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A special issue of Applied Sciences (ISSN 2076-3417). This special issue belongs to the section "Environmental Sciences".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (20 July 2022) | Viewed by 26948

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Dr. Gema Guzmán

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Guest Editor

Institute for Sustainable Agriculture-CSIC, 14004 Córdoba, Spain
Interests: sediment tracers; water erosion; soil conservation
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Dr. David Zumr

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Guest Editor

Faculty of Civil Engineering, Czech Technical University in Prague, 16629 Prague, Czech Republic
Interests: environmental engineering; soil physics; catchment hydrology

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Soil erosion is among the major soil threats identified in the Status of the World’s Soil Resources report (FAO, 2015). Its consequences do not only affect agriculture but also environment and health. Therefore, the implementation of successful soil and water conservation measures is a key point for ensuring a sustainable and food-secure world (Global Symposium on Soil Erosion, 2019).

This Special Issue aims to cover any topic related to the design, implementation, and effects of traditional or innovative soil and water conservation measures in water-erosion-susceptible areas, such as road slopes, low-permeability soils, or agricultural zones. Besides this, this Special Issue intends to gather multidisciplinary approaches covering well-documented techniques, experiments, or modeling approaches to quantify or validate the effectiveness of the developed measures, from laboratory to landscape scales.

We invite submissions addressing the following:

- Scientific evaluation and quantified effects of mitigation measures on soil and water conservation. We will appreciate complex studies where the combination of various techniques and/or costs evaluation is introduced.

- New methods or techniques that may help in the assessment of soil degradation (such as water and sediment tracers, innovative uses of geophysical survey tools, remote sensing, etc.).

- Well-documented experiments that evaluate (preferably quantitatively) the effects of conservation measures on soil degradation.

- Utilization of process-based numerical models to predict or evaluate the effectiveness of conservation measures, as well as regional-scale models with the capability to highlight the hotspots where the conservation measures can be effectively applied. Specifically, we invite authors to submit studies that present novel approaches to the parametrization of conservation measures in the models.

Dr. Gema Guzmán
Dr. David Zumr
Guest Editors

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Keywords

conservation measures
water erosion
soil degradation
soil erosion modelling
hydrological modelling
experimental hydrology
agriculture, water and sediment connectivity

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Published Papers (7 papers)

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Research

16 pages, 2316 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Aggregate and Particle Size Distribution of the Soil Sediment Eroded on Steep Artificial Slopes

by Romana Kubínová, Martin Neumann and Petr Kavka

Appl. Sci. 2021, 11(10), 4427; https://doi.org/10.3390/app11104427 - 13 May 2021

Cited by 9 | Viewed by 4122

Abstract

In this study, the particle size distribution (PSD) of the soil sediment from topsoil obtained from soil erosion experiments under different conditions was measured. Rainfall simulators were used for rain generation on the soil erosion plots with slopes 22°, 30°, 34° and length 4.25 m. The influence of the external factors (slope and initial state) on the particle and aggregate size distribution were evaluated by laser diffractometer (LD). The aggregate representation percentage in the eroded sediment was also investigated. It has been found that when the erosion processes are intensive (steep slope or long duration of the raining), the eroded sediment contains coarser particles and lower amounts of aggregates. Three methods for the soil particle analyses were tested: (i) conventional–sieving and hydrometer method; (ii) PARIO Soil Particle Analyzer combined with sieving; and (iii) laser diffraction (LD) using Mastersizer 3000. These methods were evaluated in terms of reproducibility of the results, time demands, and usability. It was verified that the LD has significant advantages compared to other two methods, especially the short measurement time for one sample (only 15 min per sample for LD) and the possibility to destroy soil aggregates using ultrasound which is much easier than using hexametaphosphate. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Challenges and Solutions in Soil and Water Conservation)

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12 pages, 11874 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Artificial Macropores with Sandy Fillings Enhance Desalinization and Increase Plant Biomass in Two Contrasting Salt-Affected Soils

by Yifu Zhang, Ruihong Zhang, Baofeng Zhang and Xiaobo Xi

Appl. Sci. 2021, 11(7), 3037; https://doi.org/10.3390/app11073037 - 29 Mar 2021

Cited by 2 | Viewed by 1740

Abstract

Salt accumulation in topsoil is a widespread restricting factor that limits agricultural production and threatens food security in arid and semi-arid regions. However, whether this upward enrichment was suppressed by macropores was less documented. Therefore, artificial macropores with sandy fillings (AMSF) method was proposed in this study. Soil column experiments showed a significant improvement of saturated hydraulic conductivity (Ks) by more than 260% under artificial macropore treatment. Freshwater irrigation was conducted to monitor the short-term water and salt movement. This research aimed at evaluating the potential benefit of AMSF method on soil desalinization in coastal farmland of northern China. The results demonstrated that downward movement of soil water was stimulated in AMSF method, accordingly, washing more salt ions out of top rooting zone. Particularly, 10 cm or more macropore depth treatments of AMSF method enhanced total desalinization by 52.1% to 176.6% in 0–30 cm soil layer, in comparison to the control group without macropore. Subsequent observations for alfalfa showed higher biomass by 20.8% under 15 cm macropore depth. The results here provided an exploration demonstration to pursue these studies with the ultimate goal of optimizing application strategies for amendment in coastal salt-affected lands of northern China. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Challenges and Solutions in Soil and Water Conservation)

