scholarly journals Spatial Variability of Soil Moisture in Newly Implemented Agricultural Bench Terraces in the Ethiopian Plateau

Water ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 11 (10) ◽  
pp. 2134 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mesfin ◽  
Almeida Oliveira ◽  
Yazew ◽  
Bresci ◽  
Castelli
Keyword(s):  
Soil Moisture ◽  
Soil Water ◽  
Water Conservation ◽  
Soil Aggregates ◽  
Soil Disturbance ◽  
Drought Risk ◽  
Northern Ethiopia ◽  
Tigray Region ◽  
Ethiopian Plateau ◽  
Study Sites

In arid areas prone to desertification and soil erosion, the effectiveness of radical bench terracing in reducing drought risk is dependent on its correct implementation. However, the relationship between proper terracing implementation and the landscape capacity of holding soil moisture is still not understood. Moreover, spatial patterns of Soil Water Content (SWC) within the same terraced hillslope are weakly studied. The present paper analyses SWC variations in four newly implemented terraced sites in Tigray Region, Ethiopia. In all sites, terraced areas show SWC significantly higher than non-terraced ones, with the lower part of the terraced hillslope more humid than the others. A Multiple Linear Regression (MLR) analysis highlighted significant dependency of SWC from the date of analysis, the position in the terraced slope, and its significant positive correlation with the percent of Water Stable Aggregates (WSA) analyzed at the study sites. Since high soil disturbance induces low soil aggregates stability, this result shows how low soil disturbance can significantly increase SWC of radical terraces. Overall, the results of the present paper testify the good performances of bench terraces in Northern Ethiopia in terms of soil water conservation, and can represent a benchmark study informing future terracing implementation in some arid and semi-arid agricultural areas of the world.

Spatial Analysis of Soil Water Content in Newly Implemented Agricultural Bench Terraces in the Ethiopian Plateau

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Giulio Castelli ◽  
Shimbahri Mesfin ◽  
Lucas Allan Almeida Olivera ◽  
Elena Bresci ◽  
Eyasu Yazew
Keyword(s):  
Soil Moisture ◽  
Water Content ◽  
Soil Water ◽  
Soil Water Content ◽  
Water Conservation ◽  
Soil Aggregates ◽  
Soil Disturbance ◽  
Northern Ethiopia ◽  
Ethiopian Plateau ◽  
The World

<p>In arid areas prone to desertification and soil erosion, the effectiveness of agricultural bench terraces in increasing soil moisture is dependent on their correct implementation. However, despite its relevance for securing food production in many areas of the world, the relationship between proper terracing implementation and the landscape capacity of holding soil moisture is still not understood. Moreover, spatial patterns of Soil Water Content (SWC) within the same terraced hillslope are weakly studied. The present work analyses SWC variations in four newly implemented terraced sites in Tigray Region, Ethiopia: Teshi, Ruba Feleg, Michael Emba and Enda Chena. Field SWC data were collected for the dry season of 2017 (February, March and April) from the upper, middle and lower part of each terraced site, including a non-terraced benchmark area. In all sites, terraced areas show SWC significantly higher than non-terraced ones (p < 0.05), with the lower part of the terraced hillslope more humid than the others for the whole period analyzed. A Multiple Linear Regression (MLR) analysis of SWC was conducted in order to highlight possible dependencies of SWC values. MLR highlighted significant dependency of SWC from the date of analysis, the position of the sample in the terraced slope, as well as a significant positive correlation of SWC with the percent of Water Stable Aggregates (WSA) analyzed at the study sites. Since high soil disturbance induces low soil aggregates stability, this result shows how measures to reduce soil disturbance during implementation can significantly increase SWC of radical terraces. Overall, the results of the present paper testify the good performances of bench terraces in Northern Ethiopia in terms of water conservation, and this first benchmark study can inform future terracing implementation in some arid and semi-arid agricultural areas of the world.</p><p>The abstract is based on Mesfin, S.; Almeida Oliveira, L.A.; Yazew, E.; Bresci, E.; Castelli, G. Spatial Variability of Soil Moisture in Newly Implemented Agricultural Bench Terraces in the Ethiopian Plateau. Water 2019, 11, 2134.</p>

scholarly journals Enhancing Soil Water Content for Increased Food Production in Semi-Arid Areas of Kenya Results From an On-Farm Trial in Mwala District, Kenya

