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Advances in Soil Erosion Studies: Data Acquisition and Technique Application

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A special issue of Land (ISSN 2073-445X). This special issue belongs to the section "Soil-Sediment-Water Systems".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (31 March 2023) | Viewed by 28512

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Special Issue Editors

Dr. Yaser Ostovari

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Guest Editor

Chair of Soil Science, Research Department of Ecology and Ecosystem Management, TUM-School of Life Sciences Weihenstephan, Technical University of Munich, 85354 Freising, Germany
Interests: soil erosion and degradation; GIS; remote sensing; water quality modeling; soil carbon

Dr. Ali Akbar Moosavi

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Guest Editor

Department of Soil Science, College of Agriculture, Shiraz University, Shiraz 1352467891, Iran
Interests: soil erosion; land degradation; soil physics; hydrology; soil infiltration

Dr. Deirdre Dragovich

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Guest Editor

Associate Professor, School of Geosciences F09, The University of Sydney, Sydney 2006, Australia
Interests: soil erosion; land degradation; catchment hydrology; arid lands; erosion management; environmental geomorphology
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Soil erosion by water and wind, globally recognized as the main cause of land degradation, is the detachment and movement of soil material triggered by rainfall, runoff, and wind. The process may be natural or accelerated by human activity. Investigation of soil erosion, particularly in arable and forest land, is necessary to develop management strategies and to implement support practices in order to preserve soil fertility and productivity, resulting in the sustainable development of agriculture and crop production. Although conservation techniques have long been used to minimize land degradation and soil erosion through modifying erosion processes, the effectiveness of conservation measures in contributing to currently perceived sustainable development practices needs further investigation. Hence, this Special Issue welcomes original research on: (1) methods of water and wind erosion measurement; (2) modeling soil erosion and land degradation risk using new approaches; (3) the relationship between soil hydrology and soil erosion; (4) the effects of land use changes on soil erosion and sediment production; and (5) applying remote sensing and GIS for predicting soil erosion.

We look forward to receiving your contributions.

Dr. Yaser Ostovari
Dr. Ali Akbar Moosavi
Dr. Deirdre Dragovich
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Land is an international peer-reviewed open access monthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2600 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

soil erosion
land degradation
GIS
land uses
remote sensing

Published Papers (14 papers)

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Research

15 pages, 4036 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Methodology for Determining Gully Widths in Multi-Temporal Studies in Olive Groves of Southern Spain

by Antonio Tomás Mozas-Calvache, Julio Antonio Calero González, Theo Guerra Dug and Tomas Manuel Fernández del Castillo

Land 2023, 12(6), 1161; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/land12061161 - 31 May 2023

Viewed by 1012

Abstract

This study describes a new methodology for estimating gully widths based on their digitized borders. The procedure adapts a previous method developed to determine the mean displacement between two 3D linestrings, considering them continuously, which represents an advance over conventional approaches. In addition to the calculation of the average horizontal distance, it also considers the calculation of widths by sections of a given length in order to analyze differences in their behavior compared to the results for the entire gully. The method is also adapted to multi-temporal studies to analyze the evolution of the gully by comparing width values from several dates. Application was carried out with a large number of linestrings representing gullies of a wide area of olive groves, which were digitized from orthoimages with 0.5 m resolution of two dates. The results demonstrate the feasibility of the proposed method for characterizing gullies and analyzing their evolution between several dates both completely and by sections, allowing the detection of critical areas of gully development. Therefore, these results can be used as input data to improve gully erosion susceptibility maps and to define zones for preventive or corrective actions. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in Soil Erosion Studies: Data Acquisition and Technique Application)

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10 pages, 1347 KiB

Open AccessFeature PaperArticle

Scale Issue for Organic and Inorganic Carbon Exports to Oceans: Case Study in the Sub-Tropical Thukela River Basin, South Africa

by Macdex Mutema, Sandiswa Figlan and Vincent Chaplot

Land 2023, 12(4), 815; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/land12040815 - 03 Apr 2023