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14 pages, 2719 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Root System and Its Relations with Soil Physical and Chemical Attributes in Orange Culture

by Ronny Sobreira Barbosa, Zigomar Menezes de Souza, Marina Pedroso Carneiro and Camila Viana Vieira Farhate

Appl. Sci. 2021, 11(4), 1790; https://doi.org/10.3390/app11041790 - 18 Feb 2021

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 2297

Abstract

Citrus companies have sought and developed alternative systems of tillage or implanting orchards so as not to significantly alter the physical and chemical attributes of the soil and, consequently, the root development of plants. Therefore, the aim of this study was to identify the physical and chemical attributes of the soil that most influence the root volume of the orange crop in different tillage systems. The experiment was carried out in the region of Avaré, state of São Paulo, Brazil, in Utissol and Oxisol. For the planting of the orange crop, the following tillages were made: minimum tillage, subsoiler tillage and soil tillage using a triple tillage implement. The physical and chemical attributes evaluated were bulk density, macroporosity, microporosity, total porosity, soil moisture, soil mean weight-diameter, soil resistance to penetration, sum of bases, cation exchange capacity, base saturation, pH, exchangeable cations, potential acidity, available phosphorus, analysis of micronutrients such as copper, iron, manganese and zinc, and organic carbon content. The root system was evaluated using SIARCS^® software. For data classification, data mining techniques were used such as attribute selection and decision tree induction. Regardless of the soil type, the use of the triple operation implement provided greater root volume for orange plants. For the Utisol area, the pH value of 4.2 was the main attribute that provided a high root volume. For the Oxisol, the presence of copper, in levels that did not generate toxicity for the plants, provided a high volume of root for the crop. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Challenges and Solutions in Soil and Water Conservation)

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24 pages, 9574 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Understanding Indigenous Farming Systems in Response to Climate Change: An Investigation into Soil Erosion in the Mountainous Regions of Central Vietnam

by Chuong Van Huynh, Tung Gia Pham, Tan Quang Nguyen, Linh Hoang Khanh Nguyen, Phuong Thi Tran, Quy Ngoc Phuong Le and Mai Thi Hong Nguyen

Appl. Sci. 2020, 10(15), 5091; https://doi.org/10.3390/app10155091 - 24 Jul 2020

Cited by 17 | Viewed by 5028

Abstract

Soil erosion is a considerable concern in the upland areas of Central Vietnam. This situation is most serious in regions, where the terrain is sloped and subjected to heavy rainfall. Our research was conducted in a mountainous area, belonging to Central Vietnam, the area of Song Kon commune in the Dong Giang district. The objective of this study is first to estimate the impact of soil erosion risk in these areas, and second to assess the capacity of farming systems which are based on indigenous knowledge (IK) to respond to soil erosion. Our data were collected by Participatory Rural Appraisal (PRA) and processed using Geographical Information System (GIS) methods. We then interpreted this research using the Universal Soil Loss Equation (USLE) in order to calculate the soil erosion rate. The Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI) and the Enhanced Vegetation Index (EVI) were also used as measurements to compare the difference of land surface covers between different farming systems. The results showed that the lowest soil erosion rate was found in the narrow valley regions, which are populated by both agricultural and residential areas. On the other hand, soil erosion was extremely high in the more northerly quadrant of our research area. Our findings also indicate that local farmers are highly aware of soil erosion, which has positively influenced the adoption of adaptation measures (AMs) in their agricultural activities. The most common AMs are as follows: changes in cropping patterns, the adjustments of their planting calendars, the use of native varieties, and intercropping methods. These AMs are mediated by the cultural observances of the local ethnic minority peoples in relation to their IK. We have concluded that when farmers apply IK in their farming systems, the soil erosion rate tends to decrease as compared with non-indigenous knowledge (NIK) practices. We hope to bring a better understanding of the processes that shape farmers’ AMs and thereby to develop well-targeted adaptation policies that can then be applied at the local level. Our findings may be instrumental in future adaptation planning and policies in regard to climate change, and that they will help to increase awareness not only in matters of the soil erosion but also in other interconnected aspects of climate change in these areas. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Challenges and Solutions in Soil and Water Conservation)

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17 pages, 2883 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Rainfall Parameters Affecting Splash Erosion under Natural Conditions

by Nives Zambon, Lisbeth Lolk Johannsen, Peter Strauss, Tomas Dostal, David Zumr, Martin Neumann, Thomas A. Cochrane and Andreas Klik

