Journal articles on the topic 'Soil erosion'
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1
Oliveira, José Guilherme de, Alexei Nowatzki, and Leonardo José Cordeiro Santos. "UTILIZAÇÃO DE ATRIBUTOS TOPOGRÁFICOS NO MAPEAMENTO DE SUSCETIBILIDADE EROSIVA NA ÁREA RURAL DO MUNICÍPIO DE PARANAVAÍ – PR." Revista Cerrados 15, no. 02 (March 16, 2020): 201–19. http://dx.doi.org/10.22238/rc24482692v15n22017p201a219.
Abstract:
A região noroeste do estado do Paraná ao longo dos últimos 50 anos vem sofrendo diversos impactos decorrentes de processos erosivos lineares, ravinas e voçorocas principalmente. A ocorrência desses processos está associada a dois fatores: o histórico de ocupação da região, bem como as características pedológicas locais, principalmente a textura dos solos e sua distribuição nas vertentes. O método adotado para o mapeamento de suscetibilidade é uma adaptação do proposto por Crepani et al. (2001). Esse autor define que a suscetibilidade de uma área é definida pela soma das vulnerabilidades dos componentes do meio físico. Para a realização do trabalho foram selecionados os atributos topográficos declividade e perfil de curvatura; na pedologia, as tipologias de solo. Os resultados foram discretizados em 5 classes: Muito baixa, baixa, média, alta e muito alta suscetibilidade. As áreas de suscetibilidade a erosão Alta e Muito alta, representam 24% do município, sendo que nessas porções se concentram 26% das erosões, o tipo de solo em conjunto com as características topográficas fazem essa área mais propicia naturalmente a ocorrência dos processos erosivos. A classe de moderada suscetibilidade a erosão representam cerca de 40% do município e 54% das feições erosivas se concentra nessa unidade.
Palavras-chave: Erosão; Modelo Digital de Terreno; Álgebra de Mapas.
USE OF TOPOGRAPHIC ATTRIBUTES IN THE EROSIVE SUSCEPTIBILITY MAPPING IN THE RURAL AREA OF THE MUNICIPALITY OF PARANAVAÍ – PR
Abstract
The northwest region of the state of Paraná over the last 50 years has suffered several impacts and consequences of linear erosives, ravines and gullies mainly. The occurrence of these processes is mainly associated with two factors: the occupation history of the region, as well as local soil characteristics, mainly the soil texture and a distribution of soils along the slopes. The methodology adopted for the mapping of susceptibility to erosion follows a line of thought developed by Crepani et al. (2001). This proposal defines that the vulnerability of an area is defined by the sum of the vulnerabilities of the components of the physical environment. For the accomplishment of the methodology were selected, to represent the geomorphology, the topographic attributes: slope, curvature plane and profile; for pedology, soil typologies were selected. The results were discretized in 5 classes, from environments less susceptible to the most susceptible. The areas of susceptibility to erosion High and Very high, summed represent 24% of the municipality, being that in these portions it concentrates 26% of the area of the erosions, once in these areas the type of soil together with the topographic characteristics make it more propitious to the occurrence of linear erosive processes.The moderate susceptibility to erosion class represent about 40% of the municipality and 54% of the area of erosive features is concentrated in this unit.
Keywords: Erosions; Digital Terrain Model; Map Algebra.
UTILIZACIÓN DE ATRIBUTOS TOPOGRÁFICOS EN EL MAPEO DE SUSCEPTIBILIDAD EROSIVA EN EL ÁREA RURAL DEL MUNICIPIO DE PARANAVAÍ – PR
Resumen
La región noroeste del estado de Paraná en los últimos 50 años viene sufriendo impactos producto de procesos erosivos lineales, regueros y cárcavas principalmente. La ocurrencia de estos procesos está asociada a dos factores: el modo de ocupación de la región y las características pedológicas locales, principalmente la textura de los suelos y su distribución en las vertientes. El método adoptado para el mapeo de susceptibilidad es una adaptación del propuesto por Crepani et al. (2001). Este autor especifica que la susceptibilidad de un área está definida por la suma de las vulnerabilidades de los componentes del medio físico. Para realizar este trabajo fueron seleccionados los atributos topográficos declividad y perfil de curvatura; en la pedología, las tipologías de suelo. Los resultados fueron representados en 5 clases: muy baja, baja, media, alta y muy alta susceptibilidad. Las áreas de susceptibilidad a erosión alta y muy alta, representan el 24% del municipio, sumado a ello en esas porciones se concentran el 26% de las erosiones, por lo tanto el tipo de suelo en conjunto con las características topográficas hacen de esas áreas las más propicias naturalmente a la ocurrencia de procesos erosivos. La clase de moderada susceptibilidad a erosión representa cerca del 40% del municipio y el 54% de los rasgos erosivos se concentran en esa unidad.
Palabras claves: Erosión; Modelo Digital del Terreno; Álgebra del Mapas.
2
Hulko, Oleksandra. "SOIL EROSION DEGRADATION RESEARCH METHODS IN THE BRODIV DISTRICT." Technical Sciences and Technologies, no. 2(28) (2022): 162–67. http://dx.doi.org/10.25140/2411-5363-2022-2(28)-162-167.
Abstract:
The study of the main factors causing erosive degradation of soils, the study of changes in soils under the influence of water erosion, and the modeling of existing and potential water washout of soil horizons determine the relevance of the conducted research. Analysis of morphologicalfeatures of degraded soils, laboratory analytical studies of their physical and physico-chemical properties, and with the help of GIS tools, modeling of soil washing under the influence of water erosion was carried out. The analysis of studies and publications on the analysis of the main factors that cause erosive degradation of soils, functional analysis and the implementation of modeling of soil washout under the influence of water erosion with the help of GIS tools showed that the issue of changes in background soils under the influence of water erosion and modeling of existing and potential water washout of soil horizons have received little attention in the scientific literature.The purpose of the article is a detailed study of the properties of gray forest, turf-carbonate and meadow soils, as well as the study of erosion processes within the studied territory.Cartographic and descriptive materials of the structure of land use in different years within this model area were studied, which made it possible to analyze the impact of approaches in land use on the intensification of water erosion and the degree of washing. Field and laboratory-analytical studies were conducted to study the morphological, physical, physico-chemical properties of the studied soils. A set of GIS maps has been developed. A 3D terrain model was created to determine the long-term average soil loss due to water erosion under a certain vegetation cover and with a certain tillage system, design and implementation of soil protection measures.For the first time, erosion processes are studied in the territory of the district in a temporal and spatial context. The obtained research results are a significant contribution to the development of the practical foundations of regional soil science. They are proposed to be used for improvement of soil diagnostics and classification; to develop measures to preserve and improve soil fertility; their protection from possible anthropogenic influence.
3
KISS, J. J., E. DE JONG, and H. P. W. ROSTAD. "AN ASSESSMENT OF SOIL EROSION IN WEST-CENTRAL SASKATCHEWAN USING CESIUM-137." Canadian Journal of Soil Science 66, no. 4 (November 1, 1986): 591–600. http://dx.doi.org/10.4141/cjss86-059.
Abstract:
Soil erosion in five Rural Municipalities of west-central Saskatchewan was assessed using cesium-137 as an indicator of soil redistribution. Native, noneroded soils across the study area were sampled to determine a baseline value for cesium-137 (2877 Bq m−2), which was used to predict the erosion of cultivated soils since the early 1960s. Soil redistribution estimates were calculated for idealized positions (upper, middle, lower) on medium-textured cultivated hillslopes, and for the total erosional portion of the hillslopes. Mean hillslope soil erosion rates were 23 ± 8 t ha−1 yr−1 for slopes with 0–3% gradient, 27 ± 9 t ha−1 yr−1 for 3–10% slopes, and 48 ± 16 t ha−1 yr−1 for 10–24% slopes, representing a soil removal of 3.8 cm, 4.4 cm, and 7.8 cm, respectively, since 1960. These soil losses represented between 27 and 67% of the topsoil and between 8 and 35% of the solum currently present within the eroding upslope areas. A significant positive correlation existed between the thickness of soil horizons and solums, and the rate of soil erosion on the upper and middle slope positions. The greatest erosion rates were determined for the upper slope positions, probably because of a dominance of wind and tillage erosion within the area. Soil erosion rates within slope classes decreased with increasing slope length, particularly on 10–24% slopes. Erosion by overland flow was considered to be of minor importance, especially on level landscapes (0–3% gradient) where erosion averaged 23 ± 8 t ha−1 yr−1. Erosion rates ranging between 23 and 48 t ha−1 y−1 occurred over approximately 2/3 of the cultivated study area. High rates of soil erosion over such a large portion of the landscape are alarming, considering that the accepted tolerable soil loss is 11.2–4.5 t ha−1 yr−1. Key words: Soil erosion, cesium-137, water erosion, wind erosion, hillslope
4
Dufková, Jana. "Potential threat of southern Moravia soils by wind erosion." Acta Universitatis Agriculturae et Silviculturae Mendelianae Brunensis 52, no. 2 (2004): 33–42. http://dx.doi.org/10.11118/actaun200452020033.
Abstract:
Wind erosion is caused by meteorological factors such as wind, precipitation and evaporation that influence the soil humidity. Erosive-climatological factor expresses wind and humidity conditions of particular landscape. This is an index of the influence of average soil surface humidity and average wind velocity on average soil erodibility by wind. On the basis of average wind velocity and Konček’s humidity index, the values of the erosive-climatological factor for three chosen areas of Czech republic (Telč-Kostelní Myslová, Znojmo-Kuchařovice and Brno-Tuřany), where the pro-cesses of wind erosion could exist, were evaluated. Thus, the change of the factor’s value during the period of 1961 – 2000 was studied. The linear trend for the region of Brno and Znojmo (dry areas) shows increasing threat of soils by wind erosion, the contrary situation is at the humid area (Telč). The results prove the influence of soil humidity on the erosive-climatological factor and hereby the influence on wind erosion spreadout.