Viewed by 1100

Abstract

Despite carbon (C) exports from continents being crucial in the connection between terrestrial, atmospheric, and oceanic C, there is still limited understanding of the dynamics of C within river basins. The objective of this work was to assess the changes in particulate (POC) and dissolved organic (DOC) and inorganic C (PIC: particulate inorganic carbon, DIC: dissolved inorganic carbon) content, quality, and fluxes within a river basin from its headwaters to its exit at the ocean. A survey was designed in the Thukela basin (from 2012 to 2013 and at six nested catchments ranging from ~10 to ~30,000 km²) in the east of South Africa to evaluate the content, fluxes, and quality (UV spectral slope, ¹³C, CO₂ effluxes from runoff) of the transported C in conjunction with chemical elements (Si, Na) for discriminating between the water sources and estimating C dynamics during low flows. Total carbon exports decreased continuously from 9.75 km² in the headwater (31.9 kg C km⁻² y⁻¹) to ocean (4.7 kg C km⁻² y⁻¹) with the highest decrease occurring between the catchment (7614 km²) and large catchment (14,478 km²). About 80% of C exports from the headwaters were POC, followed by DIC (10%) and DOC (10%), while at the ocean, the proportions were 31% (POC), 45% (DIC), 23% (DOC), and 0.7% (PIC). Moreover, there was a sharp decrease in the dissolved organic matter aromaticity from the headwater to ocean and for both DOC and POC that did not correspond to changes in water sources along the river (as indicated by a relatively constant Si/Na ratio). This pointed to the decomposition in the river of the dissolved organic matter originating from soils and to the within-stream organic production. Further in situ investigations need to be performed to quantify the within-stream inputs. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in Soil Erosion Studies: Data Acquisition and Technique Application)

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14 pages, 14058 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Measuring Sediment Transport Capacity of Concentrated Flow with Erosion Feeding Method

by Liqin Qu, Tingwu Lei, Chenyan Zhou and Xiusheng Yang

Land 2023, 12(2), 411; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/land12020411 - 03 Feb 2023

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1206

Abstract

Sediment transport capacity in rills is an important parameter for erosion modeling on hillslopes. It is difficult to measure, especially at gentle slopes with limited rill length. In this study, a special flume with variable slope gradients in upper and lower sections was implemented to measure the sediment transport capacity. The upper flume section with a higher slope gradient generates faster water flow that could scout more sediment to feed the water flow in the rill. The rest of the flume is set at the designated slopes to measure the transport capacity in different slope and runoff conditions. A series of flume experiments were conducted with silt-loam soil to verify the method. The sediment transport capacity was measured under slope gradients of 5°, 10°, 15°, 20°, and 25° and a flow rate of 2, 4, 8, and 16 L min⁻¹. The measured sediment transport capacity values were compared with reference measurements from other rill erosion experiments with similar materials and setups. At high slope gradients of 15°, 20°, and 25°, the newly suggested method produced almost the same transport capacity values. Under the low slope gradients of 5° and 10°, the maximum sediment concentrations from the 8 m long flume with the uniform gradients in the previous experiments, rill erosion with an 8 m long flume produced were about 36% lower than the values measured with the new method, which is insufficient to make the flow reach sediment transport capacity. The sediment transport capacities at lower slopes measured with the new method followed the same trend as those at higher slopes. The new method can supply enough sediments to ensure the flow approach transport capacity measurement and, therefore, provides a feasible approach for estimating sediment transport capacity for conditions with relatively gentle slopes. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in Soil Erosion Studies: Data Acquisition and Technique Application)

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21 pages, 11181 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Monitoring of Water and Tillage Soil Erosion in Agricultural Basins, a Comparison of Measurements Acquired by Differential Interferometric Analysis of Sentinel TopSAR Images and a Terrestrial LIDAR System

by Francisco A. Sánchez-Crespo, María Teresa Gómez-Villarino, Eutiquio Gallego, José M. Fuentes, Ana I. García and Francisco Ayuga

