Use of Air-Based Photogrammetry for Soil Erosion Assessment

Water erosion affects all types of soils around the world at different intensities. However, in the tropics, water-based processes are the most important of the erosion processes and have received much attention in the last decades. Understanding and quantifying the processes involved in each type of water erosion (sheet, rill and gully erosion) is key to developing and managing soil conservation and erosion mitigation strategies. This study aims to investigate the efficiency of unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) structure-from-motion (SfM) photogrammetry for soil erosion assessment, as well as to address some gaps in our understanding of the evolution of erosive processes. For the first time, we used a UAV-SfM technique to evaluate the relative contribution of different types of erosion (sheet, rill and gully sidewall) in gully development. This was possible due to the millimetric level of precision of the point clouds produced, which allowed us to evaluate the contribution of laminar erosion as a new component to gullies studies. As a result, it was possible to quantify sediment volumes stored in the channels and lost from the gully system, as well as to determine the main sediment sources. The UAV-SfM proved to be effective for detailed gully monitoring, with the results suggesting that the main source of sediments in the gully was mass movement, followed by rills and sheet erosion. Our findings support the use of UAV-based photogrammetry as a sufficiently precise tool for detecting soil surface change, which can be used to assess water erosion in its various forms. In addition, UAV-SfM has proven to be a very useful technique for monitoring soil erosion over time, especially in hard-to-reach areas.

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Comparing High Accuracy t-LiDAR and UAV-SfM Derived Point Clouds for Geomorphological Change Detection

ISPRS International Journal of Geo-Information ◽

10.3390/ijgi10060367 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 10 (6) ◽

pp. 367

Author(s):

Simoni Alexiou ◽

Georgios Deligiannakis ◽

Aggelos Pallikarakis ◽

Ioannis Papanikolaou ◽

Emmanouil Psomiadis ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Soil Erosion ◽

Change Detection ◽

Point Cloud ◽

Laser Scanning ◽

Point Clouds ◽

Mean Value ◽

Detection Methods ◽

Mountainous Catchments ◽

Aerial Vehicle ◽

Soil Erosion Assessment

Analysis of two small semi-mountainous catchments in central Evia island, Greece, highlights the advantages of Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) and Terrestrial Laser Scanning (TLS) based change detection methods. We use point clouds derived by both methods in two sites (S1 & S2), to analyse the effects of a recent wildfire on soil erosion. Results indicate that topsoil’s movements in the order of a few centimetres, occurring within a few months, can be estimated. Erosion at S2 is precisely delineated by both methods, yielding a mean value of 1.5 cm within four months. At S1, UAV-derived point clouds’ comparison quantifies annual soil erosion more accurately, showing a maximum annual erosion rate of 48 cm. UAV-derived point clouds appear to be more accurate for channel erosion display and measurement, while the slope wash is more precisely estimated using TLS. Analysis of Point Cloud time series is a reliable and fast process for soil erosion assessment, especially in rapidly changing environments with difficult access for direct measurement methods. This study will contribute to proper georesource management by defining the best-suited methodology for soil erosion assessment after a wildfire in Mediterranean environments.

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Straw mulch impact on soil properties and initial soil erosion processes in the maize field

10.5194/egusphere-egu21-2538 ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

Ivan Dugan ◽

Leon Josip Telak ◽

Iva Hrelja ◽

Ivica Kisić ◽

Igor Bogunović

Keyword(s):