2014 ◽  
Vol 6 (4) ◽  
pp. 125 ◽  
Author(s):  
Anne Karuma ◽  
Peter Mtakwa ◽  
Nyambilila Amuri ◽  
Charles K. Gachene ◽  
Patrick Gicheru
Keyword(s):  
Soil Moisture ◽  
Water Content ◽  
Soil Water ◽  
Soil Water Content ◽  
Water Conservation ◽  
Crop Yields ◽  
Conservation Tillage ◽  
Cropping Systems ◽  
Soil Conditions ◽  
Tillage Methods

Soil water conservation through tillage is one of the appropriate ways of addressing soil moisture deficit in rainfed agriculture. This study evaluated the effects of tillage practices on soil moisture conservation and crop yields in Mwala District, Eastern Kenya during the long rains (LR) and short rains (SR) of 2012/13. Six tillage systems: Disc plough (MB), Disc plough and harrowing (MBH), Ox-ploughing (OX), Subsoiling – ripping (SR), Hand hoe and Tied Ridges (HTR) and Hand hoe only (H) and, three cropping systems namely, sole maize, sole bean and maize - bean intercrop, were investigated in a split-plot design with four replicates. Data on soil water content was monitored at different weeks after planting and the crop yields at end of each growing season. A three-season average shows that soil water content and crop yields were higher in conventional tillage methods compared to the conservation tillage methods. Long term tillage experiments are thus required at different locations, under various environmental and soil conditions to validate the study findings.

Assessment of the JULES model surface soil moisture using in-situ observations over the Brazilian North East semiarid region

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Marcelo Zeri ◽  
Karina Williams ◽  
Eleanor Blyth ◽  
Ana Paula Cunha ◽  
Toby Marthews ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Soil Moisture ◽  
Soil Water ◽  
Land Surface ◽  
Semiarid Region ◽  
Drought Indices ◽  
Surface Model ◽  
Spatial And Temporal Variability ◽  
Drought Risk ◽  
Rainfed Agriculture ◽  
North East

<p>Monitoring of soil water is essential to assess drought risk over rainfed agriculture. Soil water indicates the onset or progress of dry spells, the start of the rainy season and good periods for sowing or harvesting. Monitoring soil water over rainfed agriculture can be a valuable tool to support field activities and the knowledge of climate risks.</p><p>A network of soil moisture sensors was established over the Brazilian North East semiarid region in 2015 with measurements at 10 and 20 cm, together with rainfall and other variables in a subset of locations. The data are currently being used to assess the available water over the region in monthly bulletins and reports of potential impacts on yields.</p><p>In this work, we present a comparison of a dataset of observations from 2015 to 2019 with the soil water estimated by the JULES land surface model (the Joint UK Land Environment Simulator). Overall, the model captures the spatial and temporal variability observed in the measured data well, with an average correlation coefficient of 0.6 across the domain. The performance was compared for each station, resulting in a selection of locations with significant correlation.</p><p>Based on the regression results, we derive modelled soil moisture for the time span of the JULES run (1979 to 2016). The modeled data enabled the calculation of a standardized soil moisture anomaly (SSMA). The values of SSMA in the period were in agreement with the patterns of drought in the region, especially the recent long-term drought in the Brazilian semiarid region, with significant dry years in 2012, 2013 and 2015. Further analysis will focus on comparisons with other drought indices and measures of impacts on yields at the municipality level.</p>

Soil water conservation under cultivated fallows in clay soils of south-western Queensland