Land 2023, 12(2), 408; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/land12020408 - 03 Feb 2023

Viewed by 1191

Abstract

Agricultural production, the main pillar of food security, is highly dependent on soil quality, and threatened by erosion processes that degrade soil quality. This article is part of a research to verify the usefulness of differential interferometric analysis on TopSAR (Terrain Observation with Progressive Scans SAR, Synthetic Aperture Radar) images to measure water and tillage erosion in small agricultural basins. For this, images from the Sentinel 1 mission are used, analyzing the deformations on the earth’s surface. The purpose of this research is to verify the accuracy of the proposed method by comparing its measures with the ones taken with the gold standard laser terrestrial LIDAR (Light Detection and Ranging) system, as well as to establish a basic step period framework that guarantees an admissible loss of coherence. The results on a pilot plot in El Molar (north of Madrid, Spain) showed that the differences lay within the range of the error associated with the very LIDAR system and showed that coherence losses correspond with the deformations measured. Given the economic and labor advantages of the differential interferometric analysis, this method could be regarded as an excellent alternative to the use of LIDAR in large-scale studies for measuring ground deformation caused by water and tillage erosion. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in Soil Erosion Studies: Data Acquisition and Technique Application)

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21 pages, 10493 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Land Use and Land Cover Change Monitoring and Prediction of a UNESCO World Heritage Site: Kaziranga Eco-Sensitive Zone Using Cellular Automata-Markov Model

by Nityaranjan Nath, Dhrubajyoti Sahariah, Gowhar Meraj, Jatan Debnath, Pankaj Kumar, Durlov Lahon, Kesar Chand, Majid Farooq, Pankaj Chandan, Suraj Kumar Singh and Shruti Kanga

Land 2023, 12(1), 151; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/land12010151 - 02 Jan 2023

Cited by 19 | Viewed by 2861

Abstract

The Kaziranga Eco-Sensitive Zone is located on the edge of the Eastern Himalayan biodiversity hotspot region. In 1985, the Kaziranga National Park (KNP) was declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO. Nowadays, anthropogenic interference has created a significant negative impact on this national park. As a result, the area under natural habitat is gradually decreasing. The current study attempted to analyze the land use land cover (LULC) change in the Kaziranga Eco-Sensitive Zone using remote sensing data with CA-Markov models. Satellite remote sensing and the geographic information system (GIS) are widely used for monitoring, mapping, and change detection of LULC change dynamics. The changing rate was assessed using thirty years (1990–2020) of Landsat data. The study analyses the significant change in LULC, with the decrease in the waterbody, grassland and agricultural land, and the increase of sand or dry river beds, forest, and built-up areas. Between 1990 and 2020, waterbody, grassland, and agricultural land decreased by 18.4, 9.96, and 64.88%, respectively, while sand or dry river beds, forest, and built-up areas increased by 103.72, 6.96, and 89.03%, respectively. The result shows that the area covered with waterbodies, grassland, and agricultural land is mostly converted into built-up areas and sand or dry river bed areas. According to this study, by 2050, waterbodies, sand or dry river beds, and forests will decrease by 3.67, 3.91, and 7.11%, respectively; while grassland and agriculture will increase by up to 16.67% and 0.37%, respectively. The built-up areas are expected to slightly decrease during this period (up to 2.4%). The outcome of this study is expected to be useful for the long-term management of the Kaziranga Eco-Sensitive Zone. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in Soil Erosion Studies: Data Acquisition and Technique Application)

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15 pages, 7362 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Integration of GIS and Remote Sensing with RUSLE Model for Estimation of Soil Erosion

by Amlan Ghosh, Sayandeep Rakshit, Suvarna Tikle, Sandipan Das, Uday Chatterjee, Chaitanya B. Pande, Abed Alataway, Ahmed A. Al-Othman, Ahmed Z. Dewidar and Mohamed A. Mattar

