The use of urban organic wastes in the control of erosion in a semiarid Mediterranean soil

Abstract. A two year field experiment was carried out in a semiarid Mediterranean area in order to evaluate, the effect on soil erosion of adding different urban organic wastes: a stabilized municipal waste (compost), an unstabilized municipal waste, and an aerobic sewage sludge. All the treatments significantly reduced soil erosion, compared to the control soil. The soil amended with compost was the most effective treatment, reducing soil loss by 94% and runoff by 54%.     

An evaluation of the pesera soil erosion model and its application to a case study in Zakynthos, Greece

Abstract. The Pan‐European Soil Erosion Risk Assessment (pesera ) model was evaluated using existing soil erosion data collected under various types of climate, vegetation, landscape and soil conditions. The data used represent a variety of typical Mediterranean land uses such as winter wheat, vines, olives and bare, stony land prevailing in hilly areas. Using this data, the model was calibrated for sediment transport by overland flow and results compared to measured soil erosion values from runoff plots and a watershed on a monthly basis. The performance of the model was assessed statistically, showing that it can be satisfactorily used for predicting soil erosion rates under the conditions included in the study. The overall model estimate including all the available experimental data was 0.69 t ha^?1 yr^?1 with a maximum error of 1.49 t ha^?1 yr^?1. After validation, the model was applied to a small watershed (60 ha) of great ecological importance for the sea turtle Caretta caretta. For this purpose, soil and vegetation maps were compiled from all the necessary data for applying the model. The model was run for three years using daily data from an existing nearby meteorological station. The predicted and measured soil erosion rates for a 7‐month period were 0.31 t and 0.18 t, respectively. Application of the model to each mapping unit showed the over‐riding importance of land use for sediment generation under the given climatic conditions. Bare land, occupying 5.5% of the watershed area, generated up to 69% of the total sediments estimated for the watershed. It is concluded that the pesera model can be used as a regional diagnostic tool under a range of soil, topographic and climatic conditions for identifying the best land use type and vegetation cover to protect hilly areas from soil erosion. The calculated overall root mean square error for the model is 0.06 t ha^?1 yr^?1, compared to a soil erosion rate of 0.04 t ha^?1 yr^?1, which can be tolerated for protecting the area for the sea turtle.     

Re-defining tillage erosion: quantifying intensity–direction relationships for complex terrain

Abstract. Current tillage erosion models account for the influence of tillage direction in the magnitude of the soil (tillage) transport coefficient. It is argued here that this is counter-intuitive and causes significant problems in modelling tillage erosion in areas of complex terrain. This article examines whether a re-modelling of tillage erosion is possible that separates tillage direction (an interaction with the landform) from the soil transport coefficient (a measure of tillage intensity representing the combination of implement erosivity and soil erodibility). Experimental data for mouldboard ploughing upslope, downslope and cross-slope at Coombe Barton Farm, Devon are examined. Integration of data for all directions into a single relationship, which relates translocation in the direction of tillage to slope in the direction of tillage and translocation perpendicular to tillage to slope perpendicular to tillage, is not possible using previously published methods of analysis. However, when total translocation distance is regressed against the tangent of the slope at 45° to the tillage direction (bisecting the tillage direction and the direction of overturning) it is found that a single relationship can be used to describe tillage in all three directions. Therefore, this relationship is used to determine a single value of the soil transport coefficient ( k _fTa) for constant soil and implement conditions but different tillage directions. This redefinition of tillage is important both for true estimation of tillage erosion severity, the adirectional coefficient being 40% larger than the directional coefficient, and for modelling of tillage erosion in complex terrain. These improvements are vital when tillage erosion simulation is used to direct soil conservation strategies.     

