The largest currently compiled database of plot runoff and soil loss data in Europe and the Mediterranean was analysed to investigate effects of land use on annual soil loss (SL), annual runoff (R) and annual runoff coefficient (RC). This database comprises 227 plot-measuring sites in Europe and the Mediterranean, with SL for 1056 plots (PL) representing 7024 plot-years (PY) and R for 804 PL representing 5327 PY. Despite large data variability, continental-wide trends are observed. Construction sites have the highest mean annual RC (57%) and SL (325 Mg.ha -1 .yr -1 ). Bare soil, vineyards and tree crops have high mean annual RC (5-10%) and SL (10-20 Mg.ha -1 .yr -1 ). Cropland and fallow show similar mean annual RC (8.0 and 7.3%), but lower SL (6.5 and 5.8 Mg.ha -1 .yr -1 ). Plots with (semi-)natural vegetation cover show lowest mean annual RC (<5%) and SL (<1 Mg.ha -1 .yr -1 ). Plot length and slope gradient correlations with R and SL depend on land-use type and are not concurrent for R and SL. Most land-use types show positive correlations between annual R and SL. Plots in cold climates have higher annual RC than plots in temperate and pan-Mediterranean climates. Annual SL in the pan-Mediterranean is less than in temperate zones, due to stony or clayey soils having a low erodibility. Annual RC in the pan-Mediterranean was higher than in temperate zones. Annual R increases strongly with increasing annual precipitation (P) above 500 mm.yr -1 , while annual SL was found to stabilize at P > 500 mm.yr -1 . For shrubland, annual SL was found to decrease for P > 250-500 mm.yr -1 , which is attributed to

Purpose: This study aims to understand better the relationship between measured soil loss rates due to sheet and rill erosion (SL), predicted SL rates and measured catchment sediment yields (SY) in Europe.2 Materials and methods: Analyses were based on a recently established database of measured annual SY for 1794 catchments, a database of 777 annual SL rates measured on runoff plots, and two recent maps of predicted sheet and rill erosion rates in Europe (i.e. one based on empirical extrapolations of measured SL data, and one based on the PESERA model). To identify regional trends, all data were grouped into eight climatic zones.Results and discussion: Measured SL rates are generally a factor of five to 10 times larger than predicted SL rates and are strongly biased towards erosion-prone situations in terms of land use. Also measured SY are generally higher than predicted SL rates, especially in the Mediterranean and Alpine regions where SY is generally 10 times higher than predicted SL rates. This illustrates the importance of other erosion processes contributing to SY. Regional differences in the importance of these processes and their implications are discussed. Conclusions:This study confirms previous findings indicating the relatively low sheet and rill erosion rates compared to SY in the Mediterranean region, and illustrates the importance of other erosion processes contributing to SY in most regions of Europe. This indicates that hillslope erosion rates cannot be used directly to estimate SY, and consequently soil conservation programmes should focus more on the dominant erosion processes in each catchment.

No abstract

Field and laboratory studies indicate that utilisation of biological geotextiles constructed from palm-leaves and other selected organic materials are an effective, sustainable and economically viable soil conservation technique. The three-year plus

No abstract