scholarly journals Effects of land use changes and soil conservation intervention on soil properties as indicators for land degradation under a Mediterranean climate

Solid Earth ◽  
2015 ◽  
Vol 6 (3) ◽  
pp. 857-868 ◽  
Author(s):  
Y. Mohawesh ◽  
A. Taimeh ◽  
F. Ziadat
Keyword(s):  
Land Use ◽  
Organic Carbon ◽  
Soil Organic Carbon ◽  
Soil Properties ◽  
Land Degradation ◽  
Soil Conservation ◽  
Land Use Changes ◽  
Stone Walls ◽  
Effects Of Land Use ◽  
Soil Conservation Measures

Abstract. Land degradation resulting from improper land use and management is a major cause of declined productivity in the arid environment. The objectives of this study were to examine the effects of a sequence of land use changes, soil conservation measures, and the time since their implementation on the degradation of selected soil properties. The climate for the selected 105 km2 watershed varies from semi-arid sub-tropical to Mediterranean sub-humid. Land use changes were detected using aerial photographs acquired in 1953, 1978, and 2008. A total of 218 samples were collected from 40 sites in three different rainfall zones to represent different land use changes and variable lengths of time since the construction of stone walls. Analyses of variance were used to test the differences between the sequences of land use changes (interchangeable sequences of forest, orchards, field crops, and range), the time since the implementation of soil conservation measures, rainfall on the thickness of the A-horizon, soil organic carbon content, and texture. Soil organic carbon reacts actively with different combinations and sequences of land use changes. The time since stone walls were constructed showed significant impacts on soil organic carbon and the thickness of the surface horizon. The effects of changing the land use and whether the changes were associated with the construction of stone walls varied according to the annual rainfall. The changes in soil properties could be used as indicators of land degradation and to assess the impact of soil conservation programs. The results help in understanding the effects of land use changes on land degradation processes and carbon sequestration potential and in formulating sound soil conservation plans.

scholarly journals Effects of land use changes and conservation measures on land degradation under a Mediterranean climate

2015 ◽  
Vol 7 (1) ◽  
pp. 115-145 ◽  
Author(s):  
Y. Mohawesh ◽  
A. Taimeh ◽  
F. Ziadat
Keyword(s):  
Land Use ◽  
Organic Carbon ◽  
Soil Organic Carbon ◽  
Land Degradation ◽  
Soil Conservation ◽  
Land Use Changes ◽  
Conservation Measures ◽  
Stone Walls ◽  
Effects Of Land Use ◽  
Soil Conservation Measures

Abstract. Land degradation resulting from improper land use and management is a major cause of declined productivity in the arid environment. The objectives of this study were to examine the effects of a sequence of land use changes, soil conservation measures, and the time since their implementation on the degradation of selected soil properties. The climate for the selected 105 km2 watershed varies from semi-arid sub-tropical to Mediterranean sub-humid. Land use changes were detected using aerial photographs acquired in 1953, 1978, and 2008. A total of 218 samples were collected from 40 sites in three different rainfall zones to represent different land use changes and different lengths of time since the construction of stone walls. Analyses of variance were used to test the differences between the sequences of land use changes (interchangeable sequences of forest, orchards, field crops, and range), the time since the implementation of soil conservation measures, and rainfall on the thickness of the A-horizon, soil organic carbon content, and texture. Soil organic carbon reacts actively with different combinations and sequences of land use changes. The time since stone walls were constructed showed significant impacts on soil organic carbon and the thickness of the surface horizon. The effects of changing the land use and whether the changes were associated with the construction of stone walls, varied according to the annual rainfall. The results help in understanding the effects of land use changes on land degradation processes and carbon sequestration potential and in formulating sound soil conservation plans.

scholarly journals Effects of Land Use Change on the Soil Organic Carbon and Selected Soil Properties in the Sultan Marshes, Turkey

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Selma Yaşar Korkanç ◽  
Mustafa Korkanç ◽  
Muhammet Hüseyin Mert ◽  
Abdurrahman Geçili ◽  
Yusuf Serengil
Keyword(s):  
Land Use ◽  
Organic Carbon ◽  
Soil Organic Carbon ◽  
Soil Properties ◽  
Bulk Density ◽  
Carbon Stock ◽  
Soil Depth ◽  
Aggregate Stability ◽  
Carbon Stocks ◽  
Effects Of Land Use