Land 2023, 12(1), 116; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/land12010116 - 30 Dec 2022

Cited by 13 | Viewed by 3226

Abstract

Globally, soil erosion is a significant problem contributing to nutrient loss, water quality degradation, and sand accumulation in water bodies. Currently, various climate factors are affecting the natural resources entire worldwide. Agricultural intensification, soil degradation, and some other human impacts all contribute to soil erosion, which is a significant issue. Management and conservation efforts in a watershed can benefit from a soil erosion study. Modeling can establish a scientific and accurate method to calculate sediment output and soil erosion below a variety of circumstances. The measured soil loss tolerance was compared to the risk of soil erosion (T value).In this study, GIS and remote sensing techniques have been integrated with the Revised Universal Soil Loss Equation (RUSLE) model to estimate soil loss in the Mayurakshi river basin of eastern India. To determine soil erosion-prone areas, rainfall, land use, and land cover maps, as well as a digital elevation model (DEM), were used as input. The annual soil loss in the basin area is estimated to be 4,629,714.8 tons. Accordingly, the study basin was categorized into five soil loss severity classes: very low (40.92%), low (49%), moderate (6.5%), high (2.4%) and very high (1.18%) risk classes. Soil erosion rates ranged from very slight to slight throughout the majority of the region. The section of the basin’s lower plain has been discovered to be least affected by soil loss. The results of study area can be helpful to conservation of soil management practices and watershed development program in the basin area. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in Soil Erosion Studies: Data Acquisition and Technique Application)

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20 pages, 6021 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Modeling and Assessment of Land Degradation Vulnerability in Arid Ecosystem of Rajasthan Using Analytical Hierarchy Process and Geospatial Techniques

by Brijesh Yadav, Lal Chand Malav, Raimundo Jiménez-Ballesta, Chiranjeev Kumawat, Abhik Patra, Abhishek Patel, Abhishek Jangir, Mahaveer Nogiya, Roshan Lal Meena, Pravash Chandra Moharana, Nirmal Kumar, Ram Prasad Sharma, Lala Ram Yadav, Gangalakunta P. Obi Reddy and Banshi Lal Mina

Land 2023, 12(1), 106; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/land12010106 - 29 Dec 2022

Cited by 5 | Viewed by 2585

Abstract

Wind erosion is a major natural disaster worldwide, and it is a key problem in western Rajasthan in India. The Analytical Hierarchy Process (AHP), the Geographic Information System (GIS), and remote sensing satellite images are effective tools for modeling and risk assessment of land degradation. The present study aimed to assess and model the land degradation vulnerable (LDV) zones based on the AHP and geospatial techniques in the Luni River basin in Rajasthan, India. This study was carried out by examining important thematic layers, such as vegetation parameters (normalized difference vegetation index and land use/land cover), a terrain parameter (slope), climatic parameters (mean annual rainfall and land surface temperature), and soil parameters (soil organic carbon, soil erosion, soil texture, and soil depth), using the Analytical Hierarchical Process (AHP) and geospatial techniques in the Luni River basin in Rajasthan, India. The weights derived for the thematic layers using AHP were as follows: NDVI (0.27) > MAR (0.22) > LST (0.15) > soil erosion (0.12) > slope (0.08) > LULC (0.06) > SOC (0.04) > soil texture (0.03) > soil depth (0.02). The result indicates that nearly 21.4 % of the total area is prone to very high degradation risks; 12.3% is prone to high risks; and 16%, 24.3%, and 26% are prone to moderate, low, and very low risks, respectively. The validation of LDV was carried out using high-resolution Google Earth images and field photographs. Additionally, the Receiver Operating Characteristic (ROC) curve found an area under the curve (AUC) value of 82%, approving the prediction accuracy of the AHP technique in the study area. This study contributes by providing a better understanding of land degradation neutrality and sustainable soil and water management practices in the river basin. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in Soil Erosion Studies: Data Acquisition and Technique Application)

