Global Status, Processes and Trends in Soil Erosion
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Keynote: Soil Conservation for C Sequestration R
This paper was not peer-reviewed. Pages 459-465. In: D.E. Stott, R.H. Mohtar and G.C. Steinhardt (eds). 2001. Sustaining the Global Farm. Selected papers from the 10th International Soil Conservation Organization Meeting held May 24-29, 1999 at Purdue University and the USDA-ARS National Soil Erosion Research Laboratory. Keynote: Soil Conservation For C Sequestration R. Lal* ABSTRACT fragile ecosystems such as the Himalyan-Tibean ecoregion, The atmospheric concentration of greenhouse gases the Andeas, the West African Sahel, East African Highlands, (GHG) is increasing at the rate of 0.5% yr-1 (3.2 Pg C and the Caribbean region (Scherr and Yadav, 1995; Scherr, -1 -1 -1 yr ) for CO2, 0.6% yr for CH4 and 0.25 ppbv yr for 1999). In addition to effects on productivity, soil erosion N2O. The global radiative forcing due to three GHGs is also profoundly impacts the environment. contributed by 20% due to agricultural activities and Two principal impacts of erosion on environment include 14% to change in land use and attendant deforestation. reduction in quality of water and air through pollution and Principal agricultural activities that contribute to eutrophication of surface water, and emissions of emission of GHGs include plowing, application of radioactively-active gases (e.g., CO2, CH4 and N2O) to the fertilizers and manures, soil drainage, biomass burning, atmosphere. Increasing atmospheric concentration of -1 -1 residue removal. The loss of soil C is accentuated by soil radioactively-active gases (0.5% yr for CO2, 0.6% yr for -1 degradation (due to erosion, compaction, salinization CH4, 0.25% yr for N2O) (IPCC, 1995) necessitates etc.) and the attendant decline in soil quality. -
Effects of Erosion Control Practices on Nutrient Loss
Effects of Erosion Control Practices on Nutrient Loss George F. Czapar, University of Illinois John M. Laflen, Iowa State University Gregory F. McIsaac, University of Illinois Dennis P. McKenna, Illinois Department of Agriculture Elements of Soil Erosion Soil erosion by water is the detachment of soil particles by the direct action of raindrops and runoff water, and the transport of these particles by splash and very shallow flowing water to small channels or rills. Detachment of soil particles also occurs in these rills due to the force exerted by the flowing water. When rills join together and form larger channels, they may become gullies. These gullies can be either temporary (ephemeral) or permanent (classical). Non-erodible channels might be grassed waterways, or designed channels that limit flow conditions so that channel erosion does not occur. Gross erosion includes sheet, rill, gully and channel erosion, and is the first step in the process of sediment delivery. Because much eroded sediment is deposited in or near the field of origin, only a fraction of the total eroded soil from an area contributes to sediment yield from a watershed. Sediment delivery is affected by a number of factors including soil properties, proximity to the stream, man made structures-including sediment basins, fences, and culverts, channel density, basin characteristics, land use/land cover, and rainfall-runoff factors. Coarse- textured sediment and sediment from sheet and rill erosion are less likely to reach a stream than fine-grained sediment or sediment from channel erosion. In general, the larger the area, the lower the ratio of sediment yield at the watershed outlet or point of interest to gross erosion in the entire watershed, defined as the sediment delivery ratio (SDR). -
Contaminated Soil in Gardens
Contaminated Soil in Gardens How to avoid the harmful effects EUR/ICP/LVNG 03 01 02(A) E64737 EUROPEAN HEALTH21 TARGET 11 HEALTHIER LIVING By the year 2015, people across society should have adopted healthier patterns of living (Adopted by the WHO Regional Committee for Europe at its forty-eighth session, Copenhagen, September 1998) Abstract In many cities, gardens are located on old, abandoned landfills and dumping sites. Cities have expanded by filling up spaces around the city with garbage, rubble and earth. The places where old landfills were have often become gardens where citizens can get away and enjoy the open air away from the noise and racket of cities. Normal garbage and rubble in landfills do not present a problem, however industrial and chemical waste can present a health hazard, especially when concentrations of contaminants are above acceptable limits. Some special precautions are proposed in this booklet so that the potential ill effects of contaminated soil can be avoided. Keywords SOIL POLLUTANTS RISK MANAGEMENT GUIDELINES URBAN HEALTH Contents The soil is contaminated – what then? .......................................................1 What is in the ground under us?.................................................................2 How harmful substances may affect the body ............................................3 How to reduce the risk................................................................................4 The best way to garden..............................................................................5 -
Agricultural Soil Compaction: Causes and Management
October 2010 Agdex 510-1 Agricultural Soil Compaction: Causes and Management oil compaction can be a serious and unnecessary soil aggregates, which has a negative affect on soil S form of soil degradation that can result in increased aggregate structure. soil erosion and decreased crop production. Soil compaction can have a number of negative effects on Compaction of soil is the compression of soil particles into soil quality and crop production including the following: a smaller volume, which reduces the size of pore space available for air and water. Most soils are composed of • causes soil pore spaces to become smaller about 50 per cent solids (sand, silt, clay and organic • reduces water infiltration rate into soil matter) and about 50 per cent pore spaces. • decreases the rate that water will penetrate into the soil root zone and subsoil • increases the potential for surface Compaction concerns water ponding, water runoff, surface soil waterlogging and soil erosion Soil compaction can