Appl. Sci. 2020, 10(12), 4103; https://doi.org/10.3390/app10124103 - 15 Jun 2020

Cited by 17 | Viewed by 4326

Abstract

The interaction between rainfall erosivity parameters and splash erosion is crucial for describing the soil erosion process; however, it is rarely investigated under natural rainfall conditions. In this study, we conducted splash erosion experiments under natural rainfall on three sites in Central Europe. The main goal was to obtain the relationship between splash erosion of the bare soil in seedbed condition and commonly used rainfall erosivity parameters (kinetic energy, intensity, and rainfall erosivity (EI₃₀)). All sites were equipped with a rain gauge and an optical laser disdrometer where the splash erosion was measured, with modified Morgan splash cups. In order to investigate which parameter best describes the splash erosion process for all sites, a regression analysis was performed. In total, 80 splash erosion events were evaluated. Splash erosion can be described as a linear function of total kinetic energy and a non-linear function of EI₃₀_. However, the use of the total kinetic energy led to underestimation of the splash erosion rates for highly intensive rainfalls. Therefore, better results were obtained when using average rainfall intensity as the splash erosion predictor or the kinetic energy divided by the rainfall duration. Minor differences between the replicates during splash erosion measurements indicate that the modified Morgan splash cup provides a good tool for soil erosion assessment. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Challenges and Solutions in Soil and Water Conservation)

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18 pages, 2170 KiB

Open AccessFeature PaperArticle

Operational USLE-Based Modelling of Soil Erosion in Czech Republic, Austria, and Bavaria—Differences in Model Adaptation, Parametrization, and Data Availability

by Peter Fiener, Tomáš Dostál, Josef Krása, Elmar Schmaltz, Peter Strauss and Florian Wilken

Appl. Sci. 2020, 10(10), 3647; https://doi.org/10.3390/app10103647 - 25 May 2020

Cited by 15 | Viewed by 3422

Abstract

In the European Union, soil erosion is identified as one of the main environmental threats, addressed with a variety of rules and regulations for soil and water conservation. The by far most often officially used tool to determine soil erosion is the Universal Soil Loss Equation (USLE) and its regional adaptions. The aim of this study is to use three different regional USLE-based approaches in three different test catchments in the Czech Republic, Germany, and Austria to determine differences in model results and compare these with the revised USLE-base European soil erosion map. The different regional model adaptations and implementation techniques result in substantial differences in test catchment specific mean erosion (up to 75% difference). Much more pronounced differences were modelled for individual fields. The comparison of the region-specific USLE approaches with the revised USLE-base European erosion map underlines the problems and limitations of harmonization procedures. The EU map limits the range of modelled erosion and overall shows a substantially lower mean erosion compared to all region-specific approaches. In general, the results indicate that even if many EU countries use USLE technology as basis for soil conservation planning, a truly consistent method does not exist, and more efforts are needed to homogenize the different methods without losing the USLE-specific knowledge developed in the different regions over the last decades. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Challenges and Solutions in Soil and Water Conservation)

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9 pages, 6684 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Influence of Living and Dead Roots of Gansu Poplar on Water Infiltration and Distribution in Soil

by Dashuai Zhang, Yao Dai, Lingli Wang and Liang Chen

Appl. Sci. 2020, 10(10), 3593; https://doi.org/10.3390/app10103593 - 22 May 2020

Cited by 8 | Viewed by 2405

Abstract

During rapid urbanization, it is necessary to increase soil permeability and soil porosity for reducing urban runoff and waterlogging risk. Woody plants are known to increase soil porosity and preferential flow in soil via living roots growth and dead roots decay. However, the primary results of dead woody plant roots on soil porosity and permeability have been discussed based only on the hypotheses or assumptions of different researchers. In this study, living and dead roots (decayed under natural conditions for more than 5 years) of Gansu poplar trees (Populus gansuensis) were selected. They were selected to compare the influence between living and dead roots on water infiltration rate and soil porosity in a cylindrical container (diameter = 20 cm, height = 66 cm) under laboratory conditions. Results indicated that the steady-state water fluxes at the bottom of the containers without roots (control), with living roots, and with dead roots were 54.75 ± 0.80, 61.31 ± 0.61, and 55.97 ± 0.59 cm d⁻¹, respectively. Both living roots and dead roots increased the water infiltration rates in soil and also increased the water storage capacity of soil. The water storage capacities of soil without roots, with living roots, and with dead roots were 0.279, 0.317, and 0.322 cm³ cm⁻³, respectively. The results from SEM indicated that smaller pores (30–50 μm) were in living roots and larger pores (100–1000 μm) were in dead roots. The soil permeability was increased by living roots possibly due to the larger channels generated on the surface of the roots; however, water absorbed into the dead roots resulted in greater water storage capacity. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Challenges and Solutions in Soil and Water Conservation)

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