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16 pages, 5763 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Check-Dams and Silt Fences: Cost-Effective Methods to Monitor Soil Erosion under Various Disturbances in Forest Ecosystems

by Aristeidis Kastridis, Stella Margiorou and Marios Sapountzis

Land 2022, 11(12), 2129; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/land11122129 - 25 Nov 2022

Cited by 6 | Viewed by 1822

Abstract

The present study was conducted in the suburban forest “Seich Sou”, which is located at the north-east of Thessaloniki city (north Greece). “Seich Sou” is one of the most significant suburban forests of North Greece. However, many disastrous events have taken place in the suburban forest during the last 25 years, caused by either human interference or other biotic/abiotic factors, such as insect outbreaks. In the present study, erosion measurements and field data were collected using a combination of silt fences (USLE plots) and depositions retained behind the constructed check-dams, aiming to monitor the impact of the significant biotic and abiotic disturbances (forest fires, insect outbreaks, logging) in Seich Sou forest. Specifically, the aim of this study is to present a cost-effective and time saving methodology towards the achievement of accurate and reliable soil erosion measurements and field data acquisition. Additionally, the installation details, data recording and collection, field work, supplementary materials and the advantages of silt fences and check-dams are presented in detail, as well as the limitations of the methods and the difficulties during the installation, maintenance and data collection period. The proposed methodology could be effectively applied in many environments and in the context of varied purposes, to quantify the erosion and runoff processes with high accuracy, as well as to increase the accuracy of soil erosion modeling performance, through implementation of calibration and/or validation processes, which is a major issue for the scientific community. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in Soil Erosion Studies: Data Acquisition and Technique Application)

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18 pages, 7065 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Modelling Initiation Stage of Backward Erosion Piping through Analytical Models

by Guanyong Luo, John D. Rice, Sige Peng, Hong Cao, Hong Pan and Guoyuan Xu

Land 2022, 11(11), 1970; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/land11111970 - 03 Nov 2022

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1193

Abstract

Backward erosion piping, which is one of the leading causes of levee and dam failures, is more likely to occur when a flow is concentrated on a defect with an overlying low-permeability layer and a shallow erosion channel forming and progressing towards a seepage source. Two analytical models are presented to allow assessment of the seepage regime on the initiation stage of BEP. The variations between the two models are analysed, indicating that the effects of soil loosening have a major role in the assessment of BEP mechanisms. This paper also describes the reliability of using Xiao’s model in 3D analysis, which includes results and parametric analysis. Although the head in front of the tip of the erosion channel can be predicted by this accepted calculation model, which is essential for laboratory work on this topic, the model also has range and boundary limitations that need to be addressed for general prediction when BEP progresses with channel development. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in Soil Erosion Studies: Data Acquisition and Technique Application)

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22 pages, 7623 KiB

Open AccessFeature PaperArticle

Soil Erosion and Deposition Rate Inside an Artificial Reservoir in Central Italy: Bathymetry versus RUSLE and Morphometry

by Margherita Bufalini, Marco Materazzi, Chiara Martinello, Edoardo Rotigliano, Gilberto Pambianchi, Michele Tromboni and Marco Paniccià

Land 2022, 11(11), 1924; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/land11111924 - 28 Oct 2022

