Evaluating land degradation for assessment of land vulnerability to desert conditions in the Sokoto area,Nigeria

There are no standard indicators to evaluate or predict desertification. This paper describes an attempt to assess vulnerability to desert conditions in part of the Sokoto district in northwestern Nigeria, using remote sensing coupled with other ancillary data (erosion, sealing, crusting, compaction, cover change, organic matter monitoring, salinity and aridification) within a geographic information system environment.     

A conditional GIS‐interpolation‐based model for mapping soil‐water erosion processes in Lebanon

Soil erosion by water is a major cause of landscape degradation in Mediterranean environments, including Lebanon. This paper proposes a conditional decision‐rule interpolation‐based model to predict the distribution of multiple erosion processes (i.e. sheet, mass and linear) in a representative area of Lebanon from the measured erosion signs in the field (root exposure, earth pillars, soil etching and drift and linear channels). First, erosion proxies were derived from the structural OASIS classification of Landsat thematic mapper (TM) imageries combined with the addition of several thematic erosion maps (slope gradient, aspect and curvature, drainage density, vegetal cover, soil infiltration and erodibility and rock infiltration/movement) under a geographic information systems (GIS) environment. Second, erosion signs were measured in the field, and interpolated by the statistical moments (means and variance) in the defined erosion proxies, thus producing quantitative erosion maps (t ha⁻¹) at a scale of 1:100 000. Seven decision rules were then generated and applied on these maps in order to produce the overall decisive erosion map reflecting all existing erosion processes, that is, equality (ER), dominance (DOR), bimodality (BR), masking (MR), aggravating (AR), dependence (DER) and independence (IR). The produced erosion maps are divided into seven classes ranging between 0 and more than 1·8 t ha⁻¹ for sheet erosion, and 0 and more than 10·5 t ha⁻¹ for mass and linear erosion. They are fairly matching with coincidences values equal to 43 per cent (sheet/linear), 48 per cent (sheet/mass) and 49 per cent (linear/mass). The overall accuracies of these maps were estimated to be 76 per cent (sheet erosion), 78 per cent (mass erosion) and 78·5 per cent (linear erosion). The overall decisive erosion map with 15 classes corresponds well to land management needs. The model used is relatively simple, and may also be applied to other areas. It is particularly useful when GIS database on factors influencing erosion is limited. Copyright © 2007 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

稀土元素示踪法在坡面侵蚀产沙垂直分布研究中的应用

简要分析了核示踪法在土壤侵蚀研究中的应用现状，并以稀土元素(REE)示踪法为例，结合不同坡度、不同流量的室内放水冲刷模拟试验对坡面侵蚀产沙垂直分布特征进行了研究，研究结果表明：在坡度较小的情况下，坡面各不同部位的相对侵蚀量沿下坡方向呈现出先减小后增大的趋势；在坡度较大而流量较小的情况下，坡面各坡段的相对侵蚀量与坡度较小的情况相似，当流量较大时，坡面各不同坡段的相对侵蚀量呈现出随坡长的增大而减小的趋势。但坡面最下端坡段的相对侵蚀量总是随着冲刷历时的延长而呈现出下降趋势，而其余各坡段的相对侵蚀量则呈现出缓慢的波动式上升。试验结果还表明REE示踪法可以比较满意地说明坡面侵蚀过程中的泥沙来源情况，是一种研究坡面侵蚀产沙特征的有效方法。     

The assessment of soil loss by water erosion in China

Soil erosion is a major environmental problem in China. Planning for soil erosion control requires accurate soil erosion rate and spatial distribution information. The aim of this article is to present the methods and results of the national soil erosion survey of China completed in 2011. A multi-stage, unequal probability, systematic area sampling method was employed. A total of 32,948 sample units, which were either 0.2–3 km² small catchments or 1 km² grids, were investigated on site. Soil erosion rates were calculated with the Chinese Soil Loss Equation in 10 m by 10 m grids for each sample unit, along with the area of soil loss exceeding the soil loss tolerance and the proportion of area in excess of soil loss tolerance relative to the total land area of the sample units. Maps were created by using a spatial interpolation method at national, river basin, and provincial scales. Results showed that the calculated average soil erosion rate was 5 t ha⁻¹ yr⁻¹ in China, and was 18.2 t ha⁻¹ yr⁻¹ for sloped, cultivated cropland. Intensive soil erosion occurred on cropland, overgrazing grassland, and sparsely forested land. The proportions of soil loss tolerance exceedance areas of sample units were interpolated through the country in 250 m grids. The national average ratio was 13.5%, which represents the area of land in China that requires the implementation of soil conservation practices. These survey results and the maps provide the basic information for national conservation planning and policymaking.     