1976 ◽  
Vol 16 (81) ◽  
pp. 564 ◽  
Author(s):  
AJ Pressland ◽  
GN Batianoff
Keyword(s):  
Soil Moisture ◽  
Soil Water ◽  
Water Conservation ◽  
Field Experiments ◽  
Crop Yields ◽  
Early Summer ◽  
Forage Crop ◽  
Deep Profile ◽  
A Site ◽  
Summer Fallow

Three field experiments to study the effect of time and method of cultivation during fallow on soil moisture accretion and crop growth were established at a site near Charleville, Queensland. The soil was a grey-brown cracking clay (46 per cent clay) typical of the Mitchell grass (Astrebla spp.) downs. In the first experiment, soil moisture accretion was followed on plots cultivated in November 1966 with either a disc plough or scarifier or not cultivated. Soil moisture was increased in the 90 cm deep profile by cultivation, but remained almost constant for the duration of the summer fallow. There was no difference in soil moisture under the disced and scarified plots. The remaining experiments were designed to study the effect of cultivations during fallow on soil moisture at the time of sowings. One early summer cultivation resulted in soil moisture levels similar to that gained from two or more ploughings. However, crop yields were highest following three cultivations. It is concluded that two or three cultivations during fallow decreases loss of soil water through transpiration of weeds and should increase the number of years a forage crop can be expected in south western Queensland.

scholarly journals Error Propagation from Remotely Sensed Surface Soil Moisture Into Soil Water Index Using an Exponential Filter

10.29007/kvhb ◽  
2018 ◽  
Author(s):  
Domenico De Santis ◽  
Daniela Biondi
Keyword(s):  
Soil Moisture ◽  
Soil Water ◽  
Error Propagation ◽  
Surface Soil ◽  
Root Zone ◽  
In Situ Measurements ◽  
Surface Soil Moisture ◽  
Water Index ◽  
Study Sites

In this study an error propagation (EP) scheme was introduced in parallel to exponential filter computation for soil water index (SWI) estimation. A preliminarily assessment of the computed uncertainties was carried out comparing satellite-derived SWI and reference root-zone in situ measurements. The EP scheme has shown skills in detecting potentially less reliable SWI values in the study sites, as well as a better understanding of the exponential filter shortcomings. The proposed approach shows a potential for SWI evaluation, providing simultaneous estimates of time-variant uncertainty.

Hydro-physical properties of temperate hardwood floodplain forest soils in a dry summer season

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lizeth Karina Vásconez Navas ◽  
Alexander Gröngröft ◽  
Joscha N. Becker ◽  
Annette Eschenbach
Keyword(s):  
Soil Moisture ◽  
Physical Properties ◽  
Soil Water ◽  
Soil Texture ◽  
Summer Season ◽  
Floodplain Forest ◽  
Moisture Retention ◽  
Study Sites ◽  
Water Tension ◽  
Soil Moisture Retention

<p>Understanding the influence of habitat properties on the dynamics of terrestrial ecosystems is a fundamental part of ecosystem research under climate change, especially in areas of high environmental heterogeneity, such as floodplains. The present research is part of the collaborative and interdisciplinary MediAN project (Mechanisms of ecosystem services in hardwood floodplain forests: Scientific analysis and optimization of conservation management), where topics regarding carbon storage of soils and tree biomass, as well as tree vitality and the diversity of herbaceous vegetation are investigated. Thus, in this study we aim to understand and characterize the causes and effects of biotic interactions in relation to the edaphic site properties - in particular between the soil water balance and hardwood forests.</p><p>In this context, we identified the spatiotemporal variability of soil hydro-physical properties in six active and former hardwood floodplain forest sites in the Middle Elbe River, Germany. The study sites represent the floodplain geomorphology, therefore varying in elevation (high and low sites), soil texture and hydrological properties, as well as in forest age. We opened three soil profiles per site and installed soil sensors to monitor the variation of volumetric water content (VWC), and water tension at 10 cm, 30 cm, 60 cm, 100 cm and 160 cm depth. Additionally, we installed one groundwater diver and one meteorological station per site. Undisturbed samples were taken per horizon to define the grain size distribution, bulk density and to evaluate soil moisture retention curves.</p><p>Preliminary results, from the year 2019 with an unusual dry summer season, show a clear interrelation of soil moisture retention and soil water tension with groundwater level and soil texture. For instance, a predominantly sandy site, located in the high active floodplain, displayed VWC values below 8% throughout the vegetation period and at all depths. Water tension showed higher variation at 10 and 30 cm (2-3.25 pF) compared to deeper soil, which is directly related to precipitation events. These initial observations imply local water stress for the floodplain vegetation; therefore, physiological stress on woody species is expected. In a next step, the dynamics of soil drying will be related to xylem sap flow velocity to estimate effects on the vitality of typical hardwood forest species, such as oaks (<em>Quercus robur</em> L.) and elms (<em>Ulmus laevis</em>) at the representative study sites.</p>