Cited by 5 | Viewed by 1452

Abstract

This study, using different direct and indirect methodologies, evaluated the sedimentation rate in an artificial reservoir in central Italy. This reservoir is regionally representative and was built in the 1960s for hydroelectric purposes; it has experienced a strong decrease in trap efficiency and a loss of over 70% of the stored water volume. Direct measurements of the lake bottom bathymetry, carried out in 2006 and 2015, and 3D reconstructions performed in a GIS environment, made it possible to calculate the volume of filling material and to verify an increasing trend in the sedimentation rate since 2006. The sample reservoir denudation rate was compared with that obtained using the Revised Universal Soil Loss Equation method to calibrate the fundamental and critical factors of the method itself, and verify the contribution of a hydrological “direct” (through new channels or gullies) or “diffuse” (overland flow) connectivity. Furthermore, the comparison with the results obtained from past studies on ten other artificial regional reservoirs, performed with morphometric analysis, demonstrated a good relationship between soil erosion rate, stream frequency, and contributing area size. The study highlighted how a correct estimate of soil erosion and/or solid transport rates within a hydrographic basin is fundamental for the assessment of the trap efficiency of a reservoir, in a period in which the availability of water resources is becoming more and more vital. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in Soil Erosion Studies: Data Acquisition and Technique Application)

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36 pages, 20390 KiB

Open AccessArticle

The Significance of Digital Elevation Models in the Calculation of LS Factor and Soil Erosion

by Maria Michalopoulou, Nikolaos Depountis, Konstantinos Nikolakopoulos and Vasileios Boumpoulis

Land 2022, 11(9), 1592; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/land11091592 - 16 Sep 2022

Cited by 11 | Viewed by 2506

Abstract

This study focuses on the role of topography in soil erosion modelling by examining the impact of topographic data from various sources on the calculation of the slope length and slope steepness factor (LS). For this purpose, the Pinios dam drainage basin in the Ilia Regional Unit, Western Greece, was selected as a pilot area of this study. Specifically, six Digital Elevation Models (DEM) from four different sources with various resolutions (5, 30, and 90 m) were compared with ground control point (GCP) values to assess their relative vertical accuracy. These DEM were acquired for the calculation of the LS factor by using two different equations. Then the calculated LS factors were implemented in the RUSLE model for the estimation of soil loss. The current study includes a comparative analysis of the elevation, the slopes, the LS factor, and the soil loss. The results showed that the 5 m resolution DEM had the best vertical accuracy, and thus it is considered to be the most suitable DEM for soil erosion modelling. Moreover, the comparison of the DEM elevation values showed high similarity, in contrast to the slope values. In addition, the comparative assessment of the LS and soil loss values calculated from each DEM with the two LS equations revealed a great divergence. It is noticeable that both LS and soil loss results presented higher values for slopes greater than 20°. It is concluded that the comparison of the LS values calculated with the two examined approaches and the use of different DEM with various resolutions and different sources does not change consistently with the increase of DEM grid size and accuracy. Thus, it is very significant in soil erosion modelling to use an LS equation that imports thresholds in its formula to avoid overestimation in soil loss calculations. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in Soil Erosion Studies: Data Acquisition and Technique Application)

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28 pages, 7468 KiB

Open AccessFeature PaperArticle

Development of an ArcGIS-Pro Toolkit for Assessing the Effects of Bridge Construction on Overland Soil Erosion

by Habib Ahmari, Matthew Pebworth, Saman Baharvand, Subhas Kandel and Xinbao Yu

Land 2022, 11(9), 1586; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/land11091586 - 16 Sep 2022

Cited by 3 | Viewed by 2744

Abstract

Erosion is a natural process, but it can be accelerated by anthropogenic activities. Two of the predominant types of human-induced erosion are related to agricultural and construction activities. Of the two, construction-induced erosion is more severe because of the simultaneous removal of the land cover, disturbance of the soil, and eventual compaction of the soil by heavy machinery. Eroded materials released from bridge construction sites can alter the sediment regime and geomorphological conditions of receiving streams and may have short- and long-term impacts on aquatic habitats. Several models have been developed to estimate the total amount of soil erosion and sediment yield; however, no predictive model is available to quantify the potential release of sediment during the construction of bridges or to predict the quantity, size fraction, and accumulation depths for the extent of the measurable downstream effect. A GIS-based predictive sediment toolkit is developed to estimate the overland erosion and to determine the potential depositional area and suspended sediment concentration downstream of bridges. The performance of the GIS toolkit in estimating soil erosion was assessed using field data collected from the Wilson Creek bridge construction site in McKenney, Texas, U.S., and it was concluded that it predicted the overland erosion rate and sediment yield within the ranges observed in the field. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in Soil Erosion Studies: Data Acquisition and Technique Application)

