Soil erosion and deposition rates in a cultivated catchment area in central Greece, estimated using the 137Cs technique

Is soil erosion in olive groves as bad as often claimed?

“…The 'unexplained' differences (also a factor of 100) support the suggestion that the assessment of soil erosion rates will always be biased, depending on the methods and scales of analysis employed (Stroosnijder, 2005). Theocharopoulos et al (2003), who assessed erosion rates with 137 Cs at catchment level, estimated that the net soil loss from the catchment amounted to 18-22 ton ha − 1 yr − 1 , while soil erosion rates measured at various points within the catchment varied between 4.5 and 96 ton ha − 1 yr − 1 . They ascribed this difference to sedimentation, which ranged from 1 to 189 ton ha − 1 yr − 1 at different points in the catchment.…”

“…This problem, which is inherent to many methods (see for instance the previously mentioned example of Theocharopoulos et al 2003), suggests the need to verify erosion estimates at the outlet of the catchment or subcatchment -especially if the erosion estimates are to be used to assess potential off-site effects.…”

Soil redistribution rate and its relationship with soil organic carbon and total nitrogen using 137Cs technique in a cultivated complex hillslope in western Iran

“…Mabit et al (2008) reported statistically significant positive correlations between 137 Cs inventories and total sand but a negative relationship with fine silt. Theocharopoulos et al (2003) found statistically significant positive correlations between 137 Cs concentration and SOM, soil phosphorus, and total nitrogen in the upper 15 cm of the soil. Some researchers have found no significant correlation between 137 Cs inventories of the soil profile and SOC, but a higher correlation in the upper soil layers by applying non-linear equations (Mabit et al, 2008).…”

“…Van der Perk et al (2002) reported a significant relationship between 137 Cs inventory, the sediment transport index (STI) and profile curvature in a hilly region of the Danube Lowland in western Slovakia. Also, Theocharopoulos et al (2003) reported that 137 Cs inventories were significantly correlated with elevation and slope in a small catchment under rainfed wheat cultivation in central Greece.…”

Estimates of soil erosion using cesium-137 tracer models

“…Use of nuclear techniques in erosion monitoring and especially for qualification of soil loss has offered a fast and economical tool to estimate erosion rate starting with 137 Cs in 1970s (Ritchie and McHenry 1990). 137 Cs techniques have been used extensively to quantify erosion-induced soil losses over the 35-40 years (McIntyre 1987;Walling et al 1995;Walling and He 1999;Ritchie and Rasmussen 2000;Theocharoploulos et al 2002;Ugur et al 2003aUgur et al ,b, 2004Sac 2003). Fallout of this artificial radionuclide from the atmospheric testing of nuclear weapons began in 1954 and reached a peak in 1963, the year of international test ban treaty, after which it declined sharply.…”