Effect of rainfall intensity, slope, land use and antecedent soil moisture on soil erosion in an arid environment
TL;DR: In this paper, the effect of rainfall intensity, slope, land use and antecedent soil moisture on soil erosion and runoff was investigated in the Al-Muwaqqar watershed, Jordan.
Abstract: Most climate change scenarios predict a significant increase in the frequency of high intensity rainfall events especially in the dry areas, which will increase runoff and soil erosion. Understanding the factors that control soil erosion is crucial to recommending appropriate measures to protect soils and reduce their vulnerability. The objective of this research was to investigate the effect of rainfall intensity, slope, land use and antecedent soil moisture on soil erosion and runoff. Twelve sites from Al-Muwaqqar watershed, Jordan, were selected to represent six slope angles: 1, 2, 3, 5, 7 and 9%. Two sites, one cultivated with barley and one as rangeland, were selected within each slope. Erosion was measured under three rainfall intensities: 3, 5 and 10 mm h−1; and three different antecedent soil moisture contents: dry, wet and very wet; using a rotating disk rainfall simulator. Regression equations indicated that rainfall intensity was the most important factor affecting soil erosion and that erosion could occur at a relatively small intensity on wet soils as a result of subsequent rainfall events. Soil erosion on cultivated land was primarily affected by moisture content, while on uncultivated land, it was mostly affected by slope steepness. Rainfall intensity, slope and antecedent moisture explained 84–89 and 59–66% of the variation in runoff and soil loss, respectively. The results indicated the significant influence of cultivating the land on soil erosion. Copyright © 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
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TL;DR: In this article, the authors developed a documented database on splash, sheet and rill erosion rates in Mediterranean vineyards, identifying and, if possible, quantifying the effect of triggering factors such as topography, soil properties, rainfall characteristics and soil conservation techniques on soil water erosion.
Abstract: Soil water erosion on cultivated lands represents a severe threat to soil resources in the world, and especially in Mediterranean areas, due to their topographic, edaphic and climatic conditions. Among the cultivated lands, vineyards deserve a particular attention because, aside representing one of the most important crops in terms of income and employment, they also have proven to be the form of agricultural use that causes one of the highest soil losses. Although the topic of soil water erosion on vineyards has been studied, it still raises uncertainties, due to the high variability of procedures for data acquisition, which consists into different scales of analysis and measurement methods. There is still a great gap in knowledge about the effect of triggering factors on soil water erosion and, so far, an effort to quantify this effect on the Mediterranean viticulture has not been made yet. Therefore, this paper review aims to (i) develop a documented database on splash, sheet and rill erosion rates in Mediterranean vineyards, (ii) identify and, if possible, quantify the effect of triggering factors such as topography, soil properties, rainfall characteristics and soil conservation techniques on soil water erosion, and (iii) provide suggestions for a more sustainable viticulture. Although the large variability of data, some general trends between erosion rates and triggering factors could be found, as long as data were categorized according to the same measurement method. However, no general rule upon which to consider one triggering factor always predominant over the others came out. This paper review supports the importance of monitoring soil water erosion by field measurements to better understand the relationship between the factors. However, protocols should be established for standardizing the procedure of collecting data and reporting results to enable data comparison among different study areas.
267 citations
TL;DR: In this paper, an extensive review of scientific journal articles, case studies and other reports that have assessed soil conservation efforts and the sediment trapping efficacy (STE) of vegetative and structural measures is provided.
Abstract: Preventing the off-site effects of soil erosion is an essential part of good catchment management. Most efforts are in the form of on-site soil and water conservation measures. However, sediment trapping can be an alternative (additional) measure to prevent the negative off-site
effects of soil erosion. Therefore, not all efforts should focus solely on on-site soil conservation but also on the safe routing of sediment-laden flows and on creating sites and conditions where sediment can be trapped. Sediment trapping can be applied on-site and off-site and
involves both vegetative and structural measures. This paper provides an extensive review of scientific journal articles, case studies and other reports that have assessed soil conservation efforts and the sediment trapping efficacy (STE) of vegetative and structural measures. The
review is further illustrated through participatory field observation and stakeholders’ interview. Vegetation type and integration of two or more measures are important factors influencing STE. In this review, the STE of most measures was evaluated either individually or in such
combinations. In real landscape situations, it is not only important to select the most efficient erosion control measures but also to determine their optimum location in the catchment. Hence, there is a need for research that shows a more integrated determination of STE at catchment
scale. If integrated measures are implemented at the most appropriate spatial locations within a catchment where they can disconnect landscape units from each other, they will decrease runoff velocity and sediment transport and, subsequently, reduce downstream flooding and sedimentation problems.