Effects of land management practices and land cover types on soil loss and crop productivity in Ethiopia: A review

Identifying land management practices (LMPs) that enhance on-site sediment management and crop productivity is crucial for the prevention, reduction, and restoration of land degradation and contributing to achieving land degradation neutrality (LDN). We reviewed studies in Ethiopia to assess the effects of LMPs on soil loss (84 studies) and crop productivity (34 studies) relative to control practice. Yield variability on conserved lands was assessed using 12,796 fixed plot data. Effects of LMP on soil loss were 0.5–55 t ha⁻¹y⁻¹ compared to control practices yielding 50 to 140 t ha⁻¹y⁻¹. More than 55% of soil loss records revealed soil loss less than the tolerable rate (10 t ha⁻¹). Area closure, perennial vegetation cover, agronomic practices, mechanical erosion control practices, annual cropland cover, and drainage groups of practices led to 74.0 ± 18.3%, 69.0 ± 24.6%, 66.2 ± 30.5%, 66.1 ± 18.0%, 63.5 ± 20.0%, and 40 ± 11,1% soil loss reduction, respectively. A yield increase of 25.2 ± 15.0%, 37.5 ± 28.0%, and 75.4 ± 85.0% was found from drainage, agronomy, and mechanical erosion control practices, respectively. The average yield loss by erosion on fields without appropriate land management practice and on conserved fields was 26.5 ± 26.0% and 25 ± 3.7%, respectively. The findings suggest that practices that entail a continuous presence of soil cover during the rainy season, perennial vegetation, retention of moisture, and barriers for sediment transport were most effective at decreasing soil loss and increasing productivity. This review provides evidence to identify the best LMP practices for wider adoption and inform decision-making on LMP investments towards achieving sustainable solutions to reverse land degradation.     

采煤沉陷对土壤侵蚀与土地利用的影响预测

中国新建和将建的煤矿区主要集中分布在生态脆弱的晋、陕、蒙区,生态环境压力大。正确预测采煤沉陷引发的人为加速土壤侵蚀与土地利用变化,可为生态脆弱煤矿区的生态恢复和重建提供依据。该文采用RS、GIS为手段进行信息提取和图形叠加,结合类比法和专家咨询法等,研究了山西大同塔山矿采煤沉陷引发的土壤侵蚀和土地利用的变化。结果表明：1)采煤后88.80%土地发生不同程度的沉陷。2)沉陷后土地年土壤侵蚀总量增加42.32～79.05万t,单位面积年侵蚀量增加了246.01～464.56 t/km²,侵蚀模数为2321.78～4335.64 t/(km²·a),部分地块沉陷后土壤侵蚀强度上升了一个等级。3)地表移动变形产生的裂缝、陷坑、塌方或小滑坡等,使农用地被分割而破碎、地块变小,其中,沉陷后旱地最小斑块面积为7.72 m²,有林地最小斑块面积为72.95 m²,灌木林地最小斑块面积为6.71 m²,疏林地最小斑块面积为75.79 m²,中覆盖度草地最小斑块面积为14.81 m²,低覆盖度草地最小斑块面积为9.44 m²。局部裂缝密集带,可造成土地毁坏。4)除工交用地和居民点用地外,原地貌沉陷后土地利用率,较原地貌降低10%的比例为14.05%,降低10%～20%(含10%)的比例为85.18%,降低20%(含20%)以上的比例为0.77%。     

黑土坡耕地土壤流失形态分析——以一次降雨为例

以东北黑土区典型漫岗坡耕地为研究对象,测定次降雨条件下整个集水盆地出口处的径流体积及其含沙量,研究侵蚀泥沙的粒径分布特征、碳氮富集度以及可溶性养分的流失状况。结果表明,研究区只有在强降雨的情况下才会在集水盆地尺度上发生水土流失现象。20.5 mm降雨条件下(2006年8月1日)径流泥沙含量为1.0～2.5 g/L,泥沙C、N富集系数分别为2.10和3.31。径流液中DOC的浓度介于2.47～3.93 mg/L之间,TN浓度介于1.61～3.28 mg/L之间,径流携带养分量在整个养分流失过程中是不可忽视的流失途径。侵蚀泥沙(未加分散剂)的团聚体组成和原土壤有很大差异,径流泥沙的流失主要是粒径为0.053 mm以下的团聚体,尤其是0.002～0.02 mm的粉粒团聚体为主。     