Analisis Keragaman Tanaman Sebagai Jasa Lingkungan Pada Lanskap Agroforestri di Daerah Aliran Sungai Krueng Aceh

2019 ◽  
Vol 4 (2) ◽  
Author(s):  
Zulkifli Aiyub Kadir ◽  
Bahagia Bahagia
Keyword(s):  
Water Conservation ◽  
Vegetation Structure ◽  
Swot Analysis ◽  
Diversity Index ◽  
Middle Stream ◽  
Land Management System ◽  
Study Sites ◽  
Aleurites Moluccana ◽  
Lansium Domesticum ◽  
Agroforestry Practices

<p>Humans have utilized landscape for  produces a diverse character of the wider area of the watershed. Agroforestry is a land management system in addressing the problems that arise due to changes in land use of soil and water conservation. The aim of the study was to analyze plant diversity in agroforestry practices that have services in the Krueng watershed landscape in Aceh watershed. Develop strategies in the Krueng Aceh DAS agroforestry service. This research was conducted in the upper, middle and downstream of the Krueng Aceh watershed, with a rapid method of Agro-Biodiversity Appraisal and SWOT. The results showed that the composition of the vegetation structure found in the study sites tended to vary with the diversity index of agroforestry that was currently in the upstream and middle of the Krueng Aceh watershed. Based on SWOT analysis, internal scores are 2.45 and external scores are 3.21. Agroforestry practices in the upper stream of Krueng Aceh watershed were dominated by <em>Aleurites moluccana</em>, <em>Areca cathecu</em>, and  <em>Averrhoa bilimbi</em> L  species with the highest INP in the upper stream of Krueng Aceh watershed. Vegetation at the middle stream of Krueng Aceh watershed dominated by <em>Areca cathecu,</em> <em>Lansium domesticum</em> and Musa<em> paradisiaca</em>.  </p>

Effect of inter-row cultivation on soil carbon dioxide emission in a peach plantation

2010 ◽  
Vol 59 (1) ◽  
pp. 157-164 ◽  
Author(s):  
E. Tóth ◽  
Cs. Farkas
Keyword(s):  
Water Content ◽  
Soil Water ◽  
Soil Water Content ◽  
Carbon Dioxide Emission ◽  
Nutrient Content ◽  
Soil Disturbance ◽  
Biological Properties ◽  
Soil Tillage ◽  
Favourable Effect ◽  
Volumetric Soil Water Content

Soil biological properties and CO2emission were compared in undisturbed grass and regularly disked rows of a peach plantation. Higher nutrient content and biological activity were found in the undisturbed, grass-covered rows. Significantly higher CO2fluxes were measured in this treatment at almost all the measurement times, in all the soil water content ranges, except the one in which the volumetric soil water content was higher than 45%. The obtained results indicated that in addition to the favourable effect of soil tillage on soil aeration, regular soil disturbance reduces soil microbial activity and soil CO2emission.

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