225 citations
Cites background from "Effect of rainfall intensity, slope..."
...…of agriculture is taking place (Cerdà et al., 2009; Zema et al., 2012) or where natural or human-driven disturbances take place: forest fires (Lasanta & Cerdà, 2005), landslides (Douglas et al., 2013), heavy rainfall events (Ziadat & Taimeh, 2013) and land abandonment (Cerdà, 1997a, 1997b)....
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01 Apr 2015
218 citations
TL;DR: In this paper, the effects of straw cover on the control of soil and water losses were assessed on 20 paired plots of 2'm2 (bare and straw covered) in new persimmon plantations in Eastern Spain, where an addition of 60% straw cover resulted in delayed ponding and runoff generation and consequently reduced water losses from 60% to 13% of total rainfall.
Abstract: Soil and water losses due to agricultural mismanagement are high and non-sustainable in many orchards. An experiment was set up with rainfall simulation at 78 mm h–1 over 1 hour on 20 paired plots of 2 m2 (bare and straw covered) in new persimmon plantations in Eastern Spain. Effects of straw cover on the control of soil and water losses were assessed. An addition of 60% straw cover (75 g m–2) resulted in delayed ponding and runoff generation and consequently reduced water losses from 60% to 13% of total rainfall. The straw cover reduced raindrop impact and thus sediment detachment from 1014 to 47 g plot–1 h–1. The erosion rate was reduced from 5.1 to 0.2 Mg ha–1 h–1. The straw mulch was found to be extremely efficient in reducing soil erosion rates.
203 citations
TL;DR: In this paper, the authors identify the areas that are susceptible to desertification in this region based on the 11 influencing factors of desertification (pedology, geology and geomorphology, topography data, land use and land cover change, aridity index, livestock density, rural population density, fire hot spot density, human development index, conservation units) which were simulated for two different periods: 2000 and 2010.
Abstract: . Approximately 57% of the Brazilian northeast region is recognized as semi-arid land and has been undergoing intense land use processes in the last decades, which have resulted in severe degradation of its natural assets. Therefore, the objective of this study is to identify the areas that are susceptible to desertification in this region based on the 11 influencing factors of desertification (pedology, geology, geomorphology, topography data, land use and land cover change, aridity index, livestock density, rural population density, fire hot spot density, human development index, conservation units) which were simulated for two different periods: 2000 and 2010. Each indicator were assigned weights ranging from 1 to 2 (representing the best and the worst conditions), representing classes indicating low, moderate and high susceptibility to desertification. The results indicate that 94% of the Brazilian northeast region is under moderate to high susceptibility to desertification. The areas that were susceptible to soil desertification increased by approximately 4.6% (83.4 km2) from 2000 to 2010. The implementation of the methodology provides the technical basis for decision-making that involves mitigating actions and the first comprehensive national assessment within the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification framework.
172 citations
Cites background from "Effect of rainfall intensity, slope..."
...This heterogeneity is induced by overgrazing, one of the main causes of the increase of bare soil that facilitates water and wind erosion and accelerates the desertification process (Cerdà and Lavee, 1999; Kröpfl et al., 2013; Pulido-Fernández et al., 2013; Ziadat and Taimeh, 2013)....
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References
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Book•
01 Jan 1978
TL;DR: The Universal Soil Loss Equation (USLE) as discussed by the authors is a model designed to predict the average rate of soil erosion for each feasible alternative combination of crop system and management practices in association with a specified soil type, rainfall pattern and topography.