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21 pages, 9666 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Solutions for the Spatial Organization of Cropland with Increased Erosion Risk at the Regional Level: A Case Study of Belgorod Oblast, European Russia

by Zhanna A. Buryak, Anastasiya G. Narozhnyaya, Artyom V. Gusarov and Achim A. Beylich

Land 2022, 11(9), 1492; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/land11091492 - 05 Sep 2022

Cited by 5 | Viewed by 1880

Abstract

Among the reasons for soil degradation, runoff-induced erosion causes the greatest damage to agriculture in European Russia. One of the effective tools for regulating soil erosion is changing the structure of sown areas and the composition of crops with a focus on soil conservation and rehabilitation land use. The aim of this paper is to present the results of the impact of the program on river-basin nature management and the adaptive landscape agriculture system (ALAS) on changes in soil losses due to storm erosion in one of the agriculturally most developed and, at the same time, most eroded administrative regions of European Russia—Belgorod Oblast. In this study, the calculation of potential soil washout was carried out for three cropland models: (1) The maximum erosion potential of the territory, expressed in terms of soil washout from bare (clean) fallow areas; (2) soil washout, considering the actual structure of sown areas over the past 10 years; and (3) soil washout, considering the full implementation of projects for the erosion-control organization of cropland within the framework of ALAS. The calculation of erosion-induced soil losses was carried out according to the USLE model adapted to regional environmental conditions, while the C-factor values were set separately for each model. For model 1, the average soil loss is 11.3 t/ha per year; for model 2, it is 3.5 t/ha per year; and for model 3, it is 2.2 t/ha per year. It was found that the current programs for the biologization of agriculture and the contour-reclamation organization of cropland would have a noticeable erosion-control effect. It is noteworthy that the greatest efficiency was modeled for areas with unfavorable relief conditions, with up to 40% reduction in soil losses as compared to actual ones. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in Soil Erosion Studies: Data Acquisition and Technique Application)

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18 pages, 10472 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Erosion Map Reliability Using a Geographic Information System (GIS) and Erosion Potential Method (EPM): A Comparison of Mapping Methods, BELGRADE Peri-Urban Area, Serbia

by Nataša Veličković, Mirjana Todosijević and Desanaka Šulić

Land 2022, 11(7), 1096; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/land11071096 - 18 Jul 2022

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 2162

Abstract

Soil erosion is a product of natural and anthropogenic factors and, at the same time, an economic and environmental concern. One of the methods applied to calculate the intensity of erosion is the erosion potential method (EPM), with two possible procedures for determining the average erosion coefficient of an area: analytical and graphical. Using GIS and EPM methods, without field observations of erosion, based on cartographic materials and satellite images, erosion maps were created for 1970 and 2018, for part of the peri-urban area of Belgrade. Based on the created erosion maps, the values of the mean coefficients of erosion, as well as the arithmetic means for the study area, were determined for the settlements. The aim of the study is to assess the reliability of the mean coefficient of soil erosion, obtained from the erosion map created from the cartographic materials and satellite images, without field observations of erosion. Thus, the obtained values of the mean erosion coefficient were compared with the values obtained from the erosion map with field observation and the values obtained by the analytical procedure. Statistical analysis (F test) for 1970 and for 2018 determined a high degree of reliability (p < 0.05) of the mean erosion coefficients of the area obtained from erosion maps that were created from cartographic materials and satellite images without field observation. Regardless of the procedure for determining the mean erosion coefficient, a significant decrease in soil losses was observed, from 10.64 to 5.97 t ha⁻¹year⁻¹ (average annual specific production of sediments, year 1970 and 2018, respectively). Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in Soil Erosion Studies: Data Acquisition and Technique Application)

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