scholarly journals The relationships between selected soil properties and caesium-137 identify organic carbon, nitrogen and water soluble phenols as indicators of soil erosion processes in different forest stands

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Federico Romeo ◽  
Paolo Porto ◽  
Carmelo Mallamaci ◽  
Adele Muscolo
Keyword(s):  
Soil Erosion ◽  
Organic Carbon ◽  
Canopy Structure ◽  
Pinus Nigra ◽  
Water Soluble ◽  
Nutrient Loss ◽  
Tree Cover ◽  
Soil Parameters ◽  
Erosion Processes ◽  
Soluble Phenols

AbstractIn the last few decades, the use of environmental radionuclides, particularly caesium-137 (137Cs), represented one of the most valid methods for estimating soil erosion. However, the cost associated with the use of the equipment needed for radiometric analyses is still high and, for this reason, finding more easily measurable indicators can be useful. There is a strong correlation between 137Cs, organic carbon (OC), nitrogen (N) and water soluble phenols (WSP) exists, indicating the latter parameters as possible early indicators of soil erosion. Based on the above assumptions, the main purpose of this work is to identify specific soil chemical parameters able to indicate early triggering of soil erosion. Specifically, several soil parameters such as pH, electric conductivity (EC), WSP, OC, N and C/N have been evaluated against 137Cs and on a comparative basis. In addition, since the rate of soil erosion depends on the degree of coverage and canopy structure, two different tree species (Pinus nigra laricio Poir. and Fagus sylvatica L.) have been considered in this contribution in which ten different scenarios of forest management have been analysed. The results show that the reduction in tree cover of managed sites triggers erosion and nutrient loss processes. It has been observed that the loss of 137Cs, compared to the control areas, is closely correlated with those of WSP, OC and N. These parameters (WSP, OC and N), more easily assessable, can be a valid tool to understand easily, triggering of erosive phenomena.

Prevention of Soil Erosion and Torrential Floods

2022 ◽  
pp. 92-111
Author(s):  
Bhavya Kavitha Dwarapureddi ◽  
Swathi Dash ◽  
Aman Raj ◽  
Nihanth Soury Garika ◽  
Ankit Kumar ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
Climate Change ◽  
Soil Erosion ◽  
Erosion Rate ◽  
Land Use Changes ◽  
Climatic Conditions ◽  
Nutrient Loss ◽  
Erosion Processes ◽  
Over Exploitation ◽  
Flood Waves

Climatic conditions, precise relief features, variations of soil, flora cover, socio-economic conditions together lead to torrential flood waves as a result of current soil erosion processes. Erosion and torrential floods are aggravated due to over exploitation of agricultural and forest land along with urbanization. Effects of soil erosion include nutrient loss, land use changes, reduced productivity, siltation of water bodies, among other effects like affecting livelihood of marginal communities dependent on agriculture globally and public health. Nearly 11 million km2 of soil is impacted by erosion precisely by water. Other factors like intensified agriculture and climate change contribute to and aggravate the erosion rate. Contemporary torrential floods are characterized by their increased destruction and frequency unlike the pre-development periods when their occurrence was rare. The focus of this review is to compile and aid as a data base for understanding methods of preventing erosion of soil and torrential floods as put forth by various researchers.

scholarly journals Evaluation of Forest Conversion Effects on Soil Erosion, Soil Organic Carbon and Total Nitrogen Based on 137Cs Tracer Technique

Forests ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 10 (5) ◽  
pp. 433 ◽  
Author(s):  
Xi Zhu ◽  
Jie Lin ◽  
Qiao Dai ◽  
Yanying Xu ◽  
Haidong Li
Keyword(s):  
Soil Erosion ◽  
Organic Carbon ◽  
Soil Organic Carbon ◽  
Nutrient Loss ◽  
Vegetation Coverage ◽  
Forest Conversion ◽  
Tracer Technique ◽  
Mountain Areas ◽  
Clear Cutting ◽  
Average Annual Loss

