Wind erosion in Moroccan argan woodlands under extensive agro-silvo-pastoral management

Author(s):  
Miriam Marzen ◽  
Kirchhoff Mario ◽  
Marzolff Irene ◽  
Aït Hssaine Ali ◽  
Johannes B. Ries

<p>The Moroccan argan woodlands form a unique ecosystem that is at acute risk of degradation and desertification. Beside the great impact on local and regional socio-economical structure, the characteristic landscape is assumed to protect populated and agriculturally productive areas such as the Souss-Massa-region against desertification processes from the adjacent desert areas in Southwest Morocco and Algeria.</p><p>The experimental-empirical study with the Trier Portable Wind Simulator was conducted to quantify sediment mobilisation by wind on various surface characteristics associated to argan woodlands under extensive agro-silvo-pastoral management. Tested surfaces included physical and biological crusts, stone and litter cover and ploughed surfaces.</p><p>We found that the argan woodlands of the Souss region may be a significant source of wind eroded sediment particularly facing effects of overexploitation and climate change. An adapted land management is key to prevent severe dust production and mitigate possible impacts of land use change and climate change related shifts in wind and rainfall patterns.  </p>

Geosciences ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 9 (11) ◽  
pp. 478 ◽  
Author(s):  
Miriam Marzen ◽  
Thomas Iserloh ◽  
Wolfgang Fister ◽  
Manuel Seeger ◽  
Jesus Rodrigo-Comino ◽  
...  

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.


2013 ◽  
pp. 79-94
Author(s):  
Ngoc Luu Bich

Climate change (CC) and its impacts on the socio-economy and the development of communities has become an issue causing very special concern. The rise in global temperatures, in sea levels, extreme weather phenomena, and salinization have occurred more and more and have directly influenced the livelihoods of rural households in the Red River Delta – one of the two regions projected to suffer strongly from climate change in Vietnam. For farming households in this region, the major and traditional livelihoods are based on main production materials as agricultural land, or aquacultural water surface Changes in the land use of rural households in the Red River Delta during recent times was influenced strongly by the Renovation policy in agriculture as well as the process of industrialization and modernization in the country. Climate change over the past 5 years (2005-2011) has started influencing household land use with the concrete manifestations being the reduction of the area cultivated and the changing of the purpose of land use.


1970 ◽  
Vol 13 (2) ◽  
Author(s):  
Nanang Susanto

Penelitian ini menguji teori Marx yang mengatakan bahwa dalam proses kapitalisasi, petani lahan kecil akan tergusur oleh petani lahan besar. Penelitian ini menggunakan pendekatan kualitatif dengan metode Participatory Action Research (PAR). Menggunakan teknik observasi partisipasi di lapangan, studi ini melakukan wawancara mendalam terhadap petani. Analisis data yang digunakan bersifat induktif. Penelitian ini menghasilkan kesimpulan, bahwa teori Marx tidak terjadi di malar Aman. Adapun penyebab menurunnya pertanian disebabkan menurunnya unsur hara tanah, mahalnya biaya produksi, alih fungsi lahan dan perubahan cuaca. Sedangkan strategi petani lahan kecil untuk mempertahankan kehidupan yaitu melakukan pola tanam tumpang sari, melakukan pekerjaan tambahan, dan mengatur keuangan.This study examines Marx's theory which says that in the process of capitalization, small land farmers will be displaced by large land farmers. This study uses a qualitative approach with the method of Participatory Action Research (PAR). Using the techniques of participatory observation in the field, the study conducted in-depth interviews on farmers. Analysis of the data used is inductive. This study led to the conclusion that Marx's theory does not happen in Aman malar. The cause of the decline of agriculture due to declining soil nutrients, the high cost of production, land use and climate change. While the strategies of small land farmers to sustain life is to do the planting patterns of intercropping, do extra work, and manage finances.


2020 ◽  
pp. 161-165
Author(s):  
Bertram de Crom ◽  
Jasper Scholten ◽  
Janjoris van Diepen

To get more insight in the environmental performance of the Suiker Unie beet sugar, Blonk Consultants performed a comparative Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) study on beet sugar, cane sugar and glucose syrup. The system boundaries of the sugar life cycle are set from cradle to regional storage at the Dutch market. For this study 8 different scenarios were evaluated. The first scenario is the actual sugar production at Suiker Unie. Scenario 2 until 7 are different cane sugar scenarios (different countries of origin, surplus electricity production and pre-harvest burning of leaves are considered). Scenario 8 concerns the glucose syrup scenario. An important factor in the environmental impact of 1kg of sugar is the sugar yield per ha. Total sugar yield per ha differs from 9t/ha sugar for sugarcane to 15t/ha sugar for sugar beet (in 2017). Main conclusion is that the production of beet sugar at Suiker Unie has in general a lower impact on climate change, fine particulate matter, land use and water consumption, compared to cane sugar production (in Brazil and India) and glucose syrup. The impact of cane sugar production on climate change and water consumption is highly dependent on the country of origin, especially when land use change is taken into account. The environmental impact of sugar production is highly dependent on the co-production of bioenergy, both for beet and cane sugar.


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