Soil Degradation Processes, Causes, and Assessment Approaches

2020 ◽  
pp. 1-12
Author(s):  
Nada Dragović ◽  
Tijana Vulević
Keyword(s):  
Soil Degradation ◽  
Degradation Processes

scholarly journals Influence of Conservative and Conventional Soil Technologies on Physical, Chemical and Biolocical Properties of an Argic Chernozem Belong to Caracal Area

2011 ◽  
Vol 68 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Venera Mihaela STROE ◽  
Irina CALCIU ◽  
Monica STANCIU BURILEANU ◽  
Lavinia PARVAN
Keyword(s):  
Soil Degradation ◽  
Farming Systems ◽  
Conventional Tillage ◽  
Biological Properties ◽  
Limiting Factors ◽  
Negative Consequences ◽  
Degradation Processes ◽  
Physical Chemical ◽  
Conventional Technology ◽  
Tillage System

Continuous use of traditional tillage system (conventional) resulted in a gradual harvest increase, but gave rise to some worrying negative phenomenon regarding the most important supply of the agricultural production - soil, by its chemical and physical degradation.This paper aims to assess soil degradation processes, based on pedo-transfer rules and is based on of expeditionary studies regarding assessment and characterization of soil fertility, under the practice of various farming systems: conventional tillage and minimum tillage. The study carried out the effects of moderat conservative tillage on physical and chemical soil properties comparative with conventional soil technology on an argic chernozem, belongs to the agricultural Caracal area. Agricultural area is affected by a relatively high variability of the limiting factors and soil degradation processes, which require adaptation of technology systems to protection of soil and plants. Because of all limiting factors, natural and antropic, in this expeditionary study we compare the moderat conservative tillage effects, with conventional technology effects and impact of those both soil technology, on physical, chemical and biological properties. Results of study show the potential depth of aeration conditions are moderately favorable, being determined particularly by intense state of compactness of the soil as a natural consequence of it. Macroporosity decrease in depth, has negative consequences not only on the normal performance of the processes of aeration, and water penetration and infiltration, but for the accumulation of water available for plants. Content of structural microagregates water-stable or soil dispersion is high, which shows that the formation of structural macroagregates occurred more mechanical factors such as compaction or natural processes. The numerical values of the degree of compaction of 15-20 cm in depth up to the 15-18% v / v in both phases of observation. Deep compaction is undoubtedly due to the technological system applied to the greatest extent, and only a small part pedogenetical natural factors.

Soil degradation processes and plant colonization in abandoned terraced fields overlying pumice tuffs

2006 ◽  
Vol 17 (6) ◽  
pp. 571-588 ◽  
Author(s):  
C. D. Arbelo ◽  
A. Rodríguez-Rodríguez ◽  
J. A. Guerra ◽  
J. L. Mora ◽  
J. S. Notario ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Soil Degradation ◽  
Plant Colonization ◽  
Degradation Processes ◽  
Terraced Fields

Modelling of impacts of erosion processes on agricultural landscapes due to intensive rainfall events

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Silvia Kohnová ◽  
Zuzana Németová
Keyword(s):  
Soil Erosion ◽  
Soil Degradation ◽  
Agricultural Land ◽  
Assessment Methods ◽  
Rainfall Events ◽  
Degradation Processes ◽  
Erosion Processes ◽  
Erosion Models ◽  
Physically Based ◽  
Physically Based Models

<p>At present, the occurrence of extreme precipitation events is becoming more and more frequent and therefore it is important to quantify their impact on the landscape and soil degradation processes. Until now a wide range of soil erosion models have been developed and many significant studies performed to evaluate soil erosion processes at local and regional level, but there are still many modeling principles that suffer from a range of problems. The general problem in soil erosion modelling lies in the validation and verification of the methodologies used. The validation of erosion models is a very complicated and complex process due to lack of suitable sites, financial demands and due to the high temporal and spatial variability. The paper points to validate the physically and event-based Erosion-3D model predominantly developed to calculate the amounts of soil loss, surface runoff, and depositions resulting from natural and design rainfall events. In the study two different erosion assessment methods were chosen in order to compare diverse evaluation approaches. Both water erosion assessment methods used have certain advantages and disadvantages, but nowadays the use of physically-based models, which are a younger generation of models, are regarded to be a more innovative and effective technique for the evaluation of complex runoff-erosion processes, deposition and transport processes. The significant contribution of physically-based models is seen in their more precise representation of the erosion and deposition processes, a more proper calculation of the erosion, deposition and sediment yields and the application of more complicated characteristics, including fluctuating soil conditions and surface properties in comparison with empirical models. The validation of the models was performed based on the continuous rainfall events for the period selected (2015, 2016 and 2017). The extreme rainfall events occurring during the period were chosen and their serious impact on the agricultural land was modeled. The modelled sediment data were compared with the measured sediment deposition data obtained by a bathymetry survey of the Svacenicky Creek polder. The polder is situated in the middle of the Myjava hill lands in the western part of Slovakia and the bathymetry measurement were conducted using a hydrographical survey using the EcoMapper Autonomous Underwater Vehicle (AUV) device. The results of the study include a comparison between the modelled and measured data and an assessment of the impact of the intensive rainfall events on the investigated territory.</p><p>Key words: intensive rainfall events, agricultural land, soil degradation processes, hydrological extremes, physically-based model</p>

Status, processes, and drivers of soil degradation in the Mediterranean region

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Carla S. S. Ferreira ◽  
Samaneh Seifollahi-Aghmiuni ◽  
Georgia Destouni ◽  
Marijana Solomun ◽  
Navid Ghajarnia ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Climate Change ◽  
Organic Matter ◽  
Soil Organic Matter ◽  
Soil Erosion ◽  
Soil Degradation ◽  
Mediterranean Region ◽  
High Sensitivity ◽  
Degradation Processes ◽  
The Mediterranean ◽  
Very High