Soil erosion can affect the horizontal and the vertical distribution of soil carbon at the landscape scale. The 137Cs tracer technique can overcome the shortcomings of traditional erosion research and has proven to be the best method to study soil erosion. To understand the responses of soil organic carbon and nitrogen to soil erosion and forest conversion in the development of slope economic forests in rocky mountain areas, three representative types of economic forests that were all formed after clear-cutting and afforestation on the basis of CBF (coniferous and broad-leaved mixed forests) were selected: CF (chestnut forests) with small human disturbance intensity, AF (apple forests), and HF (hawthorn forests) with high interference intensity. The results showed that all land use types have significantly eroded since 1950; the average annual loss of soil was 0.79 mm in the CBF, 2.31 mm in the AF, 1.84 mm in the HF, and 0.87 mm in the CF. The results indicated aggravation of soil erosion after the transformation of the CBF into an economic forest. The economic forest management reduced the average carbon storage and accelerated nutrient loss. The better vegetation coverage and litter coverage of CF made them stand out among the three economic forest varieties. Therefore, when developing economic forests, we should select species that can produce litter to ensure as much soil conservation as possible to reduce the risk of soil erosion.

scholarly journals Quantifying the Effects of Vegetation Restorations on the Soil Erosion Export and Nutrient Loss on the Loess Plateau

2020 ◽  
Vol 11 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jun Zhao ◽  
Xiaoming Feng ◽  
Lei Deng ◽  
Yanzheng Yang ◽  
Zhong Zhao ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Soil Erosion ◽  
Loess Plateau ◽  
Vegetation Cover ◽  
Vegetation Change ◽  
Soil Nutrient ◽  
Vegetation Restoration ◽  
Nutrient Loss ◽  
The Loess Plateau ◽  
Erosion Processes ◽  
Grain For Green Project

The transport of eroded soil to rivers changes the nutrient cycles of river ecosystems and has significant impacts on the regional eco-environment and human health. The Loess Plateau, a leading vegetation restoration region in China and the world, has experienced severe soil erosion and nutrient loss, however, the extent to which vegetation restoration prevents soil erosion export (to rivers) and it caused nutrient loss is unknown. To evaluate the effects of the first stage of the Grain for Green Project (GFGP) on the Loess Plateau (started in 1999 and ended in 2013), we analyzed the vegetation change trends and quantified the effects of GFGP on soil erosion export (to rivers) and it caused nutrient loss by considering soil erosion processes. The results were as follows: (1) in the first half of study period (from 1982 to 1998), the vegetation cover changed little, but after the implementation of the first stage of the GFGP (from 1999 to 2013), the vegetation cover of 75.0% of the study area showed a significant increase; (2) The proportion of eroded areas decreased from 41.8 to 26.7% as a result of the GFGP, and the erosion intensity lessened in most regions; the implementation significantly reduce the soil nutrient loss; (3) at the county level, soil erosion export could be avoided significantly by the increasing of vegetation greenness in the study area (R = −0.49). These results illustrate the relationships among changes in vegetation cover, soil erosion and nutrient export, which could provide a reference for local government for making ecology-relative policies.

scholarly journals Characterization of Surface Runoff, Soil Erosion and Nutrient Loss on Forest-Agriculture Landscape

2013 ◽  
Vol 17 (3) ◽  
pp. 259-266
Author(s):  
Yayat Hidayat ◽  
Kukuh Murtilaksono ◽  
Naik Sinukaban
Keyword(s):  
Soil Erosion ◽  
Organic Carbon ◽  
Surface Runoff ◽  
Nutrient Content ◽  
Nutrient Loss ◽  
Forest Land ◽  
Nutrient Contents ◽  
Agriculture Land ◽  
Calcium Magnesium

The study was aimed to quantify volume of surface runoff, soil erosion and nutrient loss from the forest-agriculture landscape (forest margins) in Lore Lindu National Park Central Sulawesi.  Surface runoff volume and soil erosion were measured daily on erosion plots. It was installed on  several land use types i.e. forest land,  maize,  young cocoa, medium cocoa, old cocoa, vanilla, shrub and bush and bareland, on the soil Typic Dystrudepts with slope ± 40%. The nutrient content in surface runoff and sediments were analyzed from selected surface runoff and sediment samples.  Surface runoff and soil erosion from agriculture land were respectively 2.1 to 3.4 and  3.6 to 5.8 times higher than from forest lands. Meanwhile, surface runoff and soil erosion from bareland were respectively 7.0 and 23.7 times greater than forest land respectively.  Sediment nutrient contents from forest land were  higher than agriculture land.  In the contrary, total nutrient lost from agriculture land were higher than forest land ones.  Nutrient losses carried by surface runoff were larger than those losses carried by sediments.  Dissolved organic carbon (DOC) loss in surface runoff was 6,1 to 8,0 times higher than total organic carbon (TOC) loss in sediments.  Likewise, nitrate (NO3-) loss in surface runoff was 1.9 to 12.1 times higher than total nitrogen (TN) in sediments as well as potassium, calcium, magnesium and sodium losses.  Potassium is dominant cation loss carried by the surface runoff, while calcium is mainly carried by sediment.Keywords:  Dissolve organic carbon; forest-agriculture landscape; nutrient loss; soil erosion; surface runoff[How to Cite: Hidayat Y, K Murtilaksono and N Sinukaban. 2012. Characterization of Surface Runoff, Soil Erosion and Nutrient Loss on Forest-agriculture Landscape. J Trop Soils, 17 (3): 259-266. doi: 10.5400/jts.2012.17.3.259][Permalink/DOI: www.dx.doi.org/10.5400/jts.2012.17.3.259]