An improved method for determination of Holocene coastline changes around two ancient settlements in southern Anatolia: a geoarchaeological approach to historical land degradation studies

Two well‐known ancient sites in southern Anatolia were selected to investigate and quantify the impact of historical land degradation on the Mediterranean coast of Turkey. These sites are the Luwian settlements of Kelenderis (modern Aydıncık) and nearby Nagidos (Bozyazı), both in Mersin Province and both occupied since around 4000 BP . Changes in local climatic conditions over this period have produced variations in the rates of fluvial transport of sediment/soil from the hinterland into the relevant deltaic regions, thus influencing rates of coastal progradation and aggradation. In addition, both eustatic and neotectonic movements have contributed to deltaic subsidence and/or hinterland uplift, with consequential impact on coastal evolution (positive or negative). The novel geoarchaeological methodology adopted in this study involves the creation of a graphical archive from detailed and standardised measurements taken from rectified mono‐ and stereoscopic aerial photographs. These archival data were then integrated with data from several types of historical map and field measurements in order to develop a geographical information system (GIS) database that could be interrogated, enabling graphical models of past coastal change to be constructed and calculations then made of the coastal configurations at successive historical periods. These calculations reveal that over the past 6000 years there has been only limited erosion/degradation in the karstic hinterland supplying the sediment to these two study sites (contrary to some previous statements concerning the high degradation risk of Mediterranean karst terrains). Furthermore, rates of progradation in each delta appear to have become diminished or even reversed in the past several decades as a result of both natural and anthropogenic factors. The precise contribution of neotectonic movements in this seismically active zone remains unquantified and is a topic requiring further interdisciplinary study. Copyright © 2003 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

区域土壤侵蚀普查方法的初步讨论

区域土壤侵蚀调查制图和动态分析,是国家和省区编制土壤侵蚀宏观规划的数据基础,也是一个重大前沿性研究命题。在综述国内外区域土壤侵蚀调查制图、区域土壤侵蚀因子、土壤侵蚀尺度效应和土壤侵蚀模型等研究现状的基础上,对即将开展的全国土壤侵蚀普查工作提出以下建议：土壤侵蚀普查需要充分利用我国土壤侵蚀模型研究的最新成果,采用模拟计算方法实现对土壤侵蚀强度的定量估算;调查内容应包括区域土壤侵蚀因子、土壤侵蚀类型与强度、水土保持措施、典型区域抽样调查等;对土壤侵蚀尺度效应、区域土壤侵蚀模型应用示范和区域土壤侵蚀数据库建设方法等关键技术展开攻关研究。     

喀斯特地区县域土壤侵蚀估算及其对土地利用变化的响应

喀斯特地区土层浅薄,不合理的土地利用导致严重的水土流失,加剧石漠化程度.为定量分析生态工程实施前后土壤侵蚀状况及其对土地利用变化的响应,基于GIS技术和RMMF模型,对环江县1991、2000和2010年土壤侵蚀进行模拟,并采用邻近水文站和径流小区泥沙监测数据进行验证.结果表明:1991、2000和2010年研究区土壤侵蚀模数分别为76.36、76.46和49.60t/(km2·a),与相关监测数据比较一致;土壤侵蚀总量分别为34.76万、34.80万和22.58万t,主要来源于非喀斯特区(均约占全县侵蚀总量的94％).研究区微度侵蚀面积占90％以上,轻度及以上等级所占比例较小.对比不同土地利用类型的土壤侵蚀模数,旱地远大于其他类型,其次是中覆盖度草地和其他林地.相同降雨条件下,由于旱地面积减少,2010年土壤侵蚀量较1991年减少4.21万t;2010年喀斯特区、非喀斯特区土壤侵蚀量较2000年分别减少了4.21％和8.76％.这预示生态工程实施后,环江县耕地减少、林地增加,土壤侵蚀减少.本研究为评估喀斯特地区土壤侵蚀现状以及退耕还林的水土保持效应提供参考依据.     