5
Mosaid, Hassan, Ahmed Barakat, Vincent Bustillo, and Jamila Rais. "Modeling and Mapping of Soil Water Erosion Risks in the Srou Basin (Middle Atlas, Morocco) Using the EPM Model, GIS and Magnetic Susceptibility." Journal of Landscape Ecology 15, no. 1 (May 1, 2022): 126–47. http://dx.doi.org/10.2478/jlecol-2022-0007.
Abstract:
Abstract The Oued Srou watershed located in the Middle Atlas Mountain of Morocco has been a subject of serious soil erosion problems due to the combination of natural factors and anthropic activities. Therefore, soil erosion hazard assessment and mapping can be handy to initiate remedial measures in the area. In this study, the improved Erosion Potential Model (EPM) integrated with GIS and remote sensing techniques is employed to map and assess the vulnerability of the Oued Srou watershed to the water erosion phenomenon and its impact on the silting of the Ahmed El Hansali dam. The results of the EPM model showed that the maximum annual soil loss rates were in the range of 5-652 m3/km2/year, with an average of 49 m3/km2/year. The delivery coefficient ratio showed that about 34433 t/year of the sediments reach the outlet of the watershed. The correlation analysis between all erosion factors revealed the following order of their importance in the water erosion control: soil sensitivity to erosion, soil protection, slope, erosive state, temperature, and rainfall. The magnetic susceptibility provided results on the evolution of soils; it showed that the most degraded soils had a high erosion rate. Generally, the stable soils not eroded showed an upward increase of magnetic susceptibility values in soil profiles; the evolution of magnetic susceptibility of degraded soils is disturbed. The magnetic susceptibility has also made it possible to highlight the source zones of sediments that reach the outlet of the watershed.
6
Shirriff, Katherine, Krishna Bahadur KC, and Aaron Berg. "Exploring the Relationship between Cover Crop Adoption and Soil Erosion Severity: A Case Study from the Simcoe Watershed, Ontario, Canada." Land 11, no. 7 (June 29, 2022): 988. http://dx.doi.org/10.3390/land11070988.
Abstract:
Runoff from agricultural fields during the nongrowing season is a significant factor leading to phosphorous loading and diminishing water quality in Lake Simcoe, Ontario. Cover crops offer the potential to alleviate phosphorous loss during the nongrowing season by minimizing soil erosional processes and uptaking excess phosphorous; however, recent research suggests that its adoption remains relatively low. More concern lies with the lack of cover crop adoption on areas that are sensitive to soil erosion. This study intends to investigate the likelihood of agricultural productions located on erosive soils to adopt cover crops. Using satellite imagery in corroboration with the Universal Soil Loss Equation (USLE), this study reveals the frequency of cover crop production and associates soil loss sensitivity at a 30 m resolution from 2013 to 2018. Consistent with recent literature, this study reveals that a small portion (18%) of agricultural operations in the south Simcoe Watershed have incorporated cover crops over the past six years. Cover crops tend to be adopted at a low frequency in areas that have a low sensitivity to soil erosion. This study reveals that areas with higher soil erosion sensitivity are consistent with low-frequency adoption, indicating that these areas are less likely to adopt cover crops regularly. Promoting farm-scale benefits associated with cover crops should target areas in the south Simcoe Watershed that are prone to soil erosion to mitigate total phosphorus (TP) loading into Lake Simcoe.
7
Kong, Bo, and Huan Yu. "Estimation Model of Soil Freeze-Thaw Erosion in Silingco Watershed Wetland of Northern Tibet." Scientific World Journal 2013 (2013): 1–7. http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2013/636521.
Abstract:
The freeze-thaw (FT) erosion is a type of soil erosion like water erosion and wind erosion. Limited by many factors, the grading evaluation of soil FT erosion quantities is not well studied. Based on the comprehensive analysis of the evaluation indices of soil FT erosion, we for the first time utilized the sensitivity of microwave remote sensing technology to soil moisture for identification of FT state. We established an estimation model suitable to evaluate the soil FT erosion quantity in Silingco watershed wetland of Northern Tibet using weighted summation method of six impact factors including the annual FT cycle days, average diurnal FT phase-changed water content, average annual precipitation, slope, aspect, and vegetation coverage. Finally, with the support of GIS, we classified soil FT erosion quantity in Silingco watershed wetland. The results showed that soil FT erosion are distributed in broad areas of Silingco watershed wetland. Different soil FT erosions with different intensities have evidently different spatial and geographical distributions.
8
Ola, A., I. C. Dodd, and J. N. Quinton. "Can we manipulate root system architecture to control soil erosion?" SOIL 1, no. 2 (September 8, 2015): 603–12. http://dx.doi.org/10.5194/soil-1-603-2015.
Abstract:
Abstract. Soil erosion is a major threat to soil functioning. The use of vegetation to control erosion has long been a topic for research. Much of this research has focused on the above-ground properties of plants, demonstrating the important role that canopy structure and cover plays in the reduction of water erosion processes. Less attention has been paid to plant roots. Plant roots are a crucial yet under-researched factor for reducing water erosion through their ability to alter soil properties, such as aggregate stability, hydraulic function and shear strength. However, there have been few attempts to specifically manipulate plant root system properties to reduce soil erosion. Therefore, this review aims to explore the effects that plant roots have on soil erosion and hydrological processes, and how plant root architecture might be manipulated to enhance its erosion control properties. We demonstrate the importance of root system architecture for the control of soil erosion. We also show that some plant species respond to nutrient-enriched patches by increasing lateral root proliferation. The erosional response to root proliferation will depend upon its location: at the soil surface dense mats of roots may reduce soil erodibility but block soil pores thereby limiting infiltration, enhancing runoff. Additionally, in nutrient-deprived regions, root hair development may be stimulated and larger amounts of root exudates released, thereby improving aggregate stability and decreasing erodibility. Utilizing nutrient placement at specific depths may represent a potentially new, easily implemented, management strategy on nutrient-poor agricultural land or constructed slopes to control erosion, and further research in this area is needed.
9
McHugh, Marianne. "Soil Erosion." Geographical Journal 165, no. 1 (March 1999): 113. http://dx.doi.org/10.2307/3060530.
10
Busscher, Warren. "Soil Erosion." Soil Science 154, no. 4 (October 1992): 338. http://dx.doi.org/10.1097/00010694-199210000-00010.
11
Lin, Yunjie, Cheng Lin, Minghao Liu, and David Evans. "Soil structure effect on soil erosion potential." IOP Conference Series: Earth and Environmental Science 1334, no. 1 (May 1, 2024): 012008. http://dx.doi.org/10.1088/1755-1315/1334/1/012008.
Abstract:
Abstract Soil erosion poses a significant threat to water-related infrastructure such as bridges, dams, quays, and levees by detaching and transporting soil grains downstream, thereby compromising the structural support of these installations. While erosion damage is acknowledged in current design practices, understanding soil erosion parameters requires scrutiny. However, existing soil erosion databases mainly rely on reconstituted soil samples, which may differ substantially from in situ erosion due to alterations in soil structure. This study scrutinizes and contrasts the erodibilities of in situ and reconstituted soils. In situ soil samples were obtained using thin-walled Shelby tubes from Victoria, Canada, while reconstituted specimens were prepared in a slurry state and consolidated to match the overburden pressure on-site. A custom rotational erosion testing apparatus facilitated erosion testing on both Shelby tube and reconstituted specimens. The findings shed light on the influence of soil fabric on soil erosion potential, an aspect currently lacking in comprehensive understanding.
12
Ismail, Fauzilah, Mazidah Mukri, and Zainab Mohamed. "Assessment of Soil Dispersibility Behaviour In-Relation to Soil Internal Erosion Resistance." Scientific Research Journal 5, no. 1 (June 30, 2008): 39. http://dx.doi.org/10.24191/srj.v5i1.5652.
Abstract:
A study was conducted to assess soil dispersibility behaviour in-relation to soil internal erosion resistance. Dispersive soils can be a problem for many geotechnical projects and structures. Water flowing in a crack of earth dam or infiltration of rainwater through the crack of slope surface with enough erosion energy can detach the soil particles into suspension and transport it along the movement that will lead to internal erosion process. Soil samples from sloping area within UiTM Shah Alam Campus were collected and a laboratory study was carried out to assess the soil dispersibility behaviour. A laboratory pinhole test and crumb test were conducted to identify soils which are easily dispersed hence susceptible to internal erosion. Indication of the removal of soil particles during testing is a factor in assessing the possibility of internal erosion. Fine-grained soils are known to have low resistance to erosion however laboratory result shows that soils fraction with high coarse-grained percentage has high dispersibility grade that lead to lower internal soil erosion resistance whereas the high moisture content percentage would enhance the dispersibility characteristic of the soils performance.
13
Marouane, Laaraj, Benaabidate Lahcen, and Mesnage Valérie. "Assessment and mapping of water erosion by the integration of the Gavrilovic “EPM” model in the Inaouene watershed, Morocco." E3S Web of Conferences 314 (2021): 03009. http://dx.doi.org/10.1051/e3sconf/202131403009.
