Assessing hillslope-channel connectivity in an agricultural catchment using rare-earth oxide tracers and random forests models

Masselink, Rens; Temme, A.J.A.M.; Díaz, Rafael Giménez; Sarasíbar, Javier Casalí; Keesstra, Saskia

doi:10.18172/cig.3169

Cited by 70 publications

(52 citation statements)

References 35 publications

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“…Future research should compare the results from different slope positions (summit, shoulder, back-and footslope), different vine ages, different lithologies, before and after tilling or in plots with organic farming. The ISUM method assess the topography and then the connectivity of the flows such as Masselink et al (2017aMasselink et al ( ,2017b surveyed, and this information can be also applied at micro-catchments (Vaezi et al, 2017). Further purely methodological advancements can be made by increasing the number of measured points between the vine rows from 3 to 10 to create a more continuous topographical profile of the soil.…”

Section: Comparisonmentioning

confidence: 99%

Improving stock unearthing method to measure soil erosion rates in vineyards

Rodrigo‐Comino

Cerdà

2018

Ecological Indicators

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A B S T R A C TVineyard soils experience high erosion rates compared to soils from other agricultural land uses. The high soil losses in vineyards limits the sustainability of traditional production schemes and warrants comprehensive research aimed at thwarting the main erosion processes affecting vineyard systems. However, long-term measurements, which include spatial variability of soil erosion rates at the plot scale, are uncommon, as most of the measurements have taken place either at the hillslope or watershed scales. Against this background, the stock unearthing method (SUM) can be considered a useful methodology. However, the current method falls short because it assumes that the topography between the vine lines (inter-rows) remains planar. Therefore, we propose a new methodology (ISUM: improved stock unearthing method) that includes three measurements between in the inter-row areas. By taking inter-row measurements, we hypothesized that the spatial patterns of sediment detachment, transport and deposition features in the inter-rows would be detected. The ISUM costs 20% more time to conduct than the SUM, but greatly improved the utility of the field survey. ISUM allowed for: i) the creation of maps that identified linear soil erosion features and accumulation sites; ii) measures the amount of soil accumulated under the vines; iii) estimation of soil erosion rates with higher accuracy at long-term periods in a specific moment. This study compared the ISUM with the SUM in a vineyard in Spain. Soil erosion rates with ISUM were −2.5 Mg ha yr −1 while the SUM calculated rates of +4.9 Mg ha yr −1.Results showed that the traditional method underestimated soil rates a −25.7%. Maps created with the ISUM technique could also be used to provide insights about sediment connectivity.

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Section: Comparisonmentioning

confidence: 99%

Improving stock unearthing method to measure soil erosion rates in vineyards

Rodrigo‐Comino

Cerdà

2018

Ecological Indicators

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“…The paper submitted by Masselink et al (2017) can be seen in a similar way, as it observes natural processes in an unaltered agricultural system. Anyhow, this paper deserves a special mention as it tackles the concept of connectivity in erosion research.…”

Section: The Topics Of This Issuementioning

confidence: 75%

Experiments as tools in geomorphology

Seeger

2017

CIG

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“…Their study called for new frameworks that should include water and sediment dynamics in two parts, measurable phases and fluxes. To better understand the sediments delivery and consequently mitigate soil erosion, the effect of large and small rain events field data is important (Masselink et al, ).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Assessment of soil erosion under rainfed sugarcane in KwaZulu‐Natal, South Africa

Abdalla

Dickey

Hill

et al. 2019

Natural Resources Forum

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Soil erosion from agricultural land use runoff is a major threat to the sustainability of soil composition and water resource integrity. Sugarcane is an important cash and food security crop in South Africa, subjected to an intensive soil erosion, and consequently, severe land degradation. This study aimed to investigate soil erosion and associated soil and cover factors under rainfed sugarcane, in a small catchment, KwaZulu‐Natal, South Africa. Three replicated runoff plots were installed at different slope positions (down, mid and upslope) within cultivated sugarcane fields to monitor soil erosion during the 2016–2017 rainy season. On average, annual runoff (RF) was significantly greater from 10 m2 plots with 1163.77 ± 2.63 l/m/year compared to 1 m2 plots. However, sediment concentration (SC) was significantly lower in 10 m2 (0.34 ± 0.04 g/l) compared to 1 m2 (6.94 ± 0.24 g/l) plots. The annual soil losses (SL) calculated from 12 rainfall events was 58.36 ± 0.77 and 8.84 ± 0.20 t/ha from 1 m2 and 10 m2 plots, respectively. The 1 m2 plot, SL (2.4 ± 1.41 ton/ha/year) in the upslope experienced 33% more loss than the midslope and 50% more loss than the downslope position. SL was relatively lower from the 10 m2 plots than the 1 m2 plots, which is explained by high sediment deposition at the greater plot scale. SL was negatively correlated with the soil organic carbon stocks (r = −0.82) and soil surface cover (r = −0.55). RF decreased with the increase of slope gradient (r = −0.88) and soil infiltration rate (r = −0.87). There were considerable soil losses from cultivated sugarcane fields with low organic matter. These findings suggest that to mitigate soil erosion, soil organic carbon stocks and vegetation cover needs to be increased through appropriate land management practices, particularly in cultivated areas with steep gradients.

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Assessing hillslope-channel connectivity in an agricultural catchment using rare-earth oxide tracers and random forests models

Cited by 70 publications

References 35 publications

Improving stock unearthing method to measure soil erosion rates in vineyards

Improving stock unearthing method to measure soil erosion rates in vineyards

Experiments as tools in geomorphology

Assessment of soil erosion under rainfed sugarcane in KwaZulu‐Natal, South Africa

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