Mitigating soil erosion through farm-level adoption of soil and water conservation measures in Samanalawewa Watershed,Sri Lanka

Abstract

Soil erosion by water is currently one of the most notable types of land degradation in Samanalawewa Watershed in Sri Lanka, creating copious environmental and socioeconomic impacts. Thus, with the aim of detecting and mapping the rates of human-induced soil erosion in the watershed, remote sensing and geographic information system based modelling and field experiments were carried out. The results of the assessment disclosed that the present rate of human-induced soil erosion varies from 0 to 289 t ha^?1 yr^?1 with the majority of the area exceeding the natural rate of soil erosion by 14 to 33 times at present. However, the average rate of human-induced soil erosion has declined dramatically from 19.8 to 4.3 t ha^?1 yr^?1 from 1986 to 2008. In order to analyse the significant determinants of farm-level adoption of soil and water conservation measures, binary logistic regression procedure was applied using the data collected through a household survey (n = 201). The most significant (p<0.01) variables of the study were the farmers’ perceptions of soil erosion problems, gender of the household head, training on soil and water conservation, and ascertained advice from agricultural extension officers while the variables regarding past awareness about soil conservation technologies and off-farm income were significant at p<0.05. Furthermore, the study revealed that the majority (60.2%) of the farmers in the study area had been adopting different types of soil and water conservation measures for a prolonged period of time. Therefore, owing to the current decreasing rate of soil erosion, the soil and water conservation costs and the ratios of human-induced soil erosion vs natural soil erosion had declined significantly while the productivity of their lands had gone up.     

三峡库区不同土地利用背景下的土壤侵蚀时空变化及其分布规律

土壤侵蚀是影响三峡库区土壤养分流失、河道淤积等一系列生态环境问题的重要原因,本文基于GIS技术,采用通用土壤流失方程,对三峡库区1990、1995、2000、2005和2010年的土壤侵蚀进行计算,并对研究区1990-2010年不同土地利用背景下土壤侵蚀强度的时空变化和分布规律进行定量分析.结果表明:1990-2010年,三峡库区平均土壤侵蚀模数与土壤侵蚀量呈减少的趋势,多年平均土壤侵蚀量为18 356.450 7万t,属于中度侵蚀;从空间上看,研究区微度、轻度侵蚀等级分布面积最广.在同一年分内,6种不同土地利用下土壤侵蚀模数依次为:旱地＞草地＞林地＞未利用地＞水田＞建设用地;不同土地利用下的土壤侵蚀差异显著,不同土地利用对土壤侵蚀的贡献率相差很大;各土地利用类型中,微度侵蚀的面积逐渐增加,中度侵蚀及以上侵蚀等级的侵蚀面积,都不同程度的向低等级转移;随着退耕还林还草及大量农村劳动力的外出,库区的土壤侵蚀总体上呈现转好的趋势,但是局部地区的治理工作仍需加强.     

The nature, causes and implications of water erosion on arable land in Scotland

Abstract. Erosion was surveyed in Strath Earn, Scotland, following severe weather conditions during the first 18 days of January, 1993. A rapid field mapping system was devised to record the nature of erosion. A total of 208 fields was surveyed and 76 exhibited erosion. Most fields with erosional features were either ploughed or in autumn cereals. The most common form of erosion was ephemeral gullies along topographic hollows. This erosion was primarily associated with ploughed land whereas sheetwash and rill erosion occurred more on autumn sown land. Land use change and climatic variability, especially increasing rainfall over the last 20 years, account for the incidence of erosion. Individual erosion events rarely cause major problems for farmers, but the increasing frequency of erosion events raises important questions for sustainable land use in the arable areas of Scotland.     

