết giữa sự thay đổi phủ mặt tới giá trị XM. Trên cơ sở kết quả kiểm nghiệm mô hình khả quan, chúng tôi đề xuất sử dụng mô hình SWAT để đánh giá XM trong thời gian dài cho vùng nhiệt đới.

scholarly journals Effects of Long-Term Crop-Livestock-Forestry Systems on Soil Erosion and Water Infiltration in a Brazilian Cerrado Site

2019 ◽  
Vol 11 (19) ◽  
pp. 5339 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jullian Souza Sone ◽  
Paulo T. Sanches de Oliveira ◽  
Pedro A. Pereira Zamboni ◽  
Nelson O. Motta Vieira ◽  
Glauber Altrão Carvalho ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Soil Erosion ◽  
Soil Loss ◽  
Agricultural Land ◽  
Bare Soil ◽  
Water Infiltration ◽  
Land Uses ◽  
Brazilian Cerrado ◽  
No Till ◽  
One Year

Integrating agricultural land uses is a suitable alternative for fostering economic development and improving food security. However, the effects of long-term integrated systems on soil erosion and water infiltration are still poorly understood. Here, we investigate the influence of different agricultural land uses on soil erosion and water infiltration in an Oxisol site located in the Brazilian Cerrado region. The experimental area consisted of continuous grazing under variable stocking rates with regular fertilization (CG-RF), continuous cropping under no-till (CC-NT) and no-till with 4-year subsoiling (CC-SS), rotation of one year cropping and three years livestock in the livestock phase (C1-L3), rotation of four years cropping and four years livestock in the cropping phase (CL-4C) and in the livestock phase (CL-4L), and integrated crop-livestock-forestry in the cropping phase (CLF-C) and in the livestock phase (CLF-L). To evaluate water infiltration and soil loss, we used a rainfall simulator with a constant rainfall intensity of 74.9 ± 3.6 mm h−1 in plots of 0.7 m2. We carried out 72 rainfall simulations comprising four repetitions in each treatment under vegetation and bare soil. Stable infiltration rate (SIR) ranged from 45.9 to 74.8 mm h−1 and 19.4 to 70.8 mm h−1 under vegetation covers and bare soil, respectively. Our findings indicated that SIR values under CLF-C were 60% greater than under CG-RF. We also found that soil loss rates under CLF-C were 50% smaller than under CG-RF. The crop–livestock rotation period that presented better results of SIR and soil loss was one year of cropping and three years of livestock (C1-L3). Overall, we noted that SIR and soil loss values under CLF-C are similar to the Cerrado native vegetation. Therefore, our study reveals the opportunity to increase agricultural production, improve food supply, and reduce soil erosion with adequate soil and agricultural management.

Spatial variability of 137Cs-drived total soil erosion rate and its driving factors at regional scale: a meta-analysis in China’s Loess Plateau

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jian Hu ◽  
Yihe Lü ◽  
Bojie Fu ◽  
Alexis J Comber ◽  
Lianhai Wu ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Soil Erosion ◽  
Soil Profile ◽  
Erosion Rate ◽  
No Tillage ◽  
Land Uses ◽  
Erosion Rates ◽  
Soil Erosion Rate ◽  
Profile Distribution ◽  
Tracing Method

<p>Soil erosion, contributing to land degradation, was identified as an essential driving factor for the evolution of Earth’s critical zone. Although runoff plots along the slope and weirs on river valleys are often used to monitor short-term soil and water loss, it is usually difficult to evaluate the long-term soil loss rates across spatial scales. The <sup>137</sup>Cs tracer can effectively measure the long-term soil erosion rates but its capability to quantify regional soil erosion characteristics and the driving mechanisms remains a big challenge. To deal with this gap, we integrated and synthesized 61 peer-reviewed articles of soil erosion research by using <sup>137</sup>Cs tracer methods in the Loess Plateau of China to reveal the regional variability of soil erosion and the effects of land uses on (a) reference <sup>137</sup>Cs inventory, (b) <sup>137</sup>Cs soil profile distribution and (c) <sup>137</sup>Cs-derived total measured erosion rate. The results showed that reference <sup>137</sup>Cs inventory range from 900 to 1750 Bq/m<sup>2</sup> with a mean value of 1351 Bq/m<sup>2</sup>. The reference <sup>137</sup>Cs inventory decreased significantly with the increase of latitude and longitude (p<0.001), while it didn’t change obviously with the mean annual precipitation and temperature. The assumption of <sup>137</sup>Cs tracing method was supported by <sup>137</sup>Cs soil profile distribution under tillage and un-disturbed land. Tillage land was considered to have uniform distribution in soil profile and a similar exponential distribution of <sup>137</sup>Cs content can be found in terrace and no-tillage land. Furthermore, <sup>137</sup>Cs loss percent had a significant positive relationship with soil erosion rate (p<0.001). Average long-term soil erosion rate of cropland was more than 15000 t/(km<sup>2</sup>·a) and significantly higher than no-tillage land (5462.52 t/(km<sup>2</sup>·a) including that of grassland (3890.86 t/(km<sup>2</sup>·a)), forest (>6000 t/(km<sup>2</sup>·a)), and terrace (<5000 t/(km<sup>2</sup>·a)) (p<0.001). The average long-term soil erosion rate of cropland presented high spatial variability and loess hill and gully region had significantly higher average long-term soil erosion rate on cropland due to the coupling effects between heavy rainfall and steep slope. Appropriate reference sites and soil erosion conversion models were important factors for accurately quantifying the long-term soil erosion while the variation of climate, land uses, and geomorphic types had significant impacts on the spatial distribution of erosion rates. Our study can facilitate the understanding of the <sup>137</sup>Cs tracing method for long-term soil erosion rate and its spatial pattern, which can be supportive for soil and water conservation planning and relevant policy-making.</p>

scholarly journals Soil erosion by snow gliding – a first quantification attempt in a subalpine area in Switzerland

