scholarly journals The Beast from the East: impact of an atypical cold weather event on hydrology and nutrient dynamics in two Irish catchments

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
S.E. Vero ◽  
N.T. McDonald ◽  
G. McGrath ◽  
P.-E. Mellander
Keyword(s):  
Land Management ◽  
Nutrient Dynamics ◽  
Overland Flow ◽  
Time Lag ◽  
Management Strategies ◽  
Cold Weather ◽  
Catchment Scale ◽  
Continuous Stream ◽  
Baseline Information ◽  
Flow Pathways

A historic lack of continuous stream nutrient monitoring at the catchment scale limits understanding of the effects of snowstorms. The most significant snowstorm since 1985, nicknamed “the Beast from the East”, occurred in February–March 2018. High-frequency stream outlet monitoring in two close but hydrologically and agriculturally contrasting catchments (<1,200 ha) captured phosphorus (total and reactive), total oxygenated nitrogen (TON), temperature and discharge dynamics during and after the event. The grassland catchment consists of poorly drained gley soils and exhibits overland flow pathways, while the arable catchment consists of well-drained brown earths and is dominated by subsurface pathways. Nitrate (NO 3 -N) concentrations were initially elevated (3.50 and 7.89 mg/L for poorly drained grassland and well-drained arable catchments, respectively) before becoming diluted by meltwater. Total reactive phosphorus (TRP) displayed a distal (anti-clockwise) concentration-discharge hysteresis in the poorly drained grassland catchment suggesting low mobilisation from the soil. Conversely, the well-drained arable catchment displayed proximal (clockwise) hysteresis, indicative of the mobilisation from stream and bank sediment. These relatively infrequent snow events behave similarly to heavy rainfall as regards nutrient losses, albeit subject to a time-lag induced by the speed of snowmelt and the soil moisture deficit (SMD) prior to snowfall. Antecedent land management is crucial to mitigate risk. The current absence of records and analyses of catchment response, particularly nutrient dynamics, to atypical cold weather events in Ireland limits understanding of their effects on water quality. The present study provides the first such baseline information from which land management strategies and the implications for attaining environmental targets can be explored.

Using rill/interrill comparisons to infer likely responses of erosion to slope length: implications for land management

Soil Research ◽  
1996 ◽  
Vol 34 (4) ◽  
pp. 489 ◽  
Author(s):  
RJ Loch
Keyword(s):  
Land Management ◽  
Overland Flow ◽  
Unit Area ◽  
Management Strategies ◽  
Residue Management ◽  
Moderate Increase ◽  
Vegetative Cover ◽  
Slope Length ◽  
Erosion Rates ◽  
Erosion Processes

With the release of the Revised Universal Soil Loss Equation (RUSLE) there is potential to consider a range of responses of erosion to increasing slope length. This paper presents data to illustrate commonly observed effects of increasing overland flow on erosion processes and erosion rates, and considers the application of the data to specifying land management strategies and forms of vegetative cover most suited to particular soils. It also discusses a methodology for assessing relevant slope length factors for the RUSLE based on rill/interrill susceptibility. Three basic responses to slope length are noted: (i) little increase in erosion per unit area with increasing length, due to either the failure of rills to develop for the range of overland flows considered, or rill formation at very low hows with no further increase in erosion rates as flow rates increase; (ii) moderate increase in erosion per unit area with slope length associated with slight rill development; and (iii) large increases in erosion per unit area with slope length as rilling develops strongly. These responses have significance for the relative importance of surface and contact cover (and therefore, for the plant species grown and/or residue management strategy adopted), and for the use of contour banks to reduce slope length.

scholarly journals Role of Concentrated Flow Pathways on the Movement of Pesticides through Agricultural Fields and Riparian Buffer Zones

2021 ◽  
Vol 64 (3) ◽  
pp. 975-986
Author(s):  
Joseph W. Chandler ◽  
Heather E. Preisendanz ◽  
Tamie L. Veith ◽  
Kyle R. Elkin ◽  
Herschel A. Elliott ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Land Management ◽  
Overland Flow ◽  
Riparian Buffers ◽  
Riparian Zones ◽  
Agricultural Fields ◽  
Hydrologic Connectivity ◽  
Pesticide Transport ◽  
Concentrated Flow ◽  
Corn Fields ◽  
Flow Pathways