Soil Erosion ◽

Soil Water ◽

Soil Loss ◽

Bare Soil ◽

Water Erosion ◽

Straw Mulch ◽

Erosion Processes ◽

Maize Field ◽

Sediment Loss ◽

Initial Soil

Straw mulch impact on soil properties and initial soil erosion processes in the maize fieldIvan Dugan*, Leon Josip Telak, Iva Hrelja, Ivica Kisic, Igor BogunovicUniversity of Zagreb, Faculty of Agriculture, Department of General Agronomy, Zagreb, Croatia(*correspondence to Ivan Dugan: [email protected])Soil erosion by water is the most important cause of land degradation. Previous studies reveal high soil loss in conventionally managed croplands, with recorded soil losses high as 30 t ha-1 under wide row cover crop like maize (Kisic et al., 2017; Bogunovic et al., 2018). Therefore, it is necessary to test environmentally-friendly soil conservation practices to mitigate soil erosion. This research aims to define the impacts of mulch and bare soil on soil water erosion in the maize (Zea mays&#160;L.) field in Blagorodovac, Croatia (45&#176;33&#8217;N; 17&#176;01&#8217;E; 132 m a.s.l.). For this research, two treatments on conventionally tilled silty clay loam Stagnosols were established, one was straw mulch (2 t ha-1), while other was bare soil. For purpose of research, ten rainfall simulations and ten sampling points were conducted per each treatment. Simulations were carried out with a rainfall simulator, simulating a rainfall at an intensity of 58 mm h-1, for 30 min, over 0.785 m2 plots, to determine runoff and sediment loss. Soil core samples and undisturbed samples were taken in the close vicinity of each plot. The results showed that straw mulch mitigated water runoff (by 192%), sediment loss (by 288%), and sediment concentration (by 560%) in addition to bare treatment. The bare treatment showed a 55% lower infiltration rate. Ponding time was higher (p < 0.05) on mulched plots (102 sec), compared to bare (35 sec), despite the fact that bulk density, water-stable aggregates, water holding capacity, and mean weight diameter did not show any difference (p > 0.05) between treatments. The study results indicate that straw mulch mitigates soil water erosion, because it immediately reduces runoff, and enhances infiltration. On the other side, soil water erosion on bare soil under simulated rainstorms could be high as 5.07 t ha-1, when extrapolated, reached as high as 5.07 t ha-1 in this study. The conventional tillage, without residue cover, was proven as unsustainable agro-technical practice in the study area.Key words: straw mulch, rainfall simulation, soil water erosionAcknowledgmentThis work was supported by Croatian Science Foundation through the project "Soil erosion and degradation in Croatia" (UIP-2017-05-7834) (SEDCRO).LiteratureBogunovic, I., Pereira, P., Kisic, I., Sajko, K., Sraka, M. (2018). Tillage management impacts on soil compaction, erosion and crop yield in Stagnosols (Croatia). Catena, 160, 376-384.Kisic, I., Bogunovic, I., Birk&#225;s, M., Jurisic, A., Spalevic, V. (2017). The role of tillage and crops on a soil loss of an arable Stagnic Luvisol. Archives of Agronomy and Soil Science, 63(3), 403-413.

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On-Site Water and Wind Erosion Experiments Reveal Relative Impact on Total Soil Erosion

Geosciences ◽

10.3390/geosciences9110478 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 9 (11) ◽

pp. 478 ◽

Cited By ~ 4

Author(s):

Miriam Marzen ◽

Thomas Iserloh ◽

Wolfgang Fister ◽

Manuel Seeger ◽

Jesus Rodrigo-Comino ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Climate Change ◽

Land Use ◽

Soil Erosion ◽

Wind Erosion ◽

Soil Surface ◽

Water Erosion ◽

Relative Impact ◽

Wheat Field ◽

Total Soil ◽

Potential Impact

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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Estimating Human Impacts on Soil Erosion Considering Different Hillslope Inclinations and Land Uses in the Coastal Region of Syria

Water ◽

10.3390/w12102786 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 12 (10) ◽

pp. 2786 ◽

Cited By ~ 2

Author(s):

