Effect of land set up systems on soil losses

Agricultural land set up systems comprise those agronomic structures able to preserve the soil fertility from water erosion, such as: ditching, contouring, earth-riser and stonewall terracing, draining, and channelization, etc.. However, in the past 60 years, agricultural mechanization has led to an expansion of the field size and reduction in land set up system intensity to make machine operation more feasible and cheaper. As a consequence, these transformations have made sloping fields less resilient to the storms and accelerated the soil erosion processes. Based on an 8- year field study in ‘Chianti Classico’ area (Tuscany, Central Italy), this research aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of the land set up systems such as diversion ditch, earth-riser and stonewall terracing on reducing water erosion from field crops, olive orchards, and vineyards. The results showed that diversion ditches were effective on herbaceous crop fields with slope steepness lower than 9%. While, for higher slopes, diversion ditches were not sufficient to contain the soil loss within OECD 2008 tolerable limits in none of the considered land uses. On the opposite, in steep slopes, earth-riser terraces and stonewall terraces have shown their value as land set up system capable of reducing the erosive process. Their greatest drawback is the reduction of the cultivable surface deriving from the presence of the riser and the walls. However, their added value as a precious element characterizing the local landscape was of considerable importance for the local economy linked to tourism.

Download Full-text

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.

Download Full-text

The Importance of Environmental Factors for the Development of Water Erosion of Soil in Agricultural Land: The Southern Part of Hronská Pahorkatina Hill Land, Slovakia

Agronomy ◽

10.3390/agronomy11061234 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 11 (6) ◽

pp. 1234

Author(s):

Viera Petlušová ◽

Peter Petluš ◽

Michal Ševčík ◽

Juraj Hreško

Keyword(s):

Land Use ◽

Environmental Factors ◽

Geographical Information Systems ◽

Agricultural Land ◽

Land Use Changes ◽

Water Erosion ◽

Geographical Information ◽

Aerial Photographs ◽

Slope Length ◽

Erosion Processes

The water erosion research was carried out in the lowland type of hilly landscape. The aim was to monitor and evaluate the importance of environmental factors (steepness of slope, relief shapes, aspect, slope length, combination slope length (L) and slope (S)—LS factor, types of land use changes) for the development of water erosion. We focused on the identification of areas threatened by erosion by interpreting aerial photographs from several time periods. This was followed by verification of erosion using soil probes. We identified 408.44 ha of areas affected by erosion, and measured the depth of soil and “A” horizons thickness. The environmental factors were modeled in geographical information systems by tools for spatially oriented data. Subsequently, the influence and significance of individual environmental factors were compared, and the probability of erosion was statistically estimated. The decisive factors in the formation of erosive surfaces are the LS factor and the slope. We also consider the factor of the relief shape to be important. The shape did not appear to be very significant as a separately evaluated factor, but all convex parts correlate with the identified erosion surfaces. The susceptibility of erosion related to the aspect of the slopes to the cardinal directions has not been confirmed. Types of land use changes with the most significant relation of erosion were confirmed in areas of strong intensification. We confirmed the importance of factors and land use for the development of erosion processes.

Download Full-text

Landscape alteration in view of soil protection from water erosion - an example of the Mielnica watershed

Journal of Water and Land Development ◽

10.2478/v10025-010-0026-5 ◽

2009 ◽

Vol 13a (1) ◽

pp. 161-175 ◽

Cited By ~ 2

Author(s):

Romuald Żmuda ◽

Szymon Szewrański ◽

Tomasz Kowalczyk ◽

Łukasz Szarawarski ◽

Michał Kuriata

Keyword(s):

Agricultural Landscape ◽

Landscape Management ◽

Water Erosion ◽

Agricultural Watershed ◽

Soil Protection ◽

Negative Consequences ◽

Erosion Processes ◽

Protective Actions ◽

Landscape Alteration ◽

Set Up

Landscape alteration in view of soil protection from water erosion - an example of the Mielnica watershed The paper pertains to landscape management in eroded areas. Erosion processes, especially water erosion of soils, change the existing landscapes and make them less attractive or even hostile to people. Such situation calls for protective actions e.g. an appropriate management of agricultural landscape to minimise negative consequences of such phenomena. The paper presents a concept of counter-erosion measures to be implemented in the Trzebnickie Hills and comments their effect on the landscape. The concept was applied to an agricultural watershed of the Mielnica River. Particular attention was paid to visual aspect of this landscape and to functioning of its elements. Changes in the landscape were visualised and set up with the present status of the watershed.

Download Full-text

Spatial analysis of Samara region land degradation and differentiation of antierosion territory organization

BIO Web of Conferences ◽

10.1051/bioconf/20202700142 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 27 ◽

pp. 00142

Author(s):

E. V. Samokhvalova ◽

S. N. Zudilin ◽

O. A. Lavrennikova

Keyword(s):

Spatial Analysis ◽

Soil Fertility ◽

Land Degradation ◽

Agricultural Land ◽

Water Erosion ◽

Economic Losses ◽

Erosion Processes ◽

Degradation Factor ◽

Key Points ◽

Factor Coefficient

In the research, a spatial analysis of the degradation of Samara region agricultural land with the assessment of economic losses due to water erosion is carried out. A map chart of the distribution of districts with different degrees of erosion has also been developed. The values of the degradation factor coefficient and economic losses due to the influence of erosion processes are calculated. The key points of antierosion territory organization and land regulation depending on landscape nature and kind of damage are represented. The plan of action for the antierosion territory organization of a farm in Kinelsky district is proposed and its effectiveness to stop and prevent erosion processes, as well as for rational use of land and increase soil fertility is shown.