Abstract:
Water erosion is one of the main causes of soil degradation around the world. In M orocco, In M orocco, the watersheds have very significant soil wastes, related to various physical and anthropic factors. The Oued Inaouene watershed is concerned because of its location in the eastern part of the Saïss basin, between the Middle Atlas and the Pre-Rif, where water erosion is more accentuated. This basin covers a total area of 3597.13 Km2 and it is marked by a semi-arid climate with relatively abundant (989.68 mm), irregular rainfall and strong anthropic pressure. This will have an impact of overexploiting natural resources in general and soils in particular. The excessive use of agricultural land has led to their fragility and aggravation of their susceptibility to erosion. These conditions, both natural and anthropic, have induced a rather intense erosive dynamic, which can be visible in its various forms, including gullying and landslides. The erosive dynamics leads progressively and certainly to impoverish the soils of the watershed and the silting of the dam Idris 1st located downstream of the Oued Inaouene, hence the interest of this study. The use of the “EPM” model for the estimation of soil losses approaches the severity of the erosive phenomenon. The average soil loss due to water erosion according to the model used is estimated at 53.34 t/ha/year. The maximum losses are about 597.642 t/ha/yr per plot. Total annual losses for the watershed are approximately 211084195 t/yr. Furthermore, the analysis of these results allowed, with the help of GIS, to determine the factors that control water erosion and which are, in order of importance: rainfall, slope, and soil sensitivity Soil protection. If anti-erosion measures aren’t adopted in the threatened parts of the watershed, this will have serious consequences for the dam and water quality .
14
Wang, Li, Fan Zhang, Guanxing Wang, Chen Zeng, Yao Chen, Xiaonan Shi, Handuo Tang, Guangju Zhao, Chongyu Xu, and Xin Li. "Response of Soil Erosion to Climate and Subsequent Vegetation Changes in a High-Mountain Basin." Sustainability 15, no. 4 (February 9, 2023): 3220. http://dx.doi.org/10.3390/su15043220.
Abstract:
Soil erosion is one of the global threats to the environment. Further, climate and vegetation changes have pronounced effects on soil erosion in high-mountain areas. In this study, the revised universal soil loss equation (RUSLE) was improved by developing a method for calculating snowmelt runoff erosivity based on a simulated snowmelt runoff and the observed sediment load, using which the soil erosion rate in the upper Heihe River Basin (UHRB) was calculated. The proposed approach provides an effective method for estimating the soil erosion rate and identifying the causes for its change in high-mountain areas. The normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI) was significantly and positively correlated with both precipitation and temperature in the region and exhibited a significant increasing trend. The increase in NDVI led to a decrease in the soil erosion rate (for the annual, rainfall, and snowmelt periods), although erosive rainfall and snowmelt runoff showed increasing trends, indicating the dominating impact of vegetation cover on soil erosion. The average soil erosion rate of UHRB was 806.2 t km−2 a−1 from 1982 to 2015. On average, soil erosion during rainfall and snowmelt periods contributed to 90.67% and 9.33% of annual soil erosion, respectively. However, the resultant soil erosion rate caused by 1 mm of snowmelt runoff was about 1.9 times that caused by 1 mm erosive rainfall. Soil erosion during the snowmelt period was particularly sensitive to temperature and showed consistent responses to climate and vegetation changes in UHRB and its two tributaries. An increasing NDVI promoted by climate change and anthropogenic factors played a major role in alleviating soil erosion, and the warming exerted intense impacts on soil erosion during the snowmelt period. These findings would be helpful for proposing effective measures for soil conservation in high-mountain areas under climate and vegetation changes.
15
Jankauskas, B., and M. A. Fullen. "A pedological investigation of soil erosion severity on undulating land in Lithuania." Canadian Journal of Soil Science 82, no. 3 (August 1, 2002): 311–21. http://dx.doi.org/10.4141/s01-058.
Abstract:
It is essential that we can rapidly characterize soil erosion severity. This paper describes a field methodology to classify soil erosion severity on Dystric Albeluvisols in Lithuania. The goal was to assess cumulative soil loss due to the combined action of accelerated and natural soil erosion. Evaluation of soil erosion severity helps us understand which segments of the landscape are susceptible to erosion and therefore require soil conservation. Factors considered in evaluating soil erosion severity included the existing genetic soil horizons remaining after soil erosion processes, the estimated thickness of lost soil, and slope inclination. The estimated depth of soil loss due to the combined action of natural (geological) and accelerated soil erosion was 0.1–0.8 m on the undulating hilly topography of the Zemaiciai Uplands of Western Lithuania. Erosion rates increased with slope steepness. Soil erosion changed soil physical and chemical properties. Therefore, natural soil fertility, as indicated by spring barley yields, decreased 22, 40 and 62% on slopes of 2–5° (3.5–8.3%), 5-10° (8.3–17.7%) and 10–15° (17.7–26.3%), respectively, compared with flat land. Crop yield was strongly negatively correlated (R2 = 0.79, P < 0.001, n = 138) with erosion severity. Due to pedological translocation, non-eroded Dystric Albeluvisols had relatively little clay and silt in eluvial (E) soil horizons, with their relative accumulation in illuvial (Bt) horizons . Thus, severely eroded soils had argillaceous top soils, due to exhumation of Bt horizons. The suggested classification system enables rapid assessment of past soil erosion severity and may have broader applicability in areas of Podzolic soils. Key words: Dystric Albeluvisols, soil erosion severity, slope steepness, soil properties, pedology
16
Pindral, Sylwia, and Marcin Świtoniak. "The usefulness of soil-agricultural maps to identify classes of soil truncation." Soil Science Annual 68, no. 1 (March 28, 2017): 2–10. http://dx.doi.org/10.1515/ssa-2017-0001.
Abstract:
Abstract Soil erosion led to the severe transformations of the soil cover of young morainic areas of northern Poland. Main alterations are connected with soil truncation on summits and in upper part of slopes, whereas at foot slopes and within depressions colluvial material is accumulated. Information and knowledge about the extent or intensity of erosion are mainly derived from sophisticated geospatial models or laborious field works. To reduce the effort associated with development of studies on erosion the use of easily available cartographic sources is required. The main aim of the paper is an elaboration of key to reinterpret information taken from soil-agricultural maps in the context of determining the degree of pedons truncation. The study is based on a comparison of the properties of soils representing various classes of erosional alterations with the data on existing maps. The correlation between descriptions recorded in the form of cartographic symbols with properties of pedons divided into several classes of vertical texturecontrast soil truncation and results from potential erosion maps was elaborated. The application of developed interpretative principles allows calculating the share of soil truncation classes within investigated area. The five test plots (each - 1 km2) were located along the north slopes of Noteć Middle Valley and Toruń Basin. The proposed interpretation of soil-agricultural maps reveals their significant value in studies on extent and degree of erosional alterations recorded in soil cover.
17
Hu, Yaxian, Wolfgang Fister, Yao He, and Nikolaus J. Kuhn. "Assessment of crusting effects on interrill erosion by laser scanning." PeerJ 8 (January 31, 2020): e8487. http://dx.doi.org/10.7717/peerj.8487.
Abstract:
Background Crust formation affects soil erosion by raindrop impacted flow through changing particle size and cohesion between particles on the soil surface, as well as surface microtopography. Therefore, changes in soil microtopography can, in theory, be employed as a proxy to reflect the complex and dynamic interactions between crust formation and erosion caused by raindrop-impacted flow. However, it is unclear whether minor variations of soil microtopography can actually be detected with tools mapping the crust surface, often leaving the interpretation of interrill runoff and erosion dynamics qualitative or even speculative. Methods In this study, we used a laser scanner to measure the changes of the microtopography of two soils placed under simulated rainfall in experimental flumes and crusting at different rates. The two soils were of the same texture, but under different land management, and thus organic matter content and aggregate stability. To limit the amount of scanning and data analysis in this exploratory study, two transects and four subplots on each experimental flume were scanned with a laser in one-millimeter interval before and after rainfall simulations. Results While both soils experienced a flattening, they displayed different temporal patterns of crust development and associated erosional responses. The laser scanning data also allowed to distinguish the different rates of developments of surface features for replicates with extreme erosional responses. The use of the laser data improved the understanding of crusting effects on soil erosional responses, illustrating that even limited laser scanning provides essential information for quantitatively exploring interrill erosion processes.
18
Vopravil, J., M. Janeček, and M. Tippl. "Revised soil erodibility K-factor for soils in the Czech Republic." Soil and Water Research 2, No. 1 (January 7, 2008): 1–9. http://dx.doi.org/10.17221/2100-swr.
Abstract:
In the territory of the Czech Republic there are more than 50% of agricultural soils exposed to water erosion; it is a very urgent problem both at present and for the future. It must be solved now when there is still something to be protected. It is rather complicated to describe the soil properties in terms of soil susceptibility to water erosion because it is a complex relation in which many factors participate. For the complex evaluation of all main factors participating in erosion origination it is possible to apply the Universal Soil Loss Equation (USLE). It consists of six factors interacting with each other and participating in the origination of soil erosion. One of these factors is the soil erodibility factor (K-factor), the revision of which for soil conditions of the CR is the subject of this study. In total ca. 5000 soil pits from the whole territory of the country were processed and evaluated in detail. The main results of this study are K-factor values (means and variances) for the soil types, subtypes and varieties (represented in the database) according to the Taxonomic Classification System of Soils of the Czech Republic.
19
S. Yu., Bulygin, and Bulygina M. E. "Methodology for assessing the danger of erosion and formation of soil protection agro-landscapes." Mehanization and electrification of agricultural, no. 15(114) (2022): 189–205. http://dx.doi.org/10.37204/0131-2189-2022-15-25.