Safwan Mohammed ◽

Hazem G. Abdo ◽

Szilard Szabo ◽

Quoc Bao Pham ◽

Imre J. Holb ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Land Use ◽

Soil Erosion ◽

Land Cover ◽

Soil Loss ◽

Agricultural Land ◽

Human Impacts ◽

Coastal Region ◽

Water Erosion ◽

Land Uses ◽

Erosion Processes

Soils in the coastal region of Syria (CRoS) are one of the most fragile components of natural ecosystems. However, they are adversely affected by water erosion processes after extreme land cover modifications such as wildfires or intensive agricultural activities. The main goal of this research was to clarify the dynamic interaction between erosion processes and different ecosystem components (inclination, land cover/land use, and rainy storms) along with the vulnerable territory of the CRoS. Experiments were carried out in five different locations using a total of 15 erosion plots. Soil loss and runoff were quantified in each experimental plot, considering different inclinations and land uses (agricultural land (AG), burnt forest (BF), forest/control plot (F)). Observed runoff and soil loss varied greatly according to both inclination and land cover after 750 mm of rainfall (26 events). In the cultivated areas, the average soil water erosion ranged between 0.14 ± 0.07 and 0.74 ± 0.33 kg/m2; in the BF plots, mean soil erosion ranged between 0.03 ± 0.01 and 0.24 ± 0.10 kg/m2. The lowest amount of erosion was recorded in the F plots where the erosion ranged between 0.1 ± 0.001 and 0.07 ± 0.03 kg/m2. Interestingly, the General Linear Model revealed that all factors (i.e., inclination, rainfall and land use) had a significant (p < 0.001) effect on the soil loss. We concluded that human activities greatly influenced soil erosion rates, being higher in the AG lands, followed by BF and F. Therefore, the current study could be very useful to policymakers and planners for proposing immediate conservation or restoration plans in a less studied area which has been shown to be vulnerable to soil erosion processes.

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Environmental degradation risk by water erosion in a water producer Colombian Andes basin

Ciência e Agrotecnologia ◽

10.1590/1413-7054202145010021 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 45 ◽

Author(s):

Daniel Enrique Guauque Mellado ◽

Carlos Rogério de Mello ◽

Nilton Curi

Keyword(s):

Soil Erosion ◽

Environmental Conditions ◽

Climatic Variability ◽

Water Erosion ◽

Land Uses ◽

Tropical Andes ◽

Tropical Regions ◽

Erosion Processes ◽

Colombian Andes ◽

Sustainable Planning

ABSTRACT Globally, soil degradation by water erosion has become one of the major environmental problems in tropical regions, especially under the severe environmental conditions of the Andes. This study aims to detail the soil risk to degradation by water erosion in a water producer basin located in the Tropical Colombian Andes (Combeima River basin), applying the RUSLE model, discussing how to minimize the erosion processes under its environmental conditions (steep slope, climatic variability, soil classes and properties diversity, and alternative land uses). RUSLE was applied with the support of GIS to estimate current and potential risk to soil erosion in the basin, allowing the identification of areas more prone to degradation. It was found that currently, 50.5% of the basin’s area presents, on average, annual soil losses greater than 25 Mg ha-1 yr-1, meaning a very high risk to water erosion, with 30.4% showing a severe risk (> 100 Mg ha-1 yr-1). It was possible to conclude that the current land uses and soil management systems have not been effective in mitigating soil erosion, mainly when situated in steep topography. Therefore, it is necessary sustainable planning for the conservation of soil, water, organic carbon, plant nutrients, and other elements (not-nutrients) in this tropical Andes region.

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Can the models keep up with the data? Possibilities of soil and soil surface assessment techniques in the context of process based soil erosion models – A Review

10.5194/soil-2021-85 ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

Lea Epple ◽

Andreas Kaiser ◽

Marcus Schindewolf ◽

Anette Eltner

Keyword(s):

Soil Erosion ◽

Soil Surface ◽

Extreme Weather Events ◽

Erosion Processes ◽

Process Understanding ◽

Erosion Models ◽

Erosion Modelling ◽

Assessment Techniques ◽

Temporal And Spatial ◽

Further Development

Abstract. Climate change, accompanied by intensified extreme weather events, results in changes in intensity, frequency and magnitude of soil erosion. These unclear future developments make adaption and improvement of soil erosion modelling approaches all the more important. Hypothesizing that models cannot keep up with the data, this review gives an overview of 44 process based soil erosion models, their strengths and weaknesses and discusses their potential for further development with respect to new and improved soil and soil erosion assessment techniques. We found valuable tools in areas, as remote sensing, tracing or machine learning, to gain temporal and spatial distributed high resolution parameterization and process descriptions which could lead to a more holistic modelling approach. Most process based models are so far not capable to implement cross-scale erosional processes or profit from the available resolution on a temporal and spatial scale. We conclude that models need further development regarding their process understanding, adaptability in respect to scale as well as their parameterization and calibration. The challenge is the development of models which are able to simulate soil erosion processes as close to reality as possible, as user-friendly as possible and as complex as it needs to be.

