The effect of land use on runoff and soil erosion rates under Mediterranean conditions

Kosmas, C.; Danalatos, N.G.; Cammeraat, Erik; Chabart, M.; Diamantopoulos, J.; Farand, R.; Gutiérrez, L.; Jacob, Ana Caroline Pitzer; Marques, Hugo; Martínez-Fernández, J.; Mizara, A.; Moustakas, N.; Nicolau, J. M.; Oliveros, Carlos; Pinna, G.; Puddu, R.; Puigdefàbregas, Joan; Roxo, Maria José Leitão Barroso; Simao, A.; Στάμου, Γεώργιος; Tomasi, Nicola; Usai, D.; Vacca, Andrea

doi:10.1016/s0341-8162(96)00062-8

Cited by 471 publications

(338 citation statements)

References 14 publications

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“…Nevertheless, some crops are more prone to soil erosion than others. There is a paucity of quantitative information on soil erosion under various crops in the Mediterranean, but the available data confirm that cereal cultivation can be affected by rilling and gullying, even on smooth gradients (Casalí et al, 1999;Kosmas et al, 2002), with increasing soil loss as mean precipitation increases (Kosmas et al, 1997;Jebari et al, 2010). In cereal cultivation the soil is bare during autumn and part of winter, which coincides with one of the rainiest periods in the Mediterranean region and the season having the most intense rainstorms, particularly in the western Mediterranean.…”

Section: The Erosion Consequences Of Changing Agriculturementioning

confidence: 99%

“…Kosmas et al (1997), De Santisteban et al (2006, Ramos and Martínez-Casasnovas (2006a), Casalí et al (2009), Cerdan et al, (2010 and Novara et al (2011) reported that vineyards are subject to the highest erosion rates, which is of major importance given that the area occupied by vineyards in 2010 was 1,172,797 ha in Spain, 377,991 ha in south France (Langedoc-Roussillon, Provence and Rhône), 777,480 ha in Italy, 99,286 ha in Greece, and 73,000 ha in Algeria. Two of the most important erosion problems in vineyards are: (i) the low level of plant cover (5-40%) from November to April, particularly in the case of young vineyards, where plant cover is almost completely absent for most of the year; and (ii) the steepness of vineyard slopes.…”

Section: The Erosion Consequences Of Changing Agriculturementioning

confidence: 99%

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Erosion in Mediterranean landscapes: Changes and future challenges

et al. 2013

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Intense erosion processes are widespread in the Mediterranean region, and include sheet wash erosion, rilling, gullying, shallow landsliding, and the development of large and active badlands in both subhumid and semi-arid areas. This review analyses the main environmental and human features related to soil erosion processes, and the main factors that explain the extreme variability of factors influencing soil erosion, particularly recent land use changes. The importance of erosion in the Mediterranean is related to the long history of human activity in a region characterized by low levels of annual precipitation, the occurrence of intense rainstorms and long-lasting droughts, high evapotranspiration, the presence of steep slopes and the occurrence of recent tectonic activity, together with the recurrent use of fire, overgrazing and farming. These factors have resulted in a complex landscape in which intensification and abandonment, wealth and poverty can co-exist. The changing conditions of national and international markets and the evolution of population pressure are now the main drivers explaining land use changes, including farmland abandonment in mountain areas, the expansion of some subsidized crops to marginal lands, and the development of new terraces affected by landslides and intense soil erosion during extreme rainstorm events. The occurrence of human-related forest fires affecting thousands of hectares each year is an increasing problem in both the northern and southern areas of the Mediterranean basin. Here, we highlight the rise of new scientific challenges in controlling the negative consequences of soil erosion in the Mediterranean region: (i) to reduce the effects and extent of forest fires, and restructure the spatial organization of abandoned landscapes; (ii) to provide guidance for making EU agricultural policy more adapted to the complexity and fragility of Mediterranean environments; (iii) to develop field methods and models to improve the identification of runoff and sediment contributing areas; (iv) to contribute to the conservation of landscapes (i.e. bench-terraced fields) having high cultural and productivity values; (v) to improve knowledge of the hydrological and geomorphological functioning of badlands, with the aim of reducing sediment yield and accessibility; (vi) to better understand the effect of climate change on soil erosion in the Mediterranean region; and (vii) to improve quantitative information on long-term soil erosion. COVER LETTER

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Section: The Erosion Consequences Of Changing Agriculturementioning

confidence: 99%

Section: The Erosion Consequences Of Changing Agriculturementioning

confidence: 99%

Erosion in Mediterranean landscapes: Changes and future challenges

et al. 2013

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“…Plots cultivated with crops and the forage legume alfalfa typically remain almost bare during early summer and autumn due to drought and removal of annual vegetation (Kosmas et al, 1997). The plots of cropland ploughed and with lower coverage suffered more intense erosion than soil of the pastureland plots.…”