Abstract:
Purpose. On the basis of an in-depth analysis of the erosion safety of the soil cover of Ukraine, to determine the theoretical and applied principles of the formation of an agrolandscape with guaranteed soil protection, mainly by engineering methods. Methods. System comparative analysis of erosion hazard. Mathematical modeling of erosion processes. Physical simulation of anti-corrosion protection. Results. The main causes of progressive soil erosion in Ukraine have been revealed. Classified distributed soil erosion by types and species. The main reason for the development of erosion processes and the imbalance of modern agricultural landscapes of Ukraine, which is excessive plowing of the territory and agricultural lands, has been revealed. Annual erosion losses from arable lands of Ukraine are indicated. The main degradation processes of the soil cover have been identified. The main problems in land use and land protection, which are not solved and become chronic, are formulated. Generalized negative ecological consequences of soil erosion of the chernozem habitus. It has been proven that arable land is the main element of the entropy of “chaos” in the landscape. Algorithms for the construction of soil protection agrolandscape are formulated. The ability to use the hydromechanical model has been proven Ts. E. Mirtskhulava, which we have moderated for the assessment of erosion danger in the formation of agricultural landscape structures mainly by engineering methods, for a certain probability of manifestation of erosion danger and individual factors of soil erosion. Conclusions 1. The soil cover of the Earth is degraded by almost 100%, the greatest “weight” among degradation processes is occupied by the processes of water (36%) and wind (28%) erosions. 2. One of the most significant destabilizing factors is arable land. When natural vegetation is destroyed, the soil is destroyed as a result of a sharp increase in the direct absorption of solar radiation. 3. A reliable method of protecting soils from erosion is an agrolandscape – an engineering structure (structure) that must be designed and built mainly by engineering methods on a calculated and quantitative basis, which requires the presence of appropriate mathematical models verified in every way, those processes that determined the stability and productivity of lands. The “zero” cycle is the basis of the construction of the agro-landscape is the anti-erosion protection system. 4. For the formation of anti-erosion protection in the agricultural landscape, a mathematical model of erosion is necessary as a calculation quantitative base, preference should be given to theoretical models that adequately and physically conditionally describe natural processes. Keywords: soil erosion and degradation, agricultural landscape, mathematical models of erosion, erosion hazard.
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BYTYQI, Valbon, and Tropike AGAJ. "SPATIAL ESTIMATION OF SOIL EROSION USING GEOSPATIAL TECHNIQUE – A CASE STUDY OF JANJEVA RIVER CATCHMENT (KOSOVO)." Carpathian Journal of Earth and Environmental Sciences 19, no. 2 (March 25, 2024): 233–43. http://dx.doi.org/10.26471/cjees/2024/019/294.
Abstract:
The aim of the study is to analyse the spatial estimation of soil erosion in a small size river catchment of Janjeva (Kosovo). Soil erosion is becoming a serious threat and its spatial estimation is crucial for soil resource protection and management. The Revised Universal Soil Loss Equation (RUSLE) methodology integrated with GIS techniques was applied to estimate the annual erosion rate. Different datasets including open-source data were used to find main components of soil erosion. The results show different soil erosion classes depending on lithological settings, landforms, climate conditions, soil properties, land cover and soil conservation practices. By calculating RUSLE parameters for Janjeva River catchment (84 km²), we found out that mean annual erosion rate is 1 t·ha-¹·yr-¹. Erosion rate class <5 t·ha-¹·yr-¹ dominates the catchment’s area with 92.5%, while other classes have 7.5% of catchments total area. Highest rates of soil erosion are found in volcanic rocks, steep slopes and soils without conservation practices. Soils located in western part of the catchment with adequate conservation practice have minimum erosion rate.
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Středová, Hana, Jana Podhrázská, Filip Chuchma, Tomáš Středa, Josef Kučera, Petra Fukalová, and Martin Blecha. "The Road Map to Classify the Potential Risk of Wind Erosion." ISPRS International Journal of Geo-Information 10, no. 4 (April 20, 2021): 269. http://dx.doi.org/10.3390/ijgi10040269.
Abstract:
Environmental degradation, for example, by wind erosion, is a serious global problem. Despite the enormous research on this topic, complex methods considering all relevant factors remain unpublished. The main intent of our paper is to develop a methodological road map to identify key soil–climatic conditions that make soil vulnerable to wind and demonstrate the road map in a case study using a relevant data source. Potential wind erosion (PWE) results from soil erosivity and climate erosivity. Soil erosivity directly reflects the wind-erodible fraction and indirectly reflects the soil-crust factor, vegetation-cover factor and surface-roughness factor. The climatic erosivity directly reflects the drought in the surface layer, erosive wind occurrence and clay soil-specific winter regime, making these soils vulnerable to wind erosion. The novelty of our method lies in the following: (1) all relevant soil–climatic data of wind erosion are combined; (2) different soil types “sand” and “clay” are evaluated simultaneously with respect to the different mechanisms of wind erosion; and (3) a methodological road map enables its application for various conditions. Based on our method, it is possible to set threshold values that, when exceeded, trigger landscape adjustments, more detailed in situ measurements or indicate the need for specific management.
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Zhu, Lei, and Hua Jie Zhang. "Research on the Shear Strength and Microstructure Change Regulation of Cement-Mixed Soil under Erosion Environment." Applied Mechanics and Materials 52-54 (March 2011): 1846–54. http://dx.doi.org/10.4028/www.scientific.net/amm.52-54.1846.
Abstract:
In order to research the mechanical properties and microstructure change regulation of cement-mixed soil under erosion environment, several experiments are carried out in laboratory. The changes of shear strength of cement-mixed soil are recorded under different erosion environments and in different erosion periods. Their corresponding photomicrographs are also shot to reveal the damage on cement-mixed soil under erosion environment. The results indicate that the shear strength of cement-mixed soil in erosion solutions is worse than the strength by the natural curing in the corresponding period. As erosion time increases the strength of cement-mixed soil dipped in , and solutions keeps on downtrend, whereas the strength of that dipped in unpolluted water and solution presents upward trend. The erosive effects of cement-mixed soil are mainly caused by and , meantime has more prominent erosive effect on cement-mixed soil than . Accompanying with stadium increasing quantitative parameters of microstructures are all varying markedly and have certain regulation which testifies the notable relativity between the shear strength and microstructural parameters. Liner regression methods are set up to indicate the relationship of shear strength indexes and microstructural parameters in the erosion environment.
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Gong, Feng Wen, and Li Yuan. "Study on the Soil Erosion Dynamic Changes in Songhuajiang River Watershed Based on RS and GIS." Advanced Materials Research 347-353 (October 2011): 1268–71. http://dx.doi.org/10.4028/www.scientific.net/amr.347-353.1268.
Abstract:
Based on the RS and GIS, the main data resource of Landsat TM image (1995 and 2005a) was used to study the soil erosion’s spatial-temporal dynamic changes. The results shown that: the reduced area of micro-level and slight soil erosion was 190.8 and 640 km2; the increased area of moderate and intensity soil erosion was 168 and 663 km2, the preserving ratio of micro-level erosion was greatest, intensity soil erosion’s persevering ratio was smallest, the transfer-out probability from intensity to micro-level soil erosion was greatest, the study results could give us some advice on making rational use of land and improving land use pattern the optimal allocation during developing the local economy.
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Abdullah Al Shoumik, Baig, and Md Sanaul Islam. "Soil Erosion and its Effects on Maize Field as Modified by Amendments in Southwestern Coastal Bangladesh." International Journal of Environment 9, no. 2 (October 29, 2020): 120–32. http://dx.doi.org/10.3126/ije.v9i2.32539.
Abstract:
The coastal soils of Bangladesh are preferentially dominated by silt content and stressed by salinity (Na+) as well as low humus content . Hence, these soils are moderately to extremely vulnerable to water erosion, which is a major form of land degradation. The aim of this study was to estimate the soil erosion rate from maize fields in the southwestern coastal region. A field experiment was conducted on maize grown field, which is nearly level, moderately saline, and silt dominated coastal land. The plots were amended with inorganic fertilizer, sieved sand, and decomposed cow dung. Each runoff plot was connected to separate reservoirs and was exposed to rainfall. From the erosive rainstorms, representative critical rainfall intensity was determined. The entrapped eroded material in the reservoirs was collected to estimate the loss of soil. The efficacy of the applied amendments was studied in terms of lowering seasonal (maize growth period) soil loss and erosion associated deterioration of relevant soil parameters. This study revealed that CRI was ≥15 mm h-1. The soil loss during the maize growth period from inorganic fertilizer, cow dung, and sand amended runoff plots were 64(±7) t ha-1 y-1, 51(±5) t ha-1 y-1, and 23(±2) t ha-1 y-1, respectively. The changes in soil properties indicated that after initial erosion, vulnerability to further erosion increased.
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Chen, Xianghua, Wenxin Chen, Liyuan Zhao, and Yekai Chen. "Influence of Buried Pipeline Leakage on the Development of Cavities in the Subgrade." Buildings 13, no. 7 (July 21, 2023): 1848. http://dx.doi.org/10.3390/buildings13071848.