HighlightsLand management and hydrologic connectivity cause concentrated flow pathways (CFPs) to serve various functions.Pesticide concentrations diminished along flow pathways from row-cropped fields through functional riparian zones.CFPs facilitated pesticide transport into pasture/hay fields from upgradient corn fields.Subsurface transport was likely a more important transport pathway relative to surface runoff for imidacloprid.Abstract. Riparian buffers, which are an important component of watershed management strategies, can effectively mitigate nutrients and pesticides in agricultural runoff. However, concentrated flow pathways (CFPs) can undermine the performance of buffers by allowing contaminant-laden runoff to bypass the mitigation potential offered by the buffer soils and vegetation. To determine the extent to which CFPs increase pesticide transport from agricultural fields to nearby streams, soil samples (0-2 cm depth) were collected along both CFPs and overland flow (OLF) pathways from the field to the stream for nine fields in a Long-Term Agroecosystem Research (LTAR) site in the ridge and valley physiographic region of Pennsylvania. Soil samples were analyzed for atrazine, metolachlor, and imidacloprid, with two dominant patterns emerging. In corn fields, pesticide concentrations were higher in OLF than CFP samples, suggesting that pesticides were mitigated during transport through each corn field. In contrast, hay and pasture fields, which had not been treated with any of the three pesticides of interest, had lower pesticide concentrations in the OLF samples than the CFP samples. Because the CFPs from these fields originated in upgradient unsampled corn fields, these results suggest that the CFPs were a conduit for pesticides applied in the corn fields and were simply flowing through the hay and pasture fields. Similarly, CFPs in riparian buffers and grass pathways located between the row-cropped fields and the stream tended to have lower concentrations than the upland field (OLF-F) but higher concentrations than the buffer OLF, suggesting a potential for increasing overland flow effectiveness in riparian zones by interrupting CFPs leading to the stream. This study highlights the importance of the land management factors and hydrologic connectivity that cause CFPs to serve different functions (mitigation or enhancement) as runoff is conveyed from agricultural fields to a riparian buffer, and ultimately to an adjacent stream. Further, the results highlight the need for design and maintenance solutions addressing the erosion and sediment control issues that commonly undermine agricultural buffer effectiveness. Keywords: Buffers, Concentrated flow, Contaminant fate and transport, Hydrology, Land management, Pesticides, Overland flow, Water quality.

scholarly journals Soil surface roughness: comparing old and new measuring methods and application in a soil erosion model

2014 ◽  
Vol 1 (1) ◽  
pp. 981-1012 ◽  
Author(s):  
L. M. Thomsen ◽  
J. E. M. Baartman ◽  
R. J. Barneveld ◽  
T. Starkloff ◽  
J. Stolte
Keyword(s):  
Soil Erosion ◽  
Land Management ◽  
Laser Scanning ◽  
Overland Flow ◽  
Soil Surface ◽  
Depth Sensing ◽  
Catchment Scale ◽  
Erosion Model ◽  
Roller Chain ◽  
Rock Fragments

Abstract. Quantification of soil roughness, i.e. the irregularities of the soil surface due to soil texture, aggregates, rock fragments and land management, is important as it affects surface storage, infiltration, overland flow and ultimately sediment detachment and erosion. Roughness has been measured in the field using both contact methods, such as roller chain and pinboard, and sensor methods, such as stereophotogrammetry and terrestrial laser scanning (TLS). A novel depth sensing technique, originating in the gaming industry, has recently become available for earth sciences; the Xtion Pro method. Roughness data obtained using various methods are assumed to be similar; this assumption is tested in this study by comparing five different methods to measure roughness in the field on 1 m2 agricultural plots with different management (ploughing, harrowing, forest and direct seeding on stubble) in southern Norway. Subsequently, the values were used as input for the LISEM soil erosion model to test their effect on the simulated hydrograph on catchment scale. Results show that statistically significant differences between the methods were obtained only for the fields with direct drilling on stubble; for the other land management types the methods were in agreement. The spatial resolution of the contact methods was much lower than for the sensor methods (10 000 versus at least 57 000 points per m2 respectively). In terms of costs and ease of handling in the field, the Xtion Pro method is promising. Results from the LISEM model indicate that especially the roller chain underestimated the RR values and the model thereby calculated less surface runoff than measured. In conclusion: the choice of measurement method for roughness data matters and depends on the required accuracy, resolution, mobility in the field and available budget. It is recommended to use only one method within one study.

scholarly journals Impacts of beaver dams on hydrologic and temperature regimes in a mountain stream