Abstract This study aims the effects of land use changes on the carbon storage capacity and some soil properties of The Sultan Marshes was partially drained during the middle of the last century and converted to other land uses. Undisturbed soil sampling was performed in different land use types (rangelands, shrubs, marsh, agriculture, and dried lake area) in the wetland area at depths of 0-50 cm, and soil organic carbon (SOC), bulk density, and carbon stocks of soils for each land use type were calculated at 10 cm soil depth levels. Furthermore, disturbed soil samples were taken at two soil depths (0-20 cm and 20-40 cm), and the particle size distribution, pH, electrical conductivity (EC), aggregate stability and dispersion ratio (DR) properties of the soils were analyzed. Data were processed using ANOVA, Duncan’s test, and Pearson’s correlation analysis. The soil properties affected by land use change were SOC, carbon stock, pH, EC, aggregate stability, clay, silt, sand contents, and bulk density. SOC and carbon stocks were high in rangeland, marsh, and shrub land, while they were low in agriculture and drained lake areas. As the soil depth increased, SOC and carbon stock decreased. The organic carbon content of the soils exhibited positive relationships with aggregate stability, clay, and carbon stock, while it showed a negative correlation with bulk density, pH, and DR. The results showed that the drainage and conversion of the wetland caused a significant decrease in the carbon contents of the soils.

Soil organic carbon dynamics: Impact of land use changes and management practices: A review

2019 ◽  
pp. 1-107 ◽  
Author(s):  
Thangavel Ramesh ◽  
Nanthi S. Bolan ◽  
Mary Beth Kirkham ◽  
Hasintha Wijesekara ◽  
Manjaiah Kanchikerimath ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Land Use ◽  
Organic Carbon ◽  
Soil Organic Carbon ◽  
Management Practices ◽  
Land Use Changes ◽  
Carbon Dynamics ◽  
Soil Organic Carbon Dynamics

Using a data-driven network to understand the drivers of soil organic carbon dynamics across the tropic

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Leigh Winowiecki ◽  
Tor-Gunnar Vågen
Keyword(s):  
Organic Carbon ◽  
Soil Organic Carbon ◽  
Land Cover ◽  
Soil Properties ◽  
Carbon Content ◽  
Land Management ◽  
Land Degradation ◽  
Soil Health ◽  
Carbon Dynamics ◽  
Soil Organic Carbon Dynamics

<p>Maintaining soil organic carbon (SOC) content is recognized as an important strategy for a well-functioning soil ecosystem. The UN Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD) recognizes that reduced SOC content can lead to land degradation, and ultimately low land and agricultural productivity. SOC is almost universally proposed as the most important indicator of soil health, not only because SOC positively influences multiple soil properties that affect productivity, including cation exchange capacity and water holding capacity, but also because SOC content reflects aboveground activities, including especially agricultural land management. To be useful as an indicator, it is crucial to assess the importance of both inherent soil properties as well as external factors (climate, vegetation cover, land management, etc.) on SOC dynamics across space and time. This requires large, reliable and up-to-date soil health data sets across diverse land cover classes. The Land Degradation Surveillance Framework (LDSF), a well-established method for assessing multiple biophysical indicators at georeferenced locations, was employed in nine countries across the tropics (Burkina Faso, Cameron, Honduras, India, Indonesia, Kenya, Nicaragua, Peru, and South Africa) to assess the influence of land use, tree cover and inherent soil properties on soil organic carbon dynamics. The LDSF was designed to provide a biophysical baseline at landscape level, and monitoring and evaluation framework for assessing processes of land degradation and the effectiveness of rehabilitation measures over time. Each LDSF site has 160 – 1000 m<sup>2</sup> plots that were randomly stratified among 16 - 1 km<sup>2</sup> sampling clusters. A total of 6918 soil samples were collected (3478 topsoil (0-20 cm) and 3435 subsoil (20-50 cm)) within this study. All samples were analyzed using mid-infrared spectroscopy and 10% of the samples were analyzed using traditional wet chemistry to develop calibration prediction models.  Validation results for soil properties (soil organic carbon (SOC), sand, and total nitrogen) showed good accuracy with R<sup>2</sup> values ranging between 0.88 and 0.96. Mean organic carbon content was 21.9 g kg<sup>-1</sup> in topsoil and 15.2 g kg<sup>-1</sup> in subsoil (median was 18.3 g kg<sup>-1</sup>  for topsoil and 10.8 g kg<sup>-1</sup> in subsoil). Forest and grassland had the highest and similar carbon content while bushland/shrubland had the lowest. Sand content played an important role in determining the SOC content across the land cover types. Further analysis will be conducted and shared on the role of trees, land cover and texture on the dynamics of soil organic carbon and the implications for LDN reporting, land restoration initiatives as well as sustainable land management recommendations.</p>

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