Quantification and control of runoff and soil erosion on avocado orchards on ridges along steep-hillslopes

Youlton, Cristián; Espejo, Paulina; Biggs, Jaime; Norambuena, Marcela; Cisternas, Marco; Neaman, Alexander; Salgado, Eduardo Gomes

doi:10.4067/s0718-16202010000300010

Cited by 15 publications

(10 citation statements)

References 24 publications

Supporting

Mentioning

Contrasting

Unclassified

Order By: Relevance

“…The interception of rainfall by groundcovers dissipates the impact of raindrops on the soil surface, ultimately reducing runoff and erosion ). We observed a significant reduction in runoff and erosion in both groundcover treatments compared to the bare soil treatment, and similar observations were reported by Youlton et al (2010) and Francia Martinez et al (2006), in avocado and olive orchards under different groundcover treatments.…”

Section: Mitigation Of Nutrient Lossessupporting

confidence: 92%

“…Previous studies have shown that groundcovers can provide runoff and soil erosion control in perennial fruit plantings on hillsides Garcia-Orenes et al 2009;Gomez et al 2003;Martinez Raya et al 2006;Youlton et al 2010). The interception of rainfall by groundcovers dissipates the impact of raindrops on the soil surface, ultimately reducing runoff and erosion ).…”

Section: Mitigation Of Nutrient Lossesmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…The bermed soil remains loose and vulnerable to wind or water erosion. The ditched channels between berms concentrate runoff and provide few obstacles to rapid outflows down the hillsides on occasions when there are intense rainfalls (Youlton et al 2010). The climate in avocado growing regions of Central Chile is Mediterranean type, strongly influenced by the Southern Oscillation, causing El Niño and La Niña events with alternate multiyear cycles of torrential and low rainfall events (CONAMA 2006;Gasto et al 1987).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

See 2 more Smart Citations

Soil erosion, runoff and nutrient losses in an avocado (Persea americana Mill) hillside orchard under different groundcover management systems

et al. 2012

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Aims Assess the influence of different groundcover management systems on erosion and runoff processes associated with extremely steep hillside avocado (Persea americana Mill) orchards, in a Mediterranean climate with high rainfall variability. Methods We compared several groundcover management systems at a steep hillside avocado planting in a three-year study: 1) Bare soil (BS), pre-and postemergence herbicides; 2) Vegetation strip (VS), postemergence herbicide applied in a 1-m wide strip on the tree row plus groundcover seeded between tree rows; 3) Groundcover (GC), over the entire plot surface. Results Trees in the BS plots were 44 and 53 % bigger, and had 150 and 250 % higher yields than trees in VS and GC, respectively. Runoff volumes, soil losses, dissolved organic carbon, PO 4 -P and total N losses were significantly higher in BS than VS and CG treatments. Total soil nitrogen (N) and carbon (C) content, C-to-N ratios, and essential plant nutrient availability were greater in the GC soil than in other treatments. Soil macroporosity and aggregate stability were 8-27 % and 25 % lower, and soil bulk density significantly higher in the BS than the VS and GC systems at the end of the study. Terbuthylazine herbicide concentrations in runoff water from BS plots ranged from 55.4 to 79.9 μgL −1 , exceeding maximum allowed levels for drinking water (0.1 μgL −1 ). Conclusion Soil erosion and runoff rates from newly planted hillside orchards are not environmentally sustainable under current growing practices where groundcover vegetation is completely suppressed. High sediment losses and herbicide residues in runoff water present serious risk of water source pollution, but these impacts can be reduced by alternative soil management systems.

show abstract

Section: Mitigation Of Nutrient Lossessupporting

confidence: 92%

Section: Mitigation Of Nutrient Lossesmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