2015 ◽  
Vol 19 (8) ◽  
pp. 3541-3556 ◽  
Author(s):  
M. Majerova ◽  
B. T. Neilson ◽  
N. M. Schmadel ◽  
J. M. Wheaton ◽  
C. J. Snow
Keyword(s):  
Overland Flow ◽  
Stream Temperature ◽  
Mountain Stream ◽  
Complex Flow ◽  
Temporal Scales ◽  
Spatial And Temporal Scales ◽  
Beaver Dam ◽  
Temperature Regimes ◽  
Continuous Stream ◽  
Beaver Dams

Abstract. Beaver dams affect hydrologic processes, channel complexity, and stream temperature in part by inundating riparian areas, influencing groundwater–surface water interactions, and changing fluvial processes within stream systems. We explored the impacts of beaver dams on hydrologic and temperature regimes at different spatial and temporal scales within a mountain stream in northern Utah over a 3-year period spanning pre- and post-beaver colonization. Using continuous stream discharge, stream temperature, synoptic tracer experiments, and groundwater elevation measurements, we documented pre-beaver conditions in the first year of the study. In the second year, we captured the initial effects of three beaver dams, while the third year included the effects of ten dams. After beaver colonization, reach-scale (~ 750 m in length) discharge observations showed a shift from slightly losing to gaining. However, at the smaller sub-reach scale (ranging from 56 to 185 m in length), the discharge gains and losses increased in variability due to more complex flow pathways with beaver dams forcing overland flow, increasing surface and subsurface storage, and increasing groundwater elevations. At the reach scale, temperatures were found to increase by 0.38 °C (3.8 %), which in part is explained by a 230 % increase in mean reach residence time. At the smallest, beaver dam scale (including upstream ponded area, beaver dam structure, and immediate downstream section), there were notable increases in the thermal heterogeneity where warmer and cooler niches were created. Through the quantification of hydrologic and thermal changes at different spatial and temporal scales, we document increased variability during post-beaver colonization and highlight the need to understand the impacts of beaver dams on stream ecosystems and their potential role in stream restoration.

scholarly journals Improving and parameterising nitrogen and phosphorus modelling for application of LUCI in New Zealand

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
◽  
Martha Trodahl
Keyword(s):  
Water Quality ◽  
New Zealand ◽  
Land Cover ◽  
Land Management ◽  
Stream Water ◽  
Nutrient Loss ◽  
Catchment Scale ◽  
Quality Models ◽  
Export Coefficient ◽  
Water Quality Models