Abstract: The Universal Soil Loss Equation (USLE) enables planners to predict the average rate of soil erosion for each feasible alternative combination of crop system and management practices in association with a specified soil type, rainfall pattern, and topography. When these predicted losses are compared with given soil loss tolerances, they provide specific guidelines for effecting erosion control within specified limits. The equation groups the numerous interrelated physical and management parameters that influence erosion rate under six major factors whose site-specific values can be expressed numerically. A half century of erosion research in many states has supplied information from which at least approximate values of the USLE factors can be obtained for specified farm fields or other small erosion prone areas throughout the United States. Tables and charts presented in this handbook make this information available for field use. Significant limitations in the data are identified. The USLE is an erosion model designed to compute longtime average soil losses from sheet and rill erosion under specified conditions. It is also useful for construction sites and other non-agricultural conditons, but it does not predict deposition and does not compute sediment yields from gully, streambank, and streambed erosion
6,947 citations
6,011 citations
"Effect of rainfall intensity, slope..." refers methods in this paper
...Soil moisture content was measured before each run by a gravimetric method (Gardner, 1986) using a small soil sample taken with a metal core (1 cm diameter)....
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5,058 citations
"Effect of rainfall intensity, slope..." refers background or methods in this paper
...The computed standardized regression equations (Steel et al., 1996) indicated that rainfall intensity generally had the highest contribution to soil loss and runoff for both cultivated and uncultivated soils (Table IV)....
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...…weight diameter (R = 0·58) and soil salinity (R= 0·76). r cultivated and uncultivated (natural) soils The computed standardized regression equations (Steel et al., 1996) indicated that rainfall intensity generally had the highest contribution to soil loss and runoff for both cultivated and…...
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TL;DR: In this paper, the authors provide an up-to-date review of the research on this topic and an analysis of the causes for the different effects observed and the implications for soil system functioning and for the hydrology of the affected areas are also discussed.
475 citations
"Effect of rainfall intensity, slope..." refers result in this paper
...The dynamic changes in soil aggregate stability at various soil moisture contents and the impact on soil erosion and runoff could also explain these results (Cerdà, 1996; Cerdà, 1998; Mataix-Solera et al., 2011)....
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TL;DR: Wang et al. as discussed by the authors analyzed surface runoff and soil loss from 2007 to 2010 related to land use and rainfall regimes in karst hill slopes in Guizhou Province, southwest China.
Abstract: Surface runoff and soil loss from 2007 to 2010 related to land use and rainfall regimes in karst hill slopes in Guizhou Province, southwest China, were analyzed. Using the hierarchical clustering method, sixty-one rainfall events under the subtropical monsoon climate condition were classified into 5 types of rainfall regimes according to the depth, maximum 30-min intensity, and duration of rainfall. In our study, we first demonstrated that the amounts of surface runoff and soil loss on the karst hill slopes were very small compared to the non-karst areas, because the dual hydrological structure in the karst region, including ground and underground drainage systems, could influence the processes of rainfall recharge and runoff generation. Most rainfall water was transported underground through limestone fissures and fractures, while little was in the form of surface runoff. Second, the runoff and soil loss were affected by land use management and vegetation cover. Soil loss was intensified in a descending order to five types of land uses: pastureland > burned area > cropland > combination vegetation land > young forestland. Third, the runoff and soil loss exhibited remarkable variances among different rainfall regimes. Large runoff and soil loss were mainly created by heavy rainfall storms with a rainfall depth of more than 40 mm and a maximum 30-min rainfall intensity of over 30 mm h− 1. In addition, rainfall storms with large antecedent precipitations could also produce large runoff and soil loss. These observations indicated that limestone fissures and fractures play important roles in surface runoff generation on karst limestone slopes due to their large storage capacity and high infiltration rate. Lastly, the soil erosion risk in the karst pure limestone slope is quite high and should be paid particular attention, especially in regards to over-grazing because the soil loss created by a single heavy rainstorm in pastureland was 5 times the annual soil loss tolerance.
300 citations
"Effect of rainfall intensity, slope..." refers background in this paper
...Similarly, Peng & Wang (2012) indicated that large runoff and soil loss could be produced from rainfall events with high antecedent precipitations....
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