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Erosion, flooding and channel management in Mediterranean environments of southern Europe

Progress in Physical Geography Earth and Environment ◽

10.1177/030913339702100201 ◽

1997 ◽

Vol 21 (2) ◽

pp. 157-199 ◽

Cited By ~ 239

Author(s):

J.W.A. Poesen ◽

J.M. Hooke

Keyword(s):

Land Use ◽

Soil Erosion ◽

Water Erosion ◽

Channel Management ◽

Stream Channel ◽

Channel Changes ◽

Erosion Processes ◽

Mediterranean Environments ◽

Mediterranean Landscapes ◽

Wide Range

Soil erosion by water is one of the most important land degradation processes in Mediterranean environments. This process is strongly linked to problems of flooding and channel management. This article reviews existing knowledge on these topics and defines research gaps. In the framework of environmental change studies it is important to consider soil erosion at various spatial and temporal scales. Most field measurements and modelling efforts have hitherto concentrated on water erosion processes operating at the runoff plot scale. Soil erosion processes operating at other spatial scales have received much less attention in the literature. Yet, there are indications that gully and channel erosion are probably the dominant sediment sources in a variety of Mediterranean environments. Beside water erosion, other erosion processes operating within catchments, such as tillage erosion, land reshaping for land preparation (e.g., terracing) or soil quarrying can have significant impacts on soil profile truncation. Land use changes strongly affect the intensity of these processes. The conditions, position and connectivity of the runoff and sediment generating areas within catchments have a profound effect on flood characteristics within the main channels but the dynamics are not well understood. Some research has taken place into meteorological conditions producing catastrophic flooding and into development of hydrological models using catchment variables. Much less is known of the properties and effects of flood waves within channels, partly because of lack of records of these infrequent events. It is not only water but also sediment which causes destruction in floods, yet sediment is frequently ignored in channel management. The extreme conditions associated with floods in the region, the variability of flows and of flood zones, the mobility of the channels and the high sediment loads create particular challenges for channel management. Trends in land use and channel management are tending to exacerbate these problems. From this review it can be concluded that there is still an important need for process-based understanding and modelling of key soil erosion processes operating at a range of scales: i.e., from plots over hillslopes, catchments to regions. In particular, more research is needed on the linkages between upland areas which produce large volumes of runoff and sediment and channels on the other hand. Such linkages are through gullies and sedimentation zones. Monitoring and experi mental data on key soil erosion and channel processes operating within Mediterranean landscapes are crucial for the improvement of soil erosion and channel models for a range of scales. In particular, long-term monitoring of soil erosion processes and stream channel changes seems to be essential to observe the effects of infrequent torrential rain events on severe erosion, flooding and stream channel changes as well as on the transient response of Mediterranean landscapes to changes in land use and climate. Systematic collation of historical evidence of changes would be valuable. Implications of land and water use need to be examined in detail. A wide range of alternative strategies and techniques of channel and basin management must be explored and modelled. A holistic approach to management of the fluvial system is recommended.

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Estimating Non-Sustainable Soil Erosion Rates in the Tierra de Barros Vineyards (Extremadura, Spain) Using an ISUM Update

Applied Sciences ◽

10.3390/app9163317 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 9 (16) ◽

pp. 3317 ◽

Cited By ~ 2

Author(s):

Jesús Rodrigo-Comino ◽

Jesús Barrena-González ◽

Manuel Pulido-Fernández ◽

Artemi Cerdá

Keyword(s):