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%。     

FLUS-CSLE模型预测黄土高原典型流域不同土地利用变化情景土壤侵蚀

流域土壤侵蚀预测对于了解未来土壤侵蚀发展趋势,制定未来水土保持治理策略具有重要意义。为了提出一种适用于黄土高原地区的易于评估未来不同土地利用管理策略的土壤侵蚀预测方法,该研究基于地形、降雨、土壤、遥感影像数据,完成韭园沟流域2010-2020年的土地利用空间分布解译,并计算历史时期（2010-2020）的土壤侵蚀模数,基于未来土地利用模拟（Future Land Use Simulation,FLUS）模型完成流域2025年土地利用分布状况预测,以此为基础获得未来植被覆盖措施因子和耕作措施因子,结合CSLE模型预测2025年自然发展、经济增长、生态保护3种不同土地利用变化情景下土壤侵蚀状况。结果表明：1）韭园沟流域土地利用类型主要为草地（面积占比62.23%）和林地（28.41%）,其次是耕地、建筑物和水体,在2010-2020年期间土地利用空间分布格局经历了较大变化,林、草地面积增加8.36%,耕地面积减少30.3%。2）流域2010、2015、2020年这3 a间土壤侵蚀模数平均值分别为19.49、15.83、20.7 t/(hm2·a),整体呈现先降低后增加的趋势,不同土地利用类型的土壤侵蚀模数由大到小为耕地（40.56 t/(hm2·a)）、草地（18.79 t/(hm2·a)）、建设用地（10.25 t/(hm2·a)）、林地（8.02 t/(hm2·a)）。3）在积极的生态保护情景下,2025年林、草地面积较自然发展情景基本持平但林地面积比例有所增加,较经济增长情景林、草地面积增加5.06%,耕地面积较自然发展情景增加1.20%,较经济增长情景减少14.73%。4）2025年流域自然发展、经济增长、生态保护情景下土壤侵蚀模数分别为24.3、22.9、18.3 t/(hm2·a)。采取积极的生态保护情景发展模式,建设用地面积适度扩张可以兼顾生态保护和经济发展的需要。该研究为流域未来的土地利用规划以及水土保持治理提供参考。     

砾石覆盖对土壤水蚀过程影响的研究进展

 土壤中砾石的存在对水蚀过程有着重要的影响,有关砾石特别是表土砾石覆盖对土壤水蚀影响的研究结果表明,表土砾石对溅蚀分散、细沟间及细沟侵蚀等坡面侵蚀过程有重要影响:1)泥沙溅蚀分散量与砾石覆盖度呈负相关关系;2)砾石覆盖与细沟间侵蚀的关系较为复杂,这取决于表土的结构、砾石的位置和大小以及坡度等因素,当砾石嵌入结皮表土时,二者呈负相关关系,当砾石置于表土之上或嵌入具有结构孔隙的表土时,二者呈正相关关系;3)砾石覆盖对细沟间侵蚀产沙的作用效率与砾石粒径呈负相关关系,砾石置于表土之上的表土产沙量总低于砾石嵌入表土的产沙量;4)表土砾石覆盖能抑制细沟的形成,增加细沟糙度,降低细沟径流速率以及径流的侵蚀速率。鉴于砾石对水蚀过程的重要影响,RUSLE、WEPP和EUORSEM等土壤侵蚀模型预报含砾石土壤流失量时对相关参数做了修正。     

基于水土流失的江西省生态安全评价

 为定量研究水土流失对区域生态安全的影响,以江西省为研究对象,基于水土流失状况,构建江西省生态安全评价指标体系,利用压力-状态-响应模型对江西省生态安全进行评价。结果表明:1)从1996到2000年,江西省生态安全水平好转,但全省整体生态安全水平只有Ⅱ级,生态安全压力仍然很大;2)江西省生态安全水平区域差异明显,主要表现在空间分布格局和绝对数值差异上;3)江西省水土流失与生态安全关系密切,随着整体生态安全水平的提高,水土流失对生态安全影响越来越大。     

Soil erosion risk assessment using GIS and CORINE model: a case study from western Shiraz,Iran

This study employs the Coordination of Information on the Environment (CORINE) model with geographic information system to assess soil erosion risk for restoring and protecting areas within the Bonrod Zangane watershed, western Shiraz, Iran. Actual soil erosion risk was determined by combining two main parameters including potential soil erosion risk and vegetation cover. The potential soil erosion risk was generated by integrating soil erodibility, erosivity and slope parameters. Soil texture, depth and stoniness layers were overlaid to form a soil erodibility map. Modified Fournier index and Bagnouls–Gaussen aridity index were integrated to generate the erosivity layer. The slope classes also were generated from digital elevation model. In order to estimate vegetative land cover, the normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI) was used. The raster-based layers were then integrated to produce erosion risk map. The results showed that 34.7% of the study area has high and only 31.4% of the study area has low soil erosion risk. It is concluded that CORINE model can be used to delineate the soil erosion risk and also to discriminate the potential soil erosion risk areas.     