Effects of early post-fire moss biocrusts on soil abiotic and biotic properties in a Mediterranean forest

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Minerva García-Carmona ◽  
Victoria Arcenegui ◽  
Fuensanta García-Orenes ◽  
Jorge Mataix-Solera
Keyword(s):  
Soil Erosion ◽  
Organic Carbon ◽  
Soil Surface ◽  
Water Repellency ◽  
Mediterranean Forests ◽  
The European Union ◽  
Nitrogen And Phosphorus ◽  
Salvage Logging ◽  
Erosion Processes ◽  
Phosphorous Content

<p>After wildfires in Mediterranean forests, mosses have been described as faster colonizers in early successional stages when soil surface is more vulnerable and exposed to rainfall events. Soil erosion mitigation is an ecosystem service of high relevance provided by moss-dominated biocrusts, but information about additional functional roles of early post-fire colonization of mosses is still limited. In August 2018, a wildfire in “Sierra de Beneixama” (E Spain) affecting a total of 862 ha was followed by salvage logging management that triggered rill formation and soil erosion processes. Six months after the fire and subsequent management disturbances, the presence of mosses covering the soil reached 30%, appearing where no soil water repellency was detected. The aim of the study was to assess the short-term effects of mosses on the nutrients content and the stability of soils underlying the crust (2.5 cm depth), as well as the soil microorganisms and functions they deliver as key elements in soil recovery. Our results showed a strong decrease in the available phosphorous content in soils under the crust, suggesting consumption of this element released from the fire to moss development. In the same way, a slight decrease in soil organic carbon and nitrogen content was detected in soils beneath the biocrust. The labile fraction of organic carbon released by the fire may provide the substrate for heterotrophic soil microbes living beneath the biocrust, but while a beginning recovery of microbial biomass under mosses was observed, no higher microbial activity was detected six months after the fire. No greater differences in the microbial functionality, measured by enzymatic activities involved in carbon, nitrogen, and phosphorus cycles, were observed in soils associated with the crust. However, the response of the microbial parameters was mainly influenced by the nitrogen and phosphorous content of soils, highly released in post-fire environments. The lower developmental stage of the biocrust and the short-time since the disturbance might be an important factor in the functional recovery of the microbial community associated. Since wildfires are predicted to increase in frequency and severity due to climate change, monitoring biocrust impact on ecological functions recovery is essential to understand ecosystem resistance and resilience to future disturbances.</p><p> </p><p>This work was supported by funding by the “POSTFIRE_CARE” project of the Spanish Research Agency (AIE) and the European Union through European Funding for Regional Development (FEDER) [Ref.: CGL2016-75178-C2-1-R], and the Spanish Ministry of Economy and Competitiveness [grant FPI-MINECO BES-2017-081283 supporting M.G-C].</p>

scholarly journals Lateral transport of SOC induced by water erosion in a Spanish agroecosystem

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Leticia Gaspar ◽  
Lionel Mabit ◽  
Ivan Lizaga ◽  
Ana Navas
Keyword(s):  
Land Use ◽  
Soil Erosion ◽  
Organic Carbon ◽  
Soil Organic Carbon ◽  
Management Practices ◽  
Water Erosion ◽  
Land Uses ◽  
Lateral Movement ◽  
Erosion Processes ◽  
Depositional Processes