<p>Soil supports life on Earth and provides several goods and services of essence for human wellbeing. Over the last century, however, intensified human activities and unsustainable management practices, along with ongoing climate change, have been degrading soils’ natural capital, pushing it towards possible critical limits for its ability to provide essential ecosystem services. Soil degradation is characterized by negative changes in soil health status that may lead to partial or total loss of productivity and overall capacity to support human societies, e.g., against increasing climate risks. Such degradation leads to environmental, social and economic losses, which may in turn trigger land abandonment and desertification. In particular, the Mediterranean region has been identified as one of the most vulnerable and severely affected European regions by soil degradation, where the actual extent and context of the problem is not yet well understood. This study provides an overview of current knowledge about the status of soil degradation and its main drivers and processes in the European Mediterranean region, based on comprehensive literature review. In the Mediterranean region, 34% of the land area is subject to ‘very high sensitivity’ or ‘high sensitivity’ to desertification, and risk of desertification applies to over more than 65% of the territory of some countries, such as Spain and Cyprus (IPCC, 2019). The major degradation processes are: (i) soil erosion, due to very high erosion rates (>2 t/ha); (ii) loss of soil organic matter, due to high mineralization rates while the region is already characterized by low or very low soil organic matter (<2%); and (iii) soil and water salinisation, due to groundwater abstraction and sea water intrusion. However, additional physical, chemical and biological degradation processes, such as soil sealing and compaction, contamination, and loss of biodiversity, are also of great concern. Some of the degradation processes, such as soil erosion, have been extensively investigated and their spatial extent is relatively well described. Other processes, however, such as soil biodiversity, are poorly investigated and have limited data availability. In general, a lack of systematic inventories of soil degradation status limits the overall knowledge base and impairs understanding of the spatial and temporal dimensions of the problem. In terms of drivers, Mediterranean soil degradation has mainly been driven by increasing population, particularly in coastal areas, and its concentration in urban areas (and consequent abandonment of rural areas), as well as by land-use changes and intensification of socio-economic activities (e.g. agriculture and tourism). Additionally, climate change, with increasing extent and severity of extreme events (droughts, floods, wildfires), may also be a key degradation driver in this region. Improved information on soil degradation status (including spatio-temporal extent and severity) and enhanced knowledge of degradation drivers, processes and socio-economic, ecological, and biodiversity impacts are needed to better support regional soil management, policy, and decision making. Science and evidence based improvements of soil resource governance and management can enhance soil resilience to regional and global changes, and support the region to achieve related Sustainable Development Goals and the Land Degradation Neutrality targets.</p>

scholarly journals North American Soil Degradation: Processes, Practices, and Mitigating Strategies

2015 ◽  
Vol 7 (3) ◽  
pp. 2936-2960 ◽  
Author(s):  
R. Baumhardt ◽  
B. Stewart ◽  
U. Sainju
Keyword(s):  
North American ◽  
Soil Degradation ◽  
Degradation Processes

scholarly journals ANALYSIS OF POLLUTED PLACES: CASE OF LAND DEGRADATION IN LATVIA

2018 ◽  
Author(s):  
Velta Parsova ◽  
Anda JANKAVA ◽  
Maija BERZINA
Keyword(s):  
Land Degradation ◽  
Soil Degradation ◽  
Mineral Resources ◽  
Risk Level ◽  
Economic Activities ◽  
Natural Conditions ◽  
Subsoil Water ◽  
Degradation Processes ◽  
The Law ◽  
Restoration Measures

The aim of the article is to analyse and evaluate the information on polluted and potentially polluted places registered in the Register of polluted and potentially polluted places in Latvia. Under the influence of various natural conditions and economic activities land and soil degradation processes are observed, which has led to formation of degraded territories. Degraded territory is a territory with destroyed or damaged upper layer of ground or an abandoned territory of construction, extraction of mineral resources, economic or military activities, which in result of economic or other activity or inaction has so far destroyed, that is impossible to use it properly without special restoration measures. One of the factors that can be used to assess land degradation and determine the type of land degradation is pollution. In accordance with the Law “On pollution” in Latvia have been established procedures for identification of polluted places and developed criteria which are used for assessment of risk level. On this basis the Centre for Environment, Geology and Meteorology of Latvia has established and maintains the Register of polluted and potentially polluted places. The polluted place is soil, subsoil, water, sludge, as well as buildings, factories or other objects containing pollutants. Potentially polluted places can be listed according to unverified information. In 2017 in Latvia 351 polluted and 2648 potentially polluted places were listed and registered. The largest concentration of polluted places is located in Riga, which is largest industrial centre in Latvia.

scholarly journals Soil degradation processes in the Italian agricultural and forest ecosystems

2013 ◽  
Vol 8 (4) ◽  
pp. 28 ◽  
Author(s):  
Edoardo A.C. Costantini ◽  
Romina Lorenzetti
Keyword(s):  
Soil Degradation ◽  
Forest Ecosystems ◽  
Degradation Processes

Soil Degradation Monitoring by Remote Sensing: Examples with Three Degradation Processes

2010 ◽  
Vol 74 (5) ◽  
pp. 1433-1445 ◽  
Author(s):  
Naftali Goldshleger ◽  
E. Ben-Dor ◽  
R. Lugassi ◽  
G. Eshel
Keyword(s):  
Remote Sensing ◽  
Soil Degradation ◽  
Degradation Processes ◽  
Degradation Monitoring
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