2014 ◽  
Vol 18 (9) ◽  
pp. 3763-3775 ◽  
Author(s):  
K. Meusburger ◽  
G. Leitinger ◽  
L. Mabit ◽  
M. H. Mueller ◽  
A. Walter ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Land Use ◽  
Soil Erosion ◽  
Land Cover ◽  
Sediment Yield ◽  
Soil Loss ◽  
Water Erosion ◽  
Erosion Rates ◽  
The Difference ◽  
Snow Gliding

Abstract. Snow processes might be one important driver of soil erosion in Alpine grasslands and thus the unknown variable when erosion modelling is attempted. The aim of this study is to assess the importance of snow gliding as a soil erosion agent for four different land use/land cover types in a subalpine area in Switzerland. We used three different approaches to estimate soil erosion rates: sediment yield measurements in snow glide depositions, the fallout radionuclide 137Cs and modelling with the Revised Universal Soil Loss Equation (RUSLE). RUSLE permits the evaluation of soil loss by water erosion, the 137Cs method integrates soil loss due to all erosion agents involved, and the measurement of snow glide deposition sediment yield can be directly related to snow-glide-induced erosion. Further, cumulative snow glide distance was measured for the sites in the winter of 2009/2010 and modelled for the surrounding area and long-term average winter precipitation (1959–2010) with the spatial snow glide model (SSGM). Measured snow glide distance confirmed the presence of snow gliding and ranged from 2 to 189 cm, with lower values on the north-facing slopes. We observed a reduction of snow glide distance with increasing surface roughness of the vegetation, which is an important information with respect to conservation planning and expected and ongoing land use changes in the Alps. Snow glide erosion estimated from the snow glide depositions was highly variable with values ranging from 0.03 to 22.9 t ha−1 yr−1 in the winter of 2012/2013. For sites affected by snow glide deposition, a mean erosion rate of 8.4 t ha−1 yr−1 was found. The difference in long-term erosion rates determined with RUSLE and 137Cs confirms the constant influence of snow-glide-induced erosion, since a large difference (lower proportion of water erosion compared to total net erosion) was observed for sites with high snow glide rates and vice versa. Moreover, the difference between RUSLE and 137Cs erosion rates was related to the measured snow glide distance (R2 = 0.64; p < 0.005) and to the snow deposition sediment yields (R2 = 0.39; p = 0.13). The SSGM reproduced the relative difference of the measured snow glide values under different land uses and land cover types. The resulting map highlighted the relevance of snow gliding for large parts of the investigated area. Based on these results, we conclude that snow gliding appears to be a crucial and non-negligible process impacting soil erosion patterns and magnitude in subalpine areas with similar topographic and climatic conditions.

Characteristics of soil erosion and sediment size distribution for different land uses in the Chinese Mollisol region

2021 ◽  
Vol 18 (5) ◽  
pp. 1295-1306
Author(s):  
Hai-ou Shen ◽  
Jun Feng ◽  
Dong-li Wang ◽  
Hong-li Li ◽  
Yu Wang
Keyword(s):  
Soil Erosion ◽  
Size Distribution ◽  
Land Uses ◽  
Sediment Size

An educational computer tool for simulating long-term soil erosion on agricultural landscapes

2009 ◽  
Vol 17 (3) ◽  
pp. 253-262 ◽  
Author(s):  
F. J. Jiménez-Hornero ◽  
J. V. Giráldez ◽  
A. M. Laguna ◽  
J. E. Jiménez-Hornero
Keyword(s):  
Soil Erosion ◽  
Agricultural Landscapes ◽  
Computer Tool ◽  
Educational Computer

Modelling the long-term response of stream water chemistry to forestry in Galloway, Southwest Scotland

2014 ◽  
Vol 37 ◽  
pp. 396-411 ◽  
Author(s):  
R.C. Helliwell ◽  
J. Aherne ◽  
T.R. Nisbet ◽  
G. MacDougall ◽  
S. Broadmeadow ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Water Chemistry ◽  
Stream Water ◽  
Stream Water Chemistry ◽  
Term Response

Topsoil characteristics of three contrasting New Zealand soils under four long‐term land uses

2000 ◽  
Vol 43 (4) ◽  
pp. 569-583 ◽  
Author(s):  
Graham P. Sparling ◽  
T. Graham Shepherd ◽  
Louis A. Schipper
Keyword(s):  
New Zealand ◽  
Land Uses

SHORT COMMUNICATION: Difficulties in using 137Cs to measure erosion in stubble-mulched soil

1995 ◽  
Vol 75 (3) ◽  
pp. 357-359 ◽  
Author(s):  
E. Bremer ◽  
H. H. Janzen ◽  
E. de Jong
Keyword(s):  
Soil Erosion ◽  
Key Words ◽  
Short Communication ◽  
Crop Rotations ◽  
Present Evidence ◽  
Southern Alberta ◽  
Communication Difficulties ◽  
Cesium 137

Soil erosion may be difficult to quantify from redistribution of 137Cs at sites where stubble-mulch techniques were adopted prior to 137Cs deposition, because appreciable 137Cs may have been transported before it was mixed into the soil Ap layer. We present evidence that this occurred in two long-term cropping experiments in southern Alberta. Key words: Cesium-137, tillage, long-term crop rotations, fallow

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