水蚀流域土地覆被格局土壤保持能力空间分布式评价

以丹江口水库以上的汉江流域为例,利用植被覆盖度、坡度加权的上游有效汇流面积空间分布型式和驱动-阻力耦合空间分布拟合函数2个指标,评价水蚀流域土地覆被格局土壤保持能力,并基于研究区14个子流域水文站泥沙资料进行验证.结果表明：汉江干流沿岸河谷盆地和丹江口水库周边丘陵区子流域是研究区城镇和农田的主要分布区,植被覆盖度低,距离汉江较近,当前覆被格局土壤保持能力相对较低,是河流泥沙的主要直接来源地;有效汇流面积空间分布型式和驱动-阻力耦合空间分布拟合函数能有效反映流域泥沙输出,可作为评价流域土地覆被格局土壤保持能力的指标.该评价方法基于土地覆被格局与土壤侵蚀的作用机制,简单易行,可为评价土地覆被格局土壤保持能力、土地覆被格局变化的土壤侵蚀效应提供一种简捷的途径.     

利用生态位适宜度模型评价土地利用环境脆弱性效应

土地利用对环境脆弱性具有重要影响,土地利用与生境条件匹配越好,土地利用的环境脆弱性效应值会越低。该文通过生态位适宜度模型将土地利用对环境脆弱性的影响定量化。选择典型生态环境脆弱区黄河三角洲垦利县的农用地,通过野外调查选择样地,构建各土地利用方式的生态位适宜度模型,在此基础上,对各土地利用生态单元的生态环境现实条件与现状土地利用方式所要求的最佳生态环境进行比较计算生态位适宜度,获得土地利用环境脆弱性效应分布图。研究结果表明,垦利县土地利用的环境脆弱性效应整体良好,棉田是决定整个垦利县环境脆弱性发展的土地利用方式;土地利用强度与土地利用环境脆弱性效应之间呈现为正相关趋势;灌溉条件和土壤盐分是决定土地利用环境脆弱效应值高低的主导环境因子。该研究结果对指导土地的合理利用与管理,防止土地退化和促进生态环境改善具有一定意义。     

基于GIS和RS的土地利用与土壤侵蚀关系研究——以冀北地区为例

 冀北地区土壤侵蚀以水蚀和风蚀为主,根据水利部颁布的《土壤侵蚀分类分级标准》(1997),参考有关学者提出的土壤风蚀强度分级指标,构建研究区土壤侵蚀强度的分级指标。运用GIS和RS技术,提取土地利用、坡度、植被覆盖度、土壤质地等信息,通过GIS空间叠加分析,得出冀北地区土壤侵蚀强度分级图,详细研究土壤侵蚀强度的空间分布特征;进一步与土地利用图叠加,分析不同土壤侵蚀强度下的土地利用特征和不同土地利用类型的土壤侵蚀状况。     

The influence of land management on soil erosion in the Sneeuberg Mountains,Central Karoo,South Africa

Farm practices in the Sneeuberg Mountains, Karoo, South Africa are examined to assess their contribution to the development of the observed gullies and badlands. Data from the literature is augmented by interviews with local farmers and measurements in the field. Changes in stocking rates, grazing systems and technological advances are assessed for their impact on soil erosion, vegetation cover and species composition. The possibility of natural and managed rehabilitation of badland areas is discussed, as are future prospects for farm management in the Sneeuberg. The findings suggest that high stock numbers and less benign management practices in the 19th century and the early 20th century underlie much of the degradation seen today. Copyright © 2007 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Soil microbiological and biochemical changes as a consequence of land management and water erosion in a semiarid environment

ABSTRACT

Three sites were selected for the present study: native forest (FR), an agricultural land subjected to minimum water erosion by terracing farming (ARMN), and an agricultural land subjected to moderate water erosion without terracing farming (ARMD). Conversion of forest to agricultural land significantly affected soil physicochemical properties. The lowest contents of both humic and fulvic acids were registered in the ARMD site, while the highest was observed in FR. The site with moderate water erosion showed a decrease of total microbial activity as estimated by fluorescein diacetate activity (FDA), but an increase of dehydrogenase activity. Both C-related enzyme activities glucuronidase and glucosidase as estimated by fluorogenic methylumbelliferil (MUF)-substrates were also reduced in ARMD, with moderate values in ARMN site, and high values in FR. Our study revealed that ARMD had the mean microbial biomass estimated by phospholipid fatty acid (PLFA) profiles. Furthermore, the ARMD site showed the highest Gram-positive to Gram-negative ratio, suggesting that moderate water erosion may also affect soil microbial community structure. The results of the present research have important implications for the study of deforestation under sites subjected to water erosion, which is one of the most significant ecological changes facing in central Argentina and the world.