Abstract:
The rapid pace of urbanization has led to an increasing frequency of road collapses, posing a significant threat to urban traffic safety. Underground pipeline leakage stands out as the primary cause of such collapses. This paper presents a macroscopic analysis of the subgrade seepage erosion process caused by pipeline leakage. Model tests were conducted to investigate the formation mechanism and explore the influence of water level, water flow rate, and soil type. The study revealed that the subgrade seepage erosion caused by pipeline leakage undergoes four distinct stages: infiltration, slow erosion, rapid erosion, and erosion convergence. Soil erosion shares similarities with sand erosion in its developmental process. The water level plays a pivotal role in determining the shape and size of the eroded area caused by sand seepage erosion. The size of the erosion cavities formed during the soil seepage erosion increased along with the increase in the water flow rate. The size of the erosion cavity increased by up to 55.7% when the flow rate was increased by three times. In addition, clay soils do not undergo significant erosional damage but do produce significant settlement. The soil erosion process caused by underground leakages in pipelines was investigated using model tests in this study, which provided valuable information for researchers performing an in-depth analysis of the mechanism of roadbed cavities generated by urban underground pipeline leakage, which is critical for safeguarding people’s travel safety and decreasing social and economic losses.
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Sanches Ferreira, Nedilson, Dênis José Cardoso Gomes, Priscila dos Santos Ribeiro, Lianne Borja Pimenta, and José Henrique Cattanio. "VULNERABILIDADE DO SOLO À EROSÃO HÍDRICA, REGIÃO HIDROGRÁFICA DO GUAÍBA-RS." REVISTA GEONORTE 13, no. 41 (June 30, 2022): 191–210. http://dx.doi.org/10.21170/geonorte.2022.v.13.n.41.191.210.
Abstract:
The population increase in recent years is triggering advances in land use inappropriately and under extreme climatic occurrence, it causes numerous natural disasters, among them soil erosion. The objective of this work is to analyze the vulnerability to soil water erosion in the Guaíba-RS Hydrographic Region. Estimated precipitation data (Global Precipitation Climatology Center) was used; land use (MapBiomas Project); declivity (National Institute for Space Research) and soil (Brazilian Agricultural Research Corporation) in map algebra to obtain the product of soil water erosion. The Guaíba hydrographic region showed stability in the north and southeast, however, extremely unstable areas were detected mainly in the central axis (east-west) with some points to the south. The erosive processes in the region are naturally motivated by declivity and soil, where precipitation is not a major factor in erosion, and this disaster is caused in some points by the anthropic forcing. The control of unstable areas through preservation of vegetation cover and reduction of agricultural progress is essential for the prevention of possible cases of erosion, socio-environmental and economic damage
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Liu, Man, and Guilin Han. "Distribution of soil nutrients and erodibility factor under different soil types in an erosion region of Southeast China." PeerJ 9 (June 16, 2021): e11630. http://dx.doi.org/10.7717/peerj.11630.
Abstract:
Background Soil erosion can affect the distribution of soil nutrients, which restricts soil productivity. However, it is still a challenge to understand the response of soil nutrients to erosion under different soil types. Methods The distribution of soil nutrients, including soil organic carbon (SOC), soil organic nitrogen (SON), and soil major elements (expressed as Al2O3, CaO, Fe2O3, K2O, Na2O, MgO, TiO2, and SiO2), were analyzed in the profiles from yellow soils, red soils, and lateritic red soils in an erosion region of Southeast China. Soil erodibility K factor calculated on the Erosion Productivity Impact Calculator (EPIC) model was used to indicate erosion risk of surface soils (0∼30 cm depth). The relationships between these soil properties were explored by Spearman’s rank correlation analysis, further to determine the factors that affected the distribution of SOC, SON, and soil major elements under different soil types. Results The K factors in the red soils were significantly lower than those in the yellow soils and significantly higher than those in the lateritic red soils. The SON concentrations in the deep layer of the yellow soils were twice larger than those in the red soils and lateritic red soils, while the SOC concentrations between them were not significantly different. The concentrations of most major elements, except Al2O3 and SiO2, in the yellow soils, were significantly larger than those in the red soils and lateritic red soils. Moreover, the concentrations of major metal elements positively correlated with silt proportions and SiO2 concentrations positively correlated with sand proportions at the 0∼80 cm depth in the yellow soils. Soil major elements depended on both soil evolution and soil erosion in the surface layer of yellow soils. In the yellow soils below the 80 cm depth, soil pH positively correlated with K2O, Na2O, and CaO concentrations, while negatively correlated with Fe2O3 concentrations, which was controlled by the processes of soil evolution. The concentrations of soil major elements did not significantly correlate with soil pH or particle distribution in the red soils and lateritic red soils, likely associated with intricate factors. Conclusions These results suggest that soil nutrients and soil erodibility K factor in the yellow soils were higher than those in the lateritic red soils and red soils. The distribution of soil nutrients is controlled by soil erosion and soil evolution in the erosion region of Southeast China.
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Haskevych, Oksana. "Pasmove Pobuzhzhia agricultural landscape soil heterogeneity." Visnyk of the Lviv University. Series Geography 53 (December 18, 2019): 97–103. http://dx.doi.org/10.30970/vgg.2019.53.10659.
Abstract:
Pasmove Pobuzhzhia belongs to the territories of long agricultural development. Plowing of the slope lands, combined with favourable natural factors, leads to the development of processes of water erosion and the formation of soils ranges of various degrees of erosion, which increases soil heterogeneity. The article analyzes the manifestation of the soil heterogeneity at the level of elemental soil ranges (ESR) of dark gray podzolized soils. The consequence of erosion processes is the isolation of soil ranges of various degrees of erosion. To describe soil ranges, the article gives their area, distribution coefficients of range boundaries, degree of their differentiation by size (DDS), and also analyzes the nature of adjacency with the ranges of other soils. Comparison of the size of the ranges of dark gray podzolized soils of varying degree of erosion confirms the decrease in their average areas from the non-eroded (65.7 hectares) to heavily eroded soils (6.1 hectares). At the same time, the differentiation of soils by size decreases, i.e., the degree of deviation of the maximum and minimum areas from the mean values is the highest for the non-eroded soils (DDS = 1.2). The average coefficient of the dismemberment of the range limits does not depend on the degree of erosion and is 2.2. It has been found out that the maximum values achieved by the dismemberment coefficient are higher for the ranges of non-eroded soil (5.5) and decrease with increase of erosion degree. This indicates that the formed ranges of eroded soils are usually of small and simple unbranched forms (round, oval, elongated along the slope). It has been established that the ranges of non-eroded soils have a large number of adjacent ESRs, the proportion of adjacent soils that differ on the type and subtype levels are higher. The neighbouring ranges of medium and heavily eroded soils differ in the degree of erosion or belong to the microcatenas of drainage lines and arroyos. Key words: Pasmove Pobuzhzhia, structure of soil cover, elemental soil ranges, dark gray podzolized soils, water erosion.
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Marzen, Miriam, Thomas Iserloh, Wolfgang Fister, Manuel Seeger, Jesus Rodrigo-Comino, and Johannes B. Ries. "On-Site Water and Wind Erosion Experiments Reveal Relative Impact on Total Soil Erosion." Geosciences 9, no. 11 (November 14, 2019): 478. http://dx.doi.org/10.3390/geosciences9110478.
Abstract:
The relative impact of water and wind on total erosion was investigated by means of an experimental-empirical study. Wind erosion and water erosion were measured at five different sites: (1) Mediterranean fallow, (2) Mediterranean orchard, (3) wheat field, (4) vineyard and (5) sand substrate. Mean erosion rates ranged from 1.55 to 618 g·m−2·h−1 for wind and from 0.09 to 133.90 g·m−2·h−1 for rain eroded material over all tested sites. Percentages (%) of eroded sediment for wind and rain, respectively, were found to be 2:98 on Mediterranean fallow, 11:89 on Mediterranean orchard, 3:97 on wheat field, 98:2 on vineyard and 99:1 on sand substrate. For the special case of soil surface crust destroyed by goat trampling, the measured values emphasize a strong potential impact of herding on total soil erosion. All sites produced erosion by wind and rain, and relations show that both erosive forces may have an impact on total soil erosion depending on site characteristics. The results indicate a strong need to focus on both wind and water erosion particularly concerning soils and substrates in vulnerable environments. Measured rates show a general potential erosion depending on recent developments of land use and climate change and may raise awareness of scientist, farmers and decision makers about potential impact of both erosive forces. Knowledge about exact relationship is key for an adapted land use management, which has great potential to mitigate degradation processes related to climate change.
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Mai, Jianjun, Zijun Wang, Feinan Hu, Jinghua Huang, and Shi-wei Zhao. "Study on soil hydraulic properties of slope farmlands with different degrees of erosion degradation in a typical black soil region." PeerJ 11 (October 5, 2023): e15930. http://dx.doi.org/10.7717/peerj.15930.
Abstract:
In order to explore the impact of soil erosion degradation on soil hydraulic properties of slope farmland in a typical black soil region, typical black soils with three degrees of erosion degradation (light, moderate and heavy) were selected as the research objects. The saturated hydraulic conductivity, water holding capacity and water supply capacity of the soils were analyzed, as well as their correlations with soil physicochemical properties. The results showed that the saturated hydraulic conductivity of black soils in slope farmlands decreased with erosion degradation degree, which was higher in 0–10 cm soil layer than in 10–20 cm soil layer. The water holding capacity and water supplying capacity of typical black soils also decreased with the increase of erosion degradation degree, and both of them were stronger in the upper soil than in the lower soil. With the aggravation of erosion degradation of black soils, soil organic matter content decreased while soil bulk density increased, leading to the decline of soil hydraulic conductivity. The increase of soil bulk density and the decrease of contents of organic matter and >0.25 mm water stable aggregates were the main factors leading to the decrease of soil water holding capacity. These findings provide scientific basis and basic data for rational utilization of soil water, improvement of land productivity and prevention of soil erosion.