<p>Over the last 50 years freshwater and marine environments have become severely impaired due to contamination from pathogens, heavy metals, sediment, industrial chemicals and nutrients (MEA 2005b). In many countries, including New Zealand, increased nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P) loading to terrestrial and freshwater environments from diffuse nutrient sources are of particular concern (MEA 2005a; PCE 2015b; Steffen et al. 2015) and many governments now mandate control of diffuse nutrient loss to water. Water quality models are invaluable tools that can assist with decision making around this widespread issue through exploration of the current situation and future scenarios.  Many water quality models exist, functioning at a variety of temporal and spatial scales and varying in detail and complexity. However, few, if any, simultaneously represent sub-field to catchment scale processes and outcomes, both of which are required to fully address water quality issues associated with diffuse nutrient sources. Those that do, likely require extensive time and expertise to operate. Water quality models embedded in the Land Utilisation and Capability Indicator (LUCI), an ecosystem service decision support framework, offer the opportunity to overcome these limitations. Being highly spatially explicit, yet straightforward to use, they can inform and assist individual land owners, catchment managers and other stakeholders with planning, decision making and management of water quality at sub-field to landscape scale.  To model diffuse nutrient losses LUCI, like many catchment scale water quality models, requires some form of estimated nutrient loss, or export coefficient, from land units within the catchment of interest. To be representative export coefficients must consider climate, soil, topography, and land cover and management variables. A number of methods of export coefficient derivation exist, although generally they consider only very limited geo-climatic, land cover and land management variables.  The principal aim of this study is development of algorithms capable of calculating New Zealand site specific N and P export coefficients from detailed geo-climatic, land cover and land management variables, for application in LUCI water quality models. Algorithms for pastoral land cover are developed from a large dataset comprising real pastoral farm input and output data from nutrient budgeting model OVERSEER. Algorithms are extended to land covers other than pasture, albeit in a limited manner. This is achieved through rescaling of the pastoral algorithms to account for relative differences in literature reported N and P losses from pasture and a variety of other New Zealand land covers. Application of the developed algorithms in LUCI water quality models results in positioning of export coefficients at the DEM grid square scale (≤ 15 m x 15 m for New Zealand). In addition, intra-basin configuration is considered in LUCI, at the same grid square scale, as water and nutrient flows are cascaded through the catchment. Application of the export coefficient calculating algorithms are applied to two contrasting New Zealand catchments. Tuapaka catchment, an 85ha agricultural foothill catchment in Manawatu, North Island, and Lake Rotorua catchment, a 502 km2 volcanic, mixed land cover catchment in Bay of Plenty, North Island.  This research is supported by Ravensdown, a farmer owned co-operative, which plans to use LUCI extensively to advise and assist farmers with water quality issues. The ability to model mitigation strategies in LUCI is an important capability. Therefore, this research also includes a review of five particularly important on-farm mitigation strategies, which will later be used by the wider LUCI development team to assist with better parameterisation and improved performance of mitigation options in LUCI.  Application of the developed algorithms at farm to catchment scale in LUCI results in considerably more nuanced, detailed maps and data showing N and P sources and pathways, compared to LUCI’s previously used ‘one export coefficient per land cover’ approach. Although results indicate absolute nutrient loss values are not always ‘correct’ compared to either OVERSEER predictions or in-stream water quality measurements, these differences appear comparable to those seen with similar water quality models. In addition, the issue of representativeness of OVERSEER predictions and in-stream water quality measurements exists.  Nevertheless improvement to absolute predictions is always an aim. This research indicates further improvements to LUCI water quality predictions could result from refinement of both pastoral and other land cover algorithms, and from improved representation of attenuation processes in LUCI, including groundwater representation. However, lack of measured on-land and in-stream N and P loss data is a major challenge to both algorithm refinement and to evaluation of results. In addition, more detailed spatial data would provide more nuanced results from algorithm application.  Although the algorithm application context in this research is LUCI water quality models applied in New Zealand, this does not preclude application of the developed algorithms in other export coefficient based, catchment scale water quality models. Using spatial data pertaining to climate, soil, topographic and land management variables, land units of combined variables can be identified and the algorithms applied, resulting in explicitly positioned export coefficients that can be fed into the catchment scale water quality model of interest. Therefore, developments made here potentially represent a wider contribution to catchment scale modelling using export coefficients.</p>

Spatial variability and changes in storage-discharge relationships of crystalline catchments: implications for resilience and water resources management

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ronan Abhervé ◽  
Clément Roques ◽  
Laurent Longuevergne ◽  
Stéphane Louaisil ◽  
Jean-Raynald de Dreuzy ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Climate Change ◽  
Water Resources ◽  
Water Cycle ◽  
Groundwater Resources ◽  
Time Lag ◽  
Management Strategies ◽  
Reservoir Storage ◽  
Aquifer Storage ◽  
Water Resources Availability ◽  
Societal Needs

&lt;p&gt;While it is well understood and accepted that climate change and growing water needs affect the availability of water resources, the identification of the main physical processes involved remains challenging. It notably requires to filter interannual to interdecadal fluctuations and extreme events to isolate the underlying trends. Metropolitan areas are specifically subject to growing pressures because of the significant and increasing demand, combined with the strong anthropization of land uses.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;The Meu-Ch&amp;#232;ze-Canut catchment supplies the city of Rennes with drinking water (680 km&amp;#178; - 500&amp;#160;000 users, Brittany, France). In this field laboratory, we explore the dynamics of the water cycle and water resources availability. In this context, water supply is mostly coming from reservoir storage for which levels shows a medium-term vulnerability in response to frequent relatively dry years. Based on retrospective data analysis, we describe the relationship between climatic forcing (precipitation, temperature) and water availability (aquifer storage, river discharge and reservoir storage) in different parts of the catchment that are characterized by distinct lithological and topographical settings. We then evaluate the resilience of both surface and groundwater resources, their past evolution and their resilience to climate change and increasing societal needs.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Water resources availability in these catchments relies on two geological formations with distinct hydrodynamics properties: the Armorican sandstone and Brioverian schist. To assess the resilience of the system, we specifically analyzed the relationships between monthly effective precipitation and stream discharge within nine sub-catchments over the past 30 years. We observe annual hysteresis relationships - that is, a time lag between precipitation and discharge highlighting the capacity of the landscape to temporarily store water - with significant variability in shapes across the catchments. We argue that topographic and lithological factors play key roles in controlling this variability through their impacts on subsurface storage capacity and characteristic drainage timescales. We propose perspectives based on the complementary use of calibrated groundwater models to leverage these results and provide adaptive water management strategies.&lt;/p&gt;