See 1 more Smart Citation

Soil erosion, runoff and nutrient losses in an avocado (Persea americana Mill) hillside orchard under different groundcover management systems

et al. 2012

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…However, some shrublands could be negatively affected by grazing activities and transformed into grasslands. Moreover, the strong promotion of agriculture through multiple financial and regulatory instruments has led to agricultural development on slopes, especially of avocado trees and vineyards for wine production, in the Central Valley [ 72 ]. In addition, the increase in forests could be related to methodological improvements made to the cadasters [ 51 ].…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Monitoring the effects of land cover change on the supply of ecosystem services in an urban region: A study of Santiago-Valparaíso, Chile

et al. 2017

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Mankind’s quest for well-being results in continuous pressure to transform landscapes, with said transformation driven by land use changes, urbanization, production activity, and protective measures in addition to climate variability and other environmental drivers. The relationship between anthropogenic landscape changes and the provision of ecosystem services (ES) is a topic of increasing interest in Latin America. In Chile, land cover changes due to increased urbanization and forestry, and expansion of agricultural land, in addition to conservation initiatives as a part of land planning, have been intensive in the last few decades. In this study, the effects of anthropogenic landscape changes on the supply of ES were analyzed for the urban region of Santiago-Valparaiso (Chile) using a method based on expert consultation and land cover change assessment. A pool of experts scored the potential of specific land covers to provide certain ES. The results enabled calculation and mapping of changes in the potential of the landscape to supply ES. The aforementioned changes over a period of 15 years were evaluated. The results indicate a tenuous balance between positive and negative changes to the supply of ES derived from land cover changes. Understanding and reporting how these processes occur in urban regions contributes to the conservation of valuable landscapes through spatial planning tools, especially in areas close to housing developments and sensitive ecosystems.

show abstract

“…The reason why the topsoil layer of Andosols under avocado orchards has greater mechanical resistance to penetration may be linked to compaction because of transit of motorized farm vehicles (frequency of usage) as well as trampling by laborers during weeding, pruning, agrochemical application, and harvesting activities, among other possible causes. Because soil compaction reduces pore size, hardening of the topsoil may reduce water infiltration and induce an earlier start of superficial runoff at moderate intensities of rainfall (Kozlowski, 1999;Youlton et al, 2010). A study in Malaysia showed that the conversion of secondary tropical peat swamp forest to oil palm plantation significantly increased soil bulk density and soil strength (Firdaus et al, 2010).…”

Section: Physical Propertiesmentioning

confidence: 99%

Effects of Converting Forest to Avocado Orchards on Topsoil Properties in the Trans‐mexican Volcanic System, Mexico

et al. 2012

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

In the present work, land cover and land use changes between 2003 and 2008 were assessed in the Cupatitzio River sub‐basin located in the Trans‐Mexican Volcanic System and Balsas Depression in Mexico. The effects of land cover conversion from temperate forest to avocado orchards on soil properties were determined. Land cover and land use databases were built for the years 1975, 2003, and 2008 using available cartographic information and interpretation of panchromatic SPOT images for the year 2008. Additionally, soil sampling was carried out in 16 representative sites in the higher parts of the sub‐basin, where avocado plantation dynamics have caused important changes in areas covered by temperate forests. Results show that (i) temperate coniferous and tropical low deciduous forests were reduced at an annual rate of 0·9 per cent (1, 001 ha y−1) between 1975 and 2008; (ii) cropland areas expanded at an annual rate of 0·7 per cent between 1975 and 2008, representing a growth of 553 ha y−1; (iii) wet soil aggregate stability, mechanical resistance to penetration and nitrate (N‐NO3) concentration in the topsoil layer of Andosols were significantly affected by land use conversion to avocado orchards. Other soil properties such as organic matter, interchangeable K, and available P showed degradation tendencies. These results suggest the importance of implementing strategies for mitigating the accelerated process of transformation and degradation of natural resources in the Cupatitzio River sub‐basin. The implementation of programs for deforestation reduction should be a priority in the restoration strategy. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

show abstract

Quantification and control of runoff and soil erosion on avocado orchards on ridges along steep-hillslopes

Cited by 15 publications

References 24 publications

Soil erosion, runoff and nutrient losses in an avocado (Persea americana Mill) hillside orchard under different groundcover management systems

Soil erosion, runoff and nutrient losses in an avocado (Persea americana Mill) hillside orchard under different groundcover management systems

Monitoring the effects of land cover change on the supply of ecosystem services in an urban region: A study of Santiago-Valparaíso, Chile

Effects of Converting Forest to Avocado Orchards on Topsoil Properties in the Trans‐mexican Volcanic System, Mexico

Contact Info

Product

Resources

About