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Hamanaka, Akihiro, Takashi Sasaoka, Hideki Shimada, and Shinji Matsumoto. "Experimental study on soil erosion under different soil composition using rainfall simulator." Plant, Soil and Environment 65, No. 4 (April 23, 2019): 181–88. http://dx.doi.org/10.17221/68/2019-pse.
Abstract:
Soil erosion is one of the major environmental problems in open-cut mines in tropical regions. It causes negative impacts including the removal of nutrient-rich topsoil, destroys aquatic habitat, dam and pond siltation, clogs river by deposition of sediment, and causes water pollution in the rehabilitation process. Soil texture is an important factor to affect soil erosion. In this study, artificial rainfall experiment in the laboratory scale was conducted to clarify the mechanism of soil erosion under the different soil composition and to discuss the methods for minimizing soil erosion. The obtained results showed that the soil seal generated due to the presence of fine particle under high rainfall intensity is the main contributor to accelerate the soil erosion. Additionally, the surface coverage by the cover crops is the most effective measure to reduce soil erosion because both the coarse and fine contents runoff can be minimized while arranging of the slope angle is effective for reducing the runoff of coarse contents and the soil compaction is effective to reduce that of fine contents. Soil erosion can be minimized by selecting prevention method considering the type of soil because the prevention effect on soil erosion is different depending on the type of soil.
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S, Paramananthan, Nurfashareena Muhamad, and Joy Jacqueline Pereira. "Soil Related Factors Controlling Erosion And Landslides In Malaysia." Bulletin Of The Geological Society Of Malaysia 72 (November 15, 2021): 165–75. http://dx.doi.org/10.7186/bgsm72202113.
Abstract:
The high temperature and rainfall in Malaysia results in intensive tropical weathering and depending on the parent material, the resultant soil can have deep or shallow soil profiles. Thus, a variety of soils can form with different textures (clay content), structure and porosity. With the high rainfall, soils in steep terrain are subjected to surface erosion when exposed or landslides if the rainwater percolates into the soil profile. Key soil-related factors controlling soil erosion and landslides include local climate, parent material of soils and depth of the weathered profile. Slope and geomorphology, vegetation and land use as well as land management practices also influence erosion and landslides. Measures used to control soil erosion and stabilize slopes require improved understanding of soil weathering, erosion, landslide and their linkages in steep terrain.
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Achasov, Andrii, Alla Achasova, Ganna Titenko, Oleg Seliverstov, and Vladimir Krivtsov. "Assessment of the Ecological Condition of Soil Cover Based on Remote Sensing Data: Erosional Aspect." SHS Web of Conferences 100 (2021): 05014. http://dx.doi.org/10.1051/shsconf/202110005014.
Abstract:
Soil erosion by water is the most important global environmental problem. A modern system for assessing and monitoring soil erosional degradation should be based on the use of remote sensing data. This raises the issue of correct data decoding. The article proposes a method for visual interpretation of eroded soils according to the Sentinel image obtained in the visible range. The authors give some combinations of decoding signs to determine the manifestations of linear and surface water erosion from images. The article shows possible errors in decoding the manifestations of water erosion and gives an example of assessing the erosion of the soil cover based on the results of decoding the Sentinel-2 satellite image. Moderately and heavily eroded soils are reliably distinguished, the area of which, according to the interpretation data, was 2.4% of the area of arable land in the studied territory. In the future, the obtained sample of spectral images of eroded soils can be used to develop an automated method of interpretation based on the principle of "computer vision".
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Marquínez, J., E. Wozniak, S. Fernández, and R. Martínez. "Analysis of the evolution of soil erosion classes using multitemporal Landsat imagery." International Journal of Wildland Fire 17, no. 5 (2008): 549. http://dx.doi.org/10.1071/wf06138.
Abstract:
A cartographic method based on satellite images was completed in order to analyse the evolution of soil erosion in areas under humid climate conditions that experience frequent small forest fires. The method uses indicators, recognisable in the images, for the spatial and temporal analysis of the soil erosion status in burnt areas where the vegetation recovers quickly after fires. The continuity of the organic horizon, the surface stoniness and the vegetation cover degradation or regeneration were the indicators of the erosive soil class used in the multitemporal analysis of nine Landsat images. The study area is located in the western sector of the Cantabrian Range (NW Spain). The indicators selected were useful to show clearly the erosive status of the soils. Also, the use of multitemporal satellite image analysis seems to be a suitable method for studying soil erosion evolution in areas prone to forest fire. The application of the proposed method showed that in a study area of 48 857 ha, the soil cover was recovering in 7377 ha owing to the smaller frequency of forest fires, and degrading in 2326 ha.
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Bueno, Celia Regina Paes, Christiano Luna Arraes, Gener Tadeu Pereira, Jose Eduardo Cora, and Sergio Campos. "ANÁLISE MULTIVARIADA NA DETERMINAÇÃO DO RISCO DE EROSÃO EM SOLOS SOB IRRIGAÇÃO." IRRIGA 15, no. 1 (March 29, 2010): 23–35. http://dx.doi.org/10.15809/irriga.2010v15n1p23.
Abstract:
O objetivo deste trabalho foi abordar a utilização de técnicas de análise multivariada na discriminação do risco de erosão dos solos, sob pivô central, em diferentes classes de solos, relevo, uso e manejo. A área de estudo de 33 ha localizada na região de Carmo de Rio Claro, MG, sob pivô central, vem sendo cultivada com feijão, milho e café por um período de 7 anos. As amostragens foram feitas a intervalos regulares de 10 m na profundidade de 0,00-0,20m em uma transeção de 1050 m, perfazendo 59 amostras. Os parâmetros risco de erosão (A), potencial natural de erosão (PN) e expectativa de erosão (EE) foram avaliados por análise multivariada. A aplicação da análise multivariada mostrou uma boa associação entre os agrupamentos formados e os diferentes tipos de solos e, juntamente com os componentes principais, permitiram identificar dois grupos de maiores e menores perdas de solo, evidenciando que as áreas de maiores expectativas de perdas de solo estão correlacionadas com a classe de solo, o relevo e manejo do solo. O potencial natural da erosão do solo foi um fator importante para determinar os diferentes grupos. A análise multivariada mostrou que 98 % das variáveis foram classificadas dentro dos grupos e que estes pelo potencial erosivo requerem programas de manejo e conservação do solo. UNITERMOS: Análise multivariada, componentes principais, solos, Equação Universal de Perdas de Solo. BUENO, C. R. P.; ARRAES, C. L.; PEREIRA. G.T.; CORÁ. J.E.; CAMPOS, S. MULTIVARIANCE ANALYSIS ON EROSION RISK DETERMINATION IN SOIL UNDER IRRIGATION. 2 ABSTRACT The objective of this work was to verify the application of cluster analysis to evaluate soil erosion risk for different soil classes, soil slopes and soil managements. The study was conducted in a 33 ha section of a large field located in Carmo do Rio Claro County, MG, Brazil. The field had been managed in a corn/bean rotation under conventional tillage and under coffee plantation for seven years, both under sprinkle irrigation. Soil samples were obtained at every 10 m at 0.20 m depth along a transect of 1050 m. Soil erosion risk (A), natural potential erosion (PN), and erosion expectation (EE) were determined and submitted to a cluster and principal component analysis. The application of clustering analysis showed high correlation between the clusters and soil types. With clustering analysis plus principal components analysis, it was possible to identify groups of high and low soil erosion expectation, showing that the areas with higher soil erosion expectation are correlated to the soil class, soil slope and soil management. Among the studied variables, the natural potential erosion (PN) showed to be the most important factor to identify different soil erosion groups. The cluster analysis showed that 98 % of the variables were classified within each group, and that they should be managed differently due to the soil erosive potential of each group,. KEYWORDS: Cluster analysis, principal components analysis, soils, Universal Soil Loss Equation (USLE)
36
Smirnova, M. A., A. P. Zhidkin, N. I. Lozbenev, E. A. Zazdravnykh, and D. N. Kozlov. "Digital mapping of erosion degree of soils using the factor - property and factor - process - property models (the south of the Central Russian upland)." Dokuchaev Soil Bulletin, no. 104 (December 3, 2020): 158–98. http://dx.doi.org/10.19047/0136-1694-2020-104-158-198.
Abstract:
Soil degradation resulting from water erosion poses a serious threat to food and environmental security, therefore the research of soil erosion features and soil erosion mapping do not lose their relevance. The paper presents the results of large-scale digital mapping of the erosion degree of the arable soils in the Prokhorovsky district of the Belgorod region (85 thousand hectares), based on two approaches: (1) linking the factors of erosion-accumulative processes and the erosion degree of soil directly (factor -property model), and (2) due to imitation erosion model WaTEM/SEDEM (factor - process - property model). The inclusion of the process component into the digital soil mapping algorithm allows taking into account not only the spatial but also the temporal soil erosion features. It was revealed that the agricultural development of the Prokhorovsky district was primarily carried out on lands that are weakly prone to erosion, with the rate of erosion almost two times lower than on younger arable lands. As a result, the soil erosion maps, based on the factor - process - property model, with and without taking into account the duration of agricultural use, largely correspond to each other. Dominant soil categories (the map pixel corresponds to one soil taxa - noneroded and slightly eroded, medium, highly eroded), mapping by factor -property and factor - process - property models, have a high degree of correspondence to each other (prediction identity for 90% of pixels), while the soil combinations (the map pixel has information on the proportion of soils with different erosion degrees of soil) more significant (identity for less than 60% of pixels). The areas of zonal, erosion-zonal, and weakly eroded soil combinations differ 1.5-2 times, in the direction of a greater degree of soil erosion on the factor - process - property map.