基于GIS的藏东横断山区土壤侵蚀分布特征研究

利用ARC/INFO的空间分析与统计分析功能,从海拔、坡度、土壤以及土地利用四个方面,对藏东横断山区土壤侵蚀的空间分布特征进行了研究。结果表明:(1)从总体上来讲,三江河谷地带水蚀较强;山体中部以微度侵蚀为主,而森林采伐迹地土壤侵蚀严重;海拔4500m以上地带,冻融侵蚀严重。(2)不同的海拔与坡度等级下,4000-5000m与25°-35°土壤侵蚀最强。(3)水力侵蚀主要发生在褐土与灰褐土土壤类型,冻融侵蚀主要发生在寒冻土、黑毡土以及草毡土土壤类型。(4)土壤侵蚀主要发生在草地和林地,低覆盖草地上冻融侵蚀尤为严重。通过土壤侵蚀分布特征的研究,为土壤侵蚀防治对策提供科学依据。     

我国北方强风蚀区空间分布格局及特征分析

我国北方强风蚀区是形成沙尘天气的主要区域,本文依据各风蚀区风速的大小、走向,自然地理条件,沙化土地现状及分布特点,将我国北方沙区分为古尔班通古特沙漠西北缘、天山东段—塔克拉玛干沙漠南缘、柴达木盆地西段、河西走廊—阿拉善、鄂尔多斯—乌拉特、浑善达克沙地东北部、内蒙古东部七个强风蚀区。同时从沙化土地、降水量、风速及大风日数、沙尘天气的发生等方面对强风蚀区空间分布格局及特征进行了分析。     

区域LUCC的土壤侵蚀响应研究——以榆林市为例

借助3S技术,采用美国通用的水土流失方程(USLE),对榆林市1987,1999年和2002年的土壤水力侵蚀、生态系统土壤保持情况进行测算,在此基础上,基于G IS平台按不同区域对测算结果进行汇总。研究表明:单位面积各类生态系统保土功能排序是园地>林地>灌木林地>草地。降雨的年际变化和地形的空间差异是单位面积生态系统土壤保持量年际变化和空间差异的主导因素。1987,1999,2002年全市各类生态系统土壤保持总量分别是2.22×108t,1.96×108t和2.07×108t。研究期间(1987-2002年),全市生态系统土壤保持效率不断提高,但存在空间差异:1987,1999年南6县生态系统土壤保持总量、保持效率显著高于北6县,而2002年北6县略高于南6县;且整个研究期间北6县生态系统土壤保持效率提高显著,而南6县变化小且2002年略有下降;相对于北6县而言,南6县实际对进一步提高土壤保持效率的制约较大。     

Comparing surface erosion processes in four soils from the Loess Plateau under extreme rainfall events

This research aims to improve erosion control practice in the Loess Plateau, by studying the surface erosion processes, including splash, sheet/interrill and rill erosion in four contrasting soils under high rainfall intensity (120 mm h⁻¹) with three-scale indoor artificial experiments. Four contrasting soils as sandy loam, sandy clay loam, clay loam and loamy clay were collected from different parts of the Loess Plateau. The results showed that sediment load was significantly impacted by soil properties in all three sub-processes. Splash rate (4.0–21.6 g m⁻²∙min⁻¹) was highest in sandy loam from the north part of the Loess Plateau and showed a negative power relation with the mean weight diameter of aggregates after 20 min of rainfall duration. The average sediment load by sheet/interrill erosion (6.94–42.86 g m⁻²∙min⁻¹) was highest in clay loam from middle part of the Loess Plateau, and the stable sediment load after 20 min showed a positive power relation with the silt content in soil. The average sediment load increased dramatically by rill and interrill erosion (21.03–432.16 g m⁻²∙min⁻¹), which was highest in loamy clay from south part of the Loess Plateau. The average sediment load after the occurrence of rill showed a positive power relation with clay content and a negative power relation with soil organic matter content. The impacts of slope gradient on the runoff rate and sediment load also changed with soil properties. The critical factors varied for different processes, which were the aggregate size for splash erosion, the content of silt particles and slope gradient for sheet/interrill erosion, and the content of clay particles, soil organic matter and slope gradient for rill erosion. Based on the results of the experiments, specific erosion control practices were proposed by targeting certain erosion processes in areas with different soil texture and different distribution of slope gradient. The findings from this study should support the improvement of erosion prediction and cropland management in different regions of the Loess Plateau.