Dominant drivers of runoff in a slash-and-burn affected catchment in upland Eastern Madagascar

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Bob W. Zwartendijk ◽  
H.J. (Ilja) van Meerveld ◽  
Ryan J. Teuling ◽  
Chandra P. Ghimire ◽  
L. Adrian Bruijnzeel
Keyword(s):  
Soil Moisture ◽  
Overland Flow ◽  
Quantitative Information ◽  
Forest Loss ◽  
Runoff Generation ◽  
Catchment Scale ◽  
Valley Bottom ◽  
Antecedent Soil Moisture ◽  
Slash And Burn ◽  
Slash And Burn Agriculture

&lt;p&gt;In many tropical areas slash-and-burn agriculture is an important driver of forest loss. In areas where slash-and-burn agriculture has been practiced for decades, land cover is typically a mosaic of patches of remnant forest, fields under active cultivation, fallows in various stages of regrowth (ranging from young shrub to semi-mature), and degraded fire-climax grasslands. Although runoff generation mechanisms are expected to be different for these different patches, little quantitative information is available in this regard, particularly at the catchment scale and over longer time-scales (i.e., multiple slash-and-burn cycles).&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;We re-instrumented a 31&amp;#160;ha catchment in upland Eastern Madagascar, where slash-and-burn agriculture has been practiced for more than 70&amp;#160;years in 2015; it had been monitored between 1963 and 1972 as well&lt;sup&gt;1&lt;/sup&gt;. We measured streamflow at two locations and overland flow and soil moisture for four hillside plots (0.05 &amp;#8211; 1.93&amp;#160;ha): one plot under repeatedly coppiced and burned &lt;em&gt;Eucalyptus&lt;/em&gt; and three plots under young shrub and tree fallows. One of the plots underwent rudimentary terracing in the past. We analysed the rainfall-runoff dynamics for 50&amp;#160;rainfall events (median 12&amp;#160;mm, maximum 71&amp;#160;mm).&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;For 60% of the events, the stormflow coefficient (minimum contributing area) was &lt;3%, which is the proportion of valley-bottom wetlands and rice paddies in the catchment. Stable isotope sampling for five storm runoff events indicate a maximum total event-water contribution of 16%. However, instantaneous event-water contributions were as high as 66%. The hillside plot runoff response was dominated by saturation-excess overland flow and showed strong threshold behaviour in terms of the antecedent soil moisture storage in the upper 30 cm of the soil plus the event total rainfall amount (ASI + P). Average threshold values for overland flow occurrence ranged from 87 mm for the coppiced &lt;em&gt;Eucalyptus&lt;/em&gt; to 137&amp;#160;mm for the young fallow plots (regardless of terrace presence). Stormflow also increased after an ASI+P-threshold was exceeded (100&amp;#160;mm based on the soil moisture sensors for the &lt;em&gt;Eucalyptus&lt;/em&gt; plot and 150&amp;#160;mm for the sensors at the tree fallow plots).&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;These results indicate an increased hydrological connectivity between hillslopes and valley bottom under wetter conditions and that stormflow in the study catchment is strongly affected by variations in seasonal rainfall. The results will be used to validate a hydrological model to determine the net effect of concurrent changes in soil infiltrability and vegetation water use associated with forest loss and recovery on stormflow totals and the seasonal flow regime.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;&lt;sup&gt;1&lt;/sup&gt;&lt;/strong&gt;Bailly, C., de Coignac, G.B., Malvos, C., Ningre, J.M., and Sarrailh, J.M. (1974). &amp;#201;tude de l'influence du couvert naturel et de ses modifications &amp;#225; Madagascar. Exp&amp;#233;rimentations en bassins versants &amp;#233;l&amp;#233;mentaires. Cahiers Scientifiques, 4. Centre Scientifique Forestier Tropical, Nogent-sur-Marne, France, 114 pp.&lt;/p&gt;

scholarly journals Soil Quality Characterization of Mediterranean Areas under Desertification Risk for the Implementation of Management Schemes Aimed at Land Degradation Neutrality