Soil Erosion ◽

Spatial Variability ◽

Management System ◽

Soil Management ◽

Soil Surface ◽

Surface Level ◽

Erosion Rates ◽

Erosion Processes ◽

Sampling Points ◽

Soil Erosion Rates

Monitoring soil erosion processes and measuring soil and water yields allow supplying key information to achieve land degradation neutrality challenges. Vineyards are one of the most affected agricultural territories by soil erosion due to human and natural factors. However, the spatial variability of soil erosion, the number of sampling points, and plot size necessary to estimate accurate soil erosion rates remains unclear. In this research, we determine how many inter-rows should be surveyed to estimate the soil mobilization rates in the viticulture area of Tierra de Barros (Extremadura, SW Spain) using the Improved Stock Unearthing Method (ISUM). This method uses the graft union of the vines as a passive biomarker of the soil surface level changes since the time of plantation and inter-row measures. ISUM was applied to three inter-row and four rows of vines (5904 sampling points) in order to determine how many surfaces and transects must be surveyed as all the previous surveys were done with only one inter-row. The results showed average values of soil depletion reaching −11.4, −11.8, and −11.5 cm for the inter-rows 1, 2, and 3, respectively. The current soil surface level descended 11.6 cm in 20 years. The inter-rows 1, 2, and 3 with a total area of 302.4 m2 each one (2016 points) recorded 71.4, 70.8, and 74.0 Mg ha−1 yr−1, respectively. With the maximum number of sampling points (5904), 71.2 Mg ha−1 yr−1 were obtained. The spatial variability of the soil erosion was shown to be very small, with no statistically significant differences among inter-rows. This could be due to the effect of the soil profile homogenization as a consequence of the intense tillage. This research shows the potential predictability of ISUM in order to give an overall overview of the soil erosion process for vineyards that follow the same soil management system. We conclude that measuring one inter-row is enough to get an overview of soil erosion processes in vineyards when the vines are under the same intense tillage management and topographical conditions. Moreover, we demonstrated the high erosion rates in a vineyard within the viticultural region of the Tierra de Barros, which could be representative for similar vineyards with similar topographical conditions, soil properties, and a possible non-sustainable soil management system.

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Affectability of splash erosion by polyacrylamide application and rainfall intensity

Soil and Water Research ◽

10.17221/45/2011-swr ◽

2012 ◽

Vol 7 (No. 4) ◽

pp. 159-165 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

M. Boroghani ◽

F. Hayavi ◽

H. Noor

Keyword(s):

Soil Erosion ◽

Erosion Control ◽

Soil Surface ◽

Control Treatment ◽

Maximum Effect ◽

Soil Particles ◽

Splash Erosion ◽

Erosion Processes ◽

Significant Difference ◽

Rain Drops

Splash erosion is recognized as the first stage in a soil erosion process and results from the soil surface bombing by rain drops. At the moment when rain drops conflict with the soil surface, soil particles move and destruct the soil structure. Soil particles dispersed by rain drops and moved by runoff are two basic soil erosion processes. In this study, the effect of applying various amounts of polyacrylamide (PAM) (0, 0.2, 0.4 and 0.6 g/m2) on the quantity of splash erosion at three rainfall intensities of 65, 95 and 120 mm/h by using of FEL3 rainfall simulator was investigated in marly soil in a laboratory. Results indicated differences in the effects of various treatments with PAM at all rainfall intensities, such as 0.6 g/m2 PAM had the maximum effect on the splash erosion control by reducing soil erosion by about 28.93%. But statistical results showed that the use of various amounts of PAM (0.2, 0.4 and 0.6 g/m2) for controlling splash erosion at various rain intensities to decrease splash erosion did not reveal a statistically significant difference. Therefore, the application of 0.2, 0.4 and 0.6 g/m2 PAM reduced the splash erosion, however, there was no statistical difference among these application rates of PAM. Finally, the results of statistical analysis of different intensities showed that only at 120 mm/h there was a significant difference between PAM treatment and control treatment (0 g/m2 PAM) in the splash erosion control. At this intensity, the treatment with 0.4 g/m2 PAM produced a maximum effect on the splash erosion control with 40% in comparison with the control treatment.

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

10.5194/egusphere-egu21-10050 ◽

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

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 &#8220;Sierra de Beneixama&#8221; (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.&#160;This work was supported by funding by the &#8220;POSTFIRE_CARE&#8221; 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].

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