Download Full-text

Defining evidence-based marketing strategies for wine producers and wine tourist destinations

Zbornik Veleučilišta u Rijeci ◽

10.31784/zvr.7.1.26 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 7 (1) ◽

pp. 239-255

Author(s):

Maurizio Droli ◽

Tiziana Sarnari ◽

Lorena Bašan

Keyword(s):

Central Italy ◽

Marketing Strategies ◽

Added Value ◽

Evidence Based ◽

Wine Production ◽

Tourist Destinations ◽

Italian Regions ◽

Total Antioxidant ◽

Differentiated Marketing ◽

Set Up

The Total Antioxidant Index (TAA-I) can be viewed as a wine added value, for which consumers are willing to pay, and as a determinant in developing successful differentiated marketing strategies. This interdisciplinary study aims to harness potentials existing in an evidence-based wine TAA-I and territorial data on wine production. According to the Resource Based Theory (RBT), only above-average performances identify valuable resources. By applying the theory, data on regional areas planted with vines as well as a seminal study ranking thirteen selected Italian wines based on their TAA-I have been analyzed. Wine growing vocation represents a valuable resource only in six out of twenty Italian regions. Eleven vine areas of origin can be assumed as being important, especially in Northern and Central Italy. The TAA-I positions achieved by selected wines are far from being expressed, and thus promoted, by adopting labels based on production traditions. The 1997 sample database adopted by this study needs to be updated with a more recent one and expanded in further researches. Thus, researches of evidencebased marketing, thus hidden and objective quality attributes of wine, are needed and urgent but still in their infancy. Results obtained by this study allow decision makers to set-up a RBT-rooted benchmark system connecting biomedical studies, economic and marketing studies.

Download Full-text

Assessment and spatial analysis of agricultural land erosion processes in the Samara region

IOP Conference Series Earth and Environmental Science ◽

10.1088/1755-1315/579/1/012074 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 579 ◽

pp. 012074

Author(s):

E V Samokhvalova ◽

S N Zudilin

Keyword(s):

Spatial Analysis ◽

Agricultural Land ◽

Erosion Processes

Download Full-text

Analysis of Ownership Data from Consolidated Land Threatened by Water Erosion in the Vlára Basin, Slovakia

Sustainability ◽

10.3390/su13010051 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 13 (1) ◽

pp. 51

Author(s):

Alexandra Pagáč Mokrá ◽

Jakub Pagáč ◽

Zlatica Muchová ◽

František Petrovič

Keyword(s):

Soil Erosion ◽

Soil Loss ◽

Agricultural Land ◽

Water Erosion ◽

Land Consolidation ◽

Land Fragmentation ◽

Erosion Risk ◽

Definition Of ◽

The Relationship ◽

Soil Loss Equation

Water erosion is a phenomenon that significantly damages agricultural land. The current land fragmentation in Slovakia and the complete ambiguity of who owns it leads to a lack of responsibility to care for the land in its current condition, which could affect its sustainability in the future. The reason so much soil has eroded is obvious when looking at current land management, with large fields, a lack of windbreaks between them, and no barriers to prevent soil runoff. Land consolidation might be the solution. This paper seeks to evaluate redistributed land and, based on modeling by the Universal Soil Loss Equation (USLE) method, to assess the degree of soil erosion risk. Ownership data provided information on how many owners and what amount of area to consider, while taking into account new conditions regarding water erosion. The results indicate that 2488 plots of 1607 owners which represent 12% of the model area are still endangered by water erosion, even after the completion of the land consolidation project. The results also presented a way of evaluating the territory and aims to trigger a discussion regarding an unambiguous definition of responsibility in the relationship between owner and user.

Download Full-text

Floral Plantings in Large-Scale Commercial Agroecosystems Support Both Pollinators and Arthropod Predators

Insects ◽

10.3390/insects12020091 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 12 (2) ◽

pp. 91

Author(s):

Eric G. Middleton ◽

Ian V. MacRae ◽

Christopher R. Philips

Keyword(s):

Large Scale ◽

Agricultural Land ◽

Field Margins ◽

Crop Fields ◽

Pollinator Abundance ◽

Arthropod Predators ◽

Commercial Potato ◽

Insect Populations ◽

Beneficial Insect ◽

Potato Crops

Beneficial insect populations and the services that they provide are in decline, largely due to agricultural land use and practices. Establishing perennial floral plantings in the unused margins of crop fields can help conserve beneficial pollinators and predators in commercial agroecosystems. We assessed the impacts of floral plantings on both pollinators and arthropod predators when established adjacent to conventionally managed commercial potato fields. Floral plantings significantly increased the abundance of pollinators within floral margins compared with unmanaged margins. Increased floral cover within margins led to significantly greater pollinator abundance as well. The overall abundance of arthropod predators was also significantly increased in floral plantings, although it was unrelated to the amount of floral cover. Within adjacent potato crops, the presence of floral plantings in field margins had no effect on the abundance of pollinators or predators, although higher floral cover in margins did marginally increase in-crop pollinator abundance. Establishing floral plantings of this kind on a large scale in commercial agroecosystems can help conserve both pollinators and predators, but may not increase ecosystem services in nearby crops.

Download Full-text

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.

Download Full-text