Proceedings ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 30 (1) ◽  
pp. 54
Author(s):  
Eleonora Grilli ◽  
Elio Coppola ◽  
Tommaso La Mantia ◽  
Micòl Mastrocicco ◽  
Fernando Pulido ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Climate Change ◽  
Social Security ◽  
Soil Quality ◽  
Land Management ◽  
Land Degradation ◽  
Sustainable Management ◽  
Management Strategies ◽  
Adaptation Strategies ◽  
Mediterranean Areas ◽  
Desertification Risk

Soil is a key component of ecosystems as it provides fundamental ecosystem functions and services, first of all supporting primary productivity, by physical, chemical and biological interaction with plants. However, soil loss and degradation are at present two of the most critical environmental issues. This phenomenon is particularly critical in Mediterranean areas, where inappropriate land management, in combination with the increasingly harshening of climatic conditions due to Climate Change, is leading to significant land degradation and desertification and is expected to worsen in the future, leading to economic and social crisis. In such areas, it is of fundamental importance to apply sustainable management practices, as conservation/restoration measures, to achieve Land Degradation Neutrality. This approach is at the core of the LIFE project Desert-Adapt “Preparing desertification areas for increased climate change” which is testing a new framework of sustainable land management strategies based on the key concept that the maintenance of ecosystems quality is necessarily connected to economic and social security in these fragile areas. The project will test adaptation strategies and measures in 10 sites of three Mediterranean areas under strong desertification risk, Alentejo in Portugal, Extremadura in Spain and Sicily in Italy. We present the baseline data of soil quality analysis from 32 sites in the 10 study areas of the project. Key drivers of soil quality and quantity were identified and used as basis to select sustainable management strategies focused on the maintenance, improvement and/or recovery of soil-based ecosystem services, with particular attention to climate change adaptation and land productivity. The final objective of the project is to demonstrate, according to the LDN approach, the best adaptation strategies to recover degraded areas from low-productive systems into resource-efficient and low-carbon economies to preserve ecosystem quality and booster economy and social security

scholarly journals Land Management Impacts on Soil Water Erosion and Loss of Nutrients

Proceedings ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 30 (1) ◽  
pp. 35 ◽  
Author(s):  
Telak ◽  
Bogunovic ◽  
Rodrigo-Comino
Keyword(s):  
Organic Matter ◽  
Soil Properties ◽  
Land Management ◽  
Sediment Yield ◽  
Management Practices ◽  
Overland Flow ◽  
Organic Matter Content ◽  
Nutrient Loss ◽  
Plant Residues ◽  
Significant Difference

Humans are the driving factor of soil erosion and degradation. Therefore, sustainable land management practices should be developed and applied. The aim of this study was to determine land management impacts on soil properties, soil loss and nutrient loss in 3 different treatments; grass-covered vineyard (GCV), tilled vineyard (TV), and tilled hazelnut orchard (HO). The study area is located in Orahovica, Croatia (45°31′ N, 17°51′ E; elevation 230 m) on ~7° slope. The soil under the study area was classified as a Stagnosol. 8 rainfall simulations (58 mm h−1, during 30 min, over 0.785 m2 plots) were performed at each treatment where the next data were noted: ponding time, runoff time, and collection of overland flow. Soil samples were taken for determination of mean weight diameter (MWD), water stable aggregates (WSA), P2O5 content, and organic matter content. Analyses of sediment revealed concentrations of P2O5 and N. All three treatments had significantly different values of MWD (GCV 3.30 mm; TV 2.94 mm; HO 2.16 mm), while WSA and organic matter significantly differs between GCV and HO. The infiltration rate showed no significant difference between treatments. Sediment yield was significantly the highest at the TV (21.01 g kg−1 runoff), while no significant difference was noted between GCV (2.91) and HO (6.59). Sediments of GCV treatment showed higher concentrations of P2O5 and N, compared to TV and HO. Nutrients loss was highest in the TV (450.3 g P2O5 ha−1; 1891.7 g N ha−1) as a result of highest sediment yield, despite the fact GCV had the highest nutrients concentrations. Results indicate that land management (and/or tillage) affects soil properties and their stability. Even tough HO was tilled and had the lowest values of organic matter, WSA, and MWD, measurements were performed immediately after tillage where the plant residues reduced potential erodibility of the soil. Such results reveal that tillage should be avoided in vineyard and hazelnut production in order to prevent soil and nutrient losses.

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