Section: The Variation Of Water and Soil Lossmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…However, the related physical and biological changes affecting the erosion rates (Turner, 1989; within the soil may operate over a longer period (Martinez-Fernandez et al, 1995). Generally, the effects of land use on soil erosion are closely related to land-use types, management practices, vegetation cover (Bryan and Cambell, 1986;Francis and Thornes, 1990;Kosmas et al, 1997;Bellot et al, 2001), the stability and resilience of the soil and vegetation, and the frequency and severity of disturbances. Furthermore, it has been proved that the soil and water conservation effects of vegetation result from the integrated effects of vegetation at different levels (canopy, undergrowth, and/or litter) (Dunne et al, 1991;Hudson, 1995;Woo et al, 1997).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

The relative efficiency of four representative cropland conversions in reducing water erosion: evidence from long‐term plots in the Loess hilly area, China

Huang

Chen

et al. 2006

Land Degrad Dev

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Large areas of traditional slope cropland were recently converted to other land-use types in the semiarid Loess Plateau of China. In this study, we selected four representative conversion options of slope croplands, i.e., pastureland rotated with cropland (cultivated with Medicago sativa L. and rotated with Triticum aestivum L.), shrubland and woodland (afforested with Hippophae rhamnoides L. and Pinus tabulaeformis), and grassland (native herbage Stipa breviflora) to study the effect of landuse conversion by comparing with traditional cropland. Compared with slope cropland, the relative effects of different conversion options on surface runoff and soil erosion were assessed over a 14-year measurement period. Observations showed that distinct features and consequences of vegetation succession were found among the conversion options. Plots of shrubland had the highest vegetation coverage with dense undergrowth; natural herbaceous and subshrub species gradually spread into plots of grassland resulting in higher vegetation cover. Neither bushes nor herbs colonized the plots of Pinus tabulaeformis, which resulted in a higher percentage of bare soil. Significant differences in runoff generation, sediment yield and conservation efficiencies among the selected conversion options were detected through an analyses of variance (ANOVA). Compared with cropland, total runoff and sediment decreased by 65 per cent and 95 per cent in shrubland, 41 per cent and 92Á5 per cent in grassland, 18 per cent and 77 per cent in woodland, and 12 per cent and 58 per cent in pastureland, respectively. The ranking of soil and water conservation efficiencies was shrubland > grassland > woodland > pastureland > cropland. Based on the effectiveness of soil and water conservation, shrubland and grassland are highly recommended as promising options for cropland conversion projects. However, pastureland and woodland are not suggested as potential options for slope-cropland conversion because of low soil and water conservation in the long term.

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“…In 2001, soil losses from the six land uses were less because of the lower intensity of rainfall. Runoff generation and soil loss appear to be controlled by a combined function of rainfall intensity, canopy cover and soil conditions (Kosmas et al, 1997;Thomas et al, 1992;Rai and Sharma, 1998). Calcic Cambisols (FAO-UNESCO, 1974) in this experimental area have good soil structure, resulting in high infiltration rates and high soil moisture (Zhu, 1994).…”

Section: Effects Of Land Use On Soil Erosion and Nitrogen Lossmentioning

confidence: 99%

Water input from fog drip in the tropical seasonal rain forest of Xishuangbanna, South-West China

et al. 2004

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This study examines the effects of land use and slope angle on runoff, soil loss and nitrogen loss from hillslopes of the Loess Plateau in China. Farmland, wasteland and four forest treatments (sea buckthorn þ poplar, immature sea buckthorn, mature sea buckthorn, and immature Chinese pine) were the types of land use that were compared. The results showed that July was the critical period for runoff, soil loss and nitrogen loss from farmland. Farmland was the most susceptible land use. Sea buckthorn þ poplar, immature sea buckthorn, and mature sea buckthorn limited the runoff, soil loss and nitrogen loss. Farmland on slopes over 15 degrees should be abandoned because of the high erosion rate and nitrogen loss.

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The effect of land use on runoff and soil erosion rates under Mediterranean conditions

Cited by 471 publications

References 14 publications

Erosion in Mediterranean landscapes: Changes and future challenges

Erosion in Mediterranean landscapes: Changes and future challenges

The relative efficiency of four representative cropland conversions in reducing water erosion: evidence from long‐term plots in the Loess hilly area, China

Water input from fog drip in the tropical seasonal rain forest of Xishuangbanna, South-West China

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