<p>The main route for the lateral movement of soil organic carbon (SOC) is water erosion. Awareness of the distribution and magnitude of land carbon mobilization is important both for improving models of the carbon cycle and for management practices aimed to preserve carbon stocks and enhance carbon sinks. There is a need to consider the global significance of soil erosion from soil organic carbon cycling schemes and for this reason, the movement of SOC during erosion processes should be elucidated.</p><p>Our study aims to estimate the SOC redistribution induced by water erosion during a 40 years period in an agroforestry mountain ecosystem located in northern Spain. To this purpose, topographically driven transects were selected with mixed land uses to i) assess what factors modify the runoff patterns with impact on soil and carbon redistribution and ii) evaluate the mobilization of topsoil organic carbon along the transects.</p><p>The lateral movement of SOC shows similar spatial patterns with that of soil erosion. To identify whether erosional or depositional processes have been predominant in the sampling sites we used <sup>137</sup>Cs inventories and the characterization of terrain attributes of the study with a detailed analysis of the main runoff pathways. Results indicate that SOC losses were related to an increase in water flow accumulation, while the highest SOC gains were recorded at concave positions. Soil erosion processes and the content of SOC in soils are the two main factors controlling carbon budgets. The topographical and geomorphological characteristics of the transects, the spatial distribution of land uses and the presence of landscape linear elements such as terraces or paths, affect runoff and determine the sediment connectivity and carbon dynamics along the slopes.</p><p>The interactions between topography and land use produce significant positive or negative effects on SOC accumulation, particularly in areas with complex topography, as the results obtained in our study sustain. Even though the effect of topography and land use/land cover and their interactions on the horizontal distributions of carbon remains largely unknown, our approach contributes to better understand the pattern of gains and losses of soil organic and inorganic carbon induced by water erosion.</p>

scholarly journals Sunn Hemp: A Legume Cover Crop with Potential for the Midwest?

2018 ◽  
Vol 7 (4) ◽  
pp. 63
Author(s):  
Esther Shekinah Durairaj ◽  
James K. Stute
Keyword(s):  
Soil Erosion ◽  
Organic Carbon ◽  
Soil Organic Carbon ◽  
Cover Crops ◽  
Warm Season ◽  
Nutrient Loss ◽  
Residue Management ◽  
Crop Failure ◽  
Weed Biomass ◽  
Sunn Hemp

Crops like corn and soybean occupy vast area in the Midwest, USA. When land is left fallow after the harvest of these crops, a number of degradation factors operate and bring about soil erosion, nutrient loss, decreased soil organic carbon, reduced biological activity and increase in weed biomass. Integrating cover crops (CCs) into this system would build benefits that the very system lacks. There are various CCs available, but leguminous CCs allows for reduced application of fertilizer nitrogen and builds the soil fixed atmospheric nitrogen. Winter CCs are restricted in the Midwest because of the short planting window which greatly minimizes the biomass accumulation. Warm season CCs would serve well here. Sunn hemp is one such tropical CC that grows well in temperate conditions too, without producing seeds. It comes with many benefits - including decreased soil erosion, improved soil organic carbon, increase in soil fixed nitrogen, higher biomass that adds organic matter and N to the soil, reduced weed density and weed biomass. The timing and method of termination influences the residue management. Going by the benefits it adds, sunn hemp is a viable warm season CC that can be grown in the Midwest and has great potential in fallows, prevented plant acres, areas of crop failure (planted and failed) and also in areas after the harvest of the short season small grains or processing crops. However, intensive research on sunn hemp is needed in the Midwest which is discussed. 

scholarly journals A method to detect soil carbon degradation during soil erosion

2009 ◽  
Vol 6 (11) ◽  
pp. 2541-2547 ◽  
Author(s):  
C. Alewell ◽  
M. Schaub ◽  
F. Conen
Keyword(s):  
Soil Erosion ◽  
Organic Carbon ◽  
Soil Organic Carbon ◽  
Carbon Isotope ◽  
Stable Carbon Isotope ◽  
Swiss Alps ◽  
Wetland Soils ◽  
Soil Material ◽  
Process Indicator ◽  
Erosion Processes

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 4.6 tha−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 500–600 and 350–400 years of erosion input into the wetlands Laui and Spissen, respectively. 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.

scholarly journals A method to detect soil carbon degradation during soil erosion

2009 ◽  
Vol 6 (3) ◽  
pp. 5771-5787 ◽  
Author(s):  
C. Alewell ◽  
M. Schaub ◽  
F. Conen
Keyword(s):  
Soil Erosion ◽  
Organic Carbon ◽  
Soil Organic Carbon ◽  
Carbon Isotope ◽  
Stable Carbon Isotope ◽  
Swiss Alps ◽  
Wetland Soils ◽  
Soil Material ◽  
Process Indicator ◽  
Erosion Processes

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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