37
Banu, Shaziya, and Mousa Attom. "Internal Erosion Stabilization of Cohesionless Soil Using Lime." Water 15, no. 11 (May 24, 2023): 1992. http://dx.doi.org/10.3390/w15111992.
Abstract:
Soil embankments are valuable for the adequate reserve and supply of water to multiple industries. However, they are susceptible to internal soil erosion, which may ultimately lead to structural collapse. To counteract this issue, soil stabilization is practiced in the construction industry. This paper proposes the internal erosion stabilization of cohesionless soil using quicklime. For this research, two cohesionless soil types were investigated and treated with quicklime: poorly graded and well-graded cohesionless soils. For poorly graded soil, the lime percentage varied from 0.0% to 6.0% based on the soil’s weight, while for well-graded soil, it ranged from 0.0% to 3.0%. All the soil specimens were cured for 24 h and tested using the hole erosion test (HET) to replicate the internal erosion effortlessly. The analyzed results demonstrated the efficiency of quicklime as an internal erosion stabilizer for cohesionless soils. The optimum lime content for poorly graded cohesionless soils was 5.0%; for well-graded, the percentage was approximately 3.0%. Moreover, adding lime significantly improved the strength, critical shear stress, and erosion rate index of the soil.
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Busico, Gianluigi, Eleonora Grilli, Silvia C. P. Carvalho, Micòl Mastrocicco, and Simona Castaldi. "Assessing Soil Erosion Susceptibility for Past and Future Scenarios in Semiarid Mediterranean Agroecosystems." Sustainability 15, no. 17 (August 29, 2023): 12992. http://dx.doi.org/10.3390/su151712992.
Abstract:
The evaluation of soil erosion rate, particularly in agricultural lands, is a crucial tool for long-term land management planning. This research utilized the soil and water assessment tool (SWAT) model to simulate soil erosion in a semiarid watershed located in South Portugal. To understand the evolution of the erosive phenomenon over time, soil erosion susceptibility maps for both historical and future periods were created. The historical period exhibited the highest average soil erosion for each land use, followed by the representative concentration pathways (RCPs) 8.5 and 4.5 scenarios. The differences in soil loss between these two RCPs were influenced by the slightly increasing trend of extreme events, particularly notable in RCP 8.5, leading to a higher maximum value of soil erosion. The research highlighted a tendency towards erosion in the agroforestry system known as “montado”, specifically on Leptosols throughout the entire basin. The study confirmed that Leptosols are most susceptible to sediment loss due to their inherent characteristics. Additionally, both “montado” and farmed systems were found to negatively impact soil erosion rates if appropriate antierosion measures are not adopted. This underscores the importance of identifying all factors responsible for land degradation in Mediterranean watersheds. In conclusion, the study highlighted the significance of assessing soil erosion rates in agricultural areas for effective land management planning in the long run. The utilization of the SWAT model and the creation of susceptibility maps provide valuable insights into the erosive phenomenon’s dynamics, urging the implementation of antierosion strategies to protect the soil and combat land degradation in the region.
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Savelieva, D. A., and V. K. Kalichkin. "Application of digital technologies in the study of water erosion of soils in Western Siberia." Siberian Herald of Agricultural Science 49, no. 4 (September 28, 2019): 86–100. http://dx.doi.org/10.26898/0370-8799-2019-4-10.
Abstract:
The analysis of the study of water erosion of soils on the territory of the West Siberian Plain using geo-information technologies (GIS) and Earth remote sensing was carried out. It is shown that GIS and Earth remote sensing are not widely used in erosion studies in Western Siberia and are used by a limited number of modern researchers. However, the use of digital technologies in this area is characterized by the coverage of almost the full range of their capabilities and functions: digital mapping, the formation of spatially-distributed thematic databases, monitoring, space-time analysis, modeling, automated mapping. The bulk of such research is concentrated mainly within the Novosibirsk and Omsk regions, in the Altai Territory, and to a lesser extent in the Tomsk and Kemerovo regions. Digital technologies for studying water erosion in Western Siberia are more often used to study the dependence of water erosion on its determining factors (mainly topography), the effect of water erosion on soils and soil cover, in morphometric analysis of the relief, land classifi cation and mapping. The problem of remote monitoring of the temporal dynamics of water erosion and related changes in topography, soil cover, soil properties, etc. is practically not dealt with. The issues of geoinformational modeling of water erosion in terms of elaboration of detail and scale, and coverage of a larger number of areas require further development. When modeling water erosion, the nature of surface runoff is not always taken into account. The approach to the selection of criteria for the assessment of erosional land at different scales of their mapping is not entirely clear. It remains an open question to develop a methodology for the automated calculation of standards for permissible erosional losses of soil. In general, the use of Earth remote sensing and GIS facilities in the study of water erosion in the soils of Western Siberia is not systematic and comprehensive. This is confi rmed by the presence of a number of problems in the study of water erosion in the given area, which requires a digital approach to their solution.
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Li, Chenhui, Wenhai Shi, and Mingbin Huang. "Effects of Crop Rotation and Topography on Soil Erosion and Nutrient Loss under Natural Rainfall Conditions on the Chinese Loess Plateau." Land 12, no. 2 (January 17, 2023): 265. http://dx.doi.org/10.3390/land12020265.
Abstract:
Erosive rainfall results in the loss of both soil and nutrients, which indirectly triggers soil deterioration and a reduction in land productivity. However, how rainfall affects runoff, soil erosion, and nutrient loss under different crop rotation patterns and topographic factors remains unclear. This experiment observed nine runoff-erosion plots on the Chinese Loess Plateau (CLP) from 2019 to 2020 to determine the effects of crop type, rotation pattern, and slope gradient and length on runoff, soil erosion, and nutrient loss. Runoff, soil erosion, and nutrient loss were highest for the fallow plots; values for these variables for spring corn and winter wheat plots were not significantly different. Crop rotation generated greater runoff, soil erosion, and nutrient loss compared to non-rotation. Soil erosion and associated nutrient loss increased, but not significantly, with slope for gradients of 0.5°, 1°, and 3°, while runoff and associated nutrient loss did not increase. In addition, soil erosion and associated nutrient loss were significantly greater for slope lengths of 20 m vs. 50 m. A structural equation model showed rainfall characteristics significantly impacted runoff and soil erosion and subsequently affected nutrient loss. This study increases the understanding of runoff, soil erosion, and nutrient loss from cropland with gentle slopes on the CLP.
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Arantes, Arielle. "Suscetibilidade à Erosão Laminar e Linear da Bacia Hidrográfica do Rio Vermelho e a sua Relação com o Uso e Cobertura da Terra em 2012." Revista Brasileira de Geografia Física 15, no. 6 (2022): 3032–46. http://dx.doi.org/10.26848/rbgf.v15.6.p3032-3046.
Abstract:
Loss of soil by erosion leads to reduced agricultural productivity, and when at an advanced stage, it drives soil degradation, rendering it unfit for agricultural cultivation. The objective of this work was to evaluate the susceptibility of the Rio Vermelho Hydrographic Basin (BHRV) to laminar erosion and the susceptibility to linear erosion of the Córrego Grande sub-basin, located in the most susceptible compartment of the BHRV, in order to identify favorable areas to erosion. The high basin, which encompasses the municipalities of Goiás, Buriti de Goiás, Fazenda Nova, Novo Brasil and Mossamedes, was the compartment that presented the greatest susceptibility to laminar erosion, due to the presence of soils of high erodibility on a relief of high slope, favoring the superficial flow in detriment to the infiltration of water in the soil. In this compartment, pasture areas located in Serra de Santa Rita in Faina, and Serra Dourada in Goiás, had some terrain whose soil use was incompatible with the susceptibility to laminar erosion, presenting high potential for the occurrence of erosive foci of laminar origin. The lowest susceptibility to laminar erosion occurred in the low basin, particularly in the municipalities of Britania and Aruanã, because it is a flat relief area of low altitudes on recent sedimentary deposits. Comparing susceptibility to laminar erosion with linear erosion for the Córrego Grande sub-basin, differently from the former, susceptibility to linear erosion is higher in intermediate slopes (7-17%), which favors a higher concentration of surface runoff.
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Farsang, Andrea, Rainer Duttmann, Máté Bartus, József Szatmári, Károly Barta, and Gábor Bozsó. "Estimation of Soil Material Transportation by Wind Based on in Situ Wind Tunnel Experiments." Journal of Environmental Geography 6, no. 3-4 (November 1, 2013): 13–20. http://dx.doi.org/10.2478/jengeo-2013-0002.
Abstract:
Abstract 25% and 40% of territory of Hungary is moderate to highly vulnerable to deflation. However, precise estimates about the soil loss and related losses of organic matter and nutrients due to wind erosion are missing in most cases. In order to determine magnitudes of nutrient masses removed at wind velocities that frequently occur in SE Hungary, in-situ experiments using a portable wind tunnel have been conducted on small test plots with an erosional length of 5.6 m and a width of 0.65 m. The wind tunnel experiments have been carried through on a Chernozem which is typical for this region. In order to compare the effects of soil coverage on the masses of blown soil sediment and adsorbed nutrients, two soil surface types have been tested under similar soil moisture und atmospheric conditions: (1) bare soil (dead fallow) and (2) bare soil surface interrupted by a row of maize plants directed downwind along the center line of the test plots. The results of our experiments clearly show that a constant wind velocity of 15 m s-1 (at a height of 0.3 m) lasting over a short time period of 10 minutes can already cause noticeable changes in the composition and size of soil aggregates at the top of the soil surface. Due to the grain size selectivity of the erosive forces the relative share of soil aggregates comprising diameters > 1 mm increased by 5-10% compared with the unaffected soil. Moreover it has shown that short time wind erosion events as simulated in this study can result in erosion rates between 100 and 120 g m-2, where the erosion rates measured for bare soils are only slightly, but not significantly higher than those of the loosely vegetated ones. Soil samples taken from sediment traps mounted in different heights close to the outlet of the wind tunnel point to an enrichment of organic matter (OM) of about 0.6 to 1 % by mass referred to the control samples. From these findings has been calculated that the relocation of organic matter within short term wind erosion events can amount to 4.5 to 5.0 g OM m-2. With the help of portable field wind tunnel experiments we can conclude that our valuable, high quality chernozems are struck by wind erosion mainly in drought periods.
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Bellocchi, Gianni, and Nazzareno Diodato. "Rainfall Erosivity in Soil Erosion Processes." Water 12, no. 3 (March 6, 2020): 722. http://dx.doi.org/10.3390/w12030722.
Abstract:
Regional studies on the erosive power of rainfall patterns are still limited and the actual impacts that may follow on erosional and sedimentation processes are poorly understood. Given the several interrelated challenges of environmental management, it is also not always unclear what is relevant for the development of adaptive and integrated approaches facilitating sustainable water resource management. This editorial introduces the Special Issue entitled “Rainfall Erosivity in Soil Erosion Processes”, which offers options to fill some of these gaps. Three studies performed in China and Central Asia (by Duulatov et al., Water 2019, 11, 897, Xu et al., 2019, 11, 2429, Gu et al. 2020, 12, 200) show that the erosion potential of rainfall is increasing in this region, driving social, economic, and environmental consequences. In the same region (the Weibei Plateau in China), Fu et al. (Water 2019, 11, 1514) assessed the effect of raindrop energy on the splash distance and particle size distribution of aggregate splash erosion. In the Mediterranean, updated estimates of current and future rainfall erosivity for Greece are provided by Vantas et al. (Water 2020, 12, 687), while Diodato and Bellocchi (Water 2019, 11, 2306) reconstructed and investigated seasonal net erosion in an Italian catchment using parsimonious modelling. Then, this Special Issue includes two technologically oriented articles by Ricks at al. The first (Water 2019, 11, 2386) evaluated a large-scale rainfall simulator design to simulate rainfall with characteristics similar to natural rainfall. The data provided contribute to the information that may be useful for the government’s decision making when considering landscape changes caused by variations in the intensity of a rainfall event. The second article (Water 2020, 12, 515) illustrated a laboratory-scale test of mulching methods to protect against the discharge of sediment-laden stormwater from active construction sites (e.g., highway construction projects).
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Djalilova, G., F. Mamatkulova, and Z. Mamatkulova. "Long-term Monitoring of the Vegetation Cover of Mountain Territories in the GIS for Soil and Landscape Study of Territories." Bulletin of Science and Practice 7, no. 3 (March 15, 2021): 33–41. http://dx.doi.org/10.33619/2414-2948/64/03.
Abstract:
Rational use of natural resources and preservation of environment in good conditions are the basis of stable state of the ecosystem. Mountain soil erosion is the most common process of degradation. Soil protection from erosion is becoming a global problem in the world, and in Uzbekistan, in particular. Natural conditions of the region create a potential danger of soil erosion. The reason for its manifestation is the misuse of land, non-compliance with necessary requirements for soil protection. In most cases, it is due to the location of homesteads and crops on erosion-prone soils that poorly protect soil from erosion, improper cultivation of soils on arable land, unregulated grazing of pastures, and damage to soil protective plantations.
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Alewell, C., M. Schaub, and F. Conen. "A method to detect soil carbon degradation during soil erosion." Biogeosciences Discussions 6, no. 3 (June 18, 2009): 5771–87. http://dx.doi.org/10.5194/bgd-6-5771-2009.
Abstract:
Abstract. Soil erosion has been discussed intensively but controversial both as a significant source or a significant sink of atmospheric carbon possibly explaining the gap in the global carbon budget. One of the major points of discussion has been whether or not carbon is degraded and mineralized to CO2 during detachment, transport and deposition of soil material. By combining the caesium-137 (137Cs) approach (quantification of erosion rates) with stable carbon isotope signatures (process indicator of mixing versus degradation of carbon pools) we were able to show that degradation of carbon occurs during soil erosion processes at the investigated mountain grasslands in the central Swiss Alps (Urseren Valley, Canton Uri). Transects from upland (erosion source) to wetland soils (erosion sinks) of sites affected by sheet and land slide erosion were sampled. Analysis of 137Cs yielded an input of 2 and 2.6 t ha−1 yr−1 of soil material into the wetlands sites. Assuming no degradation of soil organic carbon during detachment and transport, carbon isotope signature of soil organic carbon in the wetlands could only be explained with an assumed 800 and 400 years of erosion input into the wetlands. The latter is highly unlikely with alpine peat growth rates indicating that the upper horizons might have an age between 7 and 200 years. While we do not conclude from our data that eroded soil organic carbon is generally degraded during detachment and transport, we propose this method to gain more information on process dynamics during soil erosion from oxic upland to anoxic wetland soils, sediments or water bodies.
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Higgitt, David L. "Soil erosion and soil problems." Progress in Physical Geography: Earth and Environment 15, no. 1 (March 1991): 91–100. http://dx.doi.org/10.1177/030913339101500108.
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Higgitt, David. "Soil erosion and soil problems." Progress in Physical Geography: Earth and Environment 16, no. 2 (June 1992): 230–38. http://dx.doi.org/10.1177/030913339201600205.
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Higgitt, David. "Soil erosion and soil problems." Progress in Physical Geography: Earth and Environment 17, no. 4 (December 1993): 461–72. http://dx.doi.org/10.1177/030913339301700404.
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Meusburger, K., L. Mabit, J. H. Park, T. Sandor, and C. Alewell. "Combined use of stable isotopes and fallout radionuclides as soil erosion indicators in a forested mountain site, South Korea." Biogeosciences 10, no. 8 (August 26, 2013): 5627–38. http://dx.doi.org/10.5194/bg-10-5627-2013.
Abstract:
Abstract. The aim of this study is to assess and to validate the suitability of the stable nitrogen and carbon isotope signature as soil erosion indicators in a mountain forest site in South Korea. Our approach is based on the comparison of the isotope signature of "stable" landscape positions (reference sites), which are neither affected by erosion nor deposition, with eroding sites. For undisturbed soils we expect that the enrichment of δ15N and δ13C with soil depth, due to fractionation during decomposition, goes in parallel with a decrease in nitrogen and carbon content. Soil erosion processes potentially weaken this correlation. The 137Cs method and the Revised Universal Soil Loss Equation (RUSLE) were applied for the soil erosion quantification. Erosion rates obtained with the 137Cs method range from 0.9 t ha−1 yr−1 to 7 t ha−1 yr−1. Considering the steep slopes of up to 40° and the erosive monsoon events (R factor of 6600 MJ mm ha−1 h−1 yr –1), the rates are plausible and within the magnitude of the RUSLE-modeled soil erosion rates, varying from 0.02 t ha−1 yr−1 to 5.1 t ha−1 yr−1. The soil profiles of the reference sites showed significant (p < 0.0001) correlations between nitrogen and carbon content and its corresponding δ15N and δ13C signatures. In contrast, for the eroding sites this relationship was weaker and for the carbon not significant. These results confirm the usefulness of the stable carbon isotope signature as a qualitative indicator for soil disturbance. We could show further that the δ15N isotope signature can be used similarly for uncultivated sites. We thus propose that the stable δ15N and δ13C signature of soil profiles could serve as additional indicators confirming the accurate choice of the reference site in soil erosion studies using the 137Cs method.
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Meusburger, K., L. Mabit, J. H. Park, T. Sandor, and C. Alewell. "Combined use of stable isotopes and fallout radionuclides as soil erosion indicators in a forested mountain site, South Korea." Biogeosciences Discussions 10, no. 2 (February 12, 2013): 2565–89. http://dx.doi.org/10.5194/bgd-10-2565-2013.
Abstract:
Abstract. The aim of this study is to assess and to validate the suitability of the stable nitrogen and carbon isotope signature as soil erosion indicators in a mountain forest site in South Korea. Our approach is based on the comparison of the isotope signature of "stable" landscape positions (reference sites), which are neither affected by erosion nor deposition, with eroding sites. For undisturbed soils we expect that the enrichment of δ15N and δ13C with soil depth, due to fractionation during decomposition, goes in parallel with a decrease in nitrogen and carbon content. Soil erosion processes potentially weaken this correlation. 137Cs-method and the Revised Universal Soil Loss Equation are applied for the soil erosion quantification. The erosion rates obtained with the 137Cs method range from 0.9 t ha−1 yr−1 to 7 t ha−1 yr−1. Considering the steep slopes of up to 40° and the erosive monsoon events (R-factor of 6600 MJ mm ha−1 h−1 yr−1), the rates are plausible and within the magnitude of the RUSLE- modelled soil erosion rates, varying from 0.02 t ha−1 yr−1 to 5.1 t ha−1 yr−1. The soil profiles of the reference sites showed significant (p < 0.0001) correlations between nitrogen and carbon content and its corresponding δ15N and δ13C signatures. In contrast, for the eroding sites this relationship was weaker and for the carbon not significant. These results verify the usefulness of the stable carbon isotope signature as qualitative indicator for soil disturbance. We could show further that the δ15N isotope signature can be used similarly for uncultivated sites. We thus propose that the stable δ15N and δ13C signature of soil profiles could serve as a tool confirming the accurate choice of the reference site in soil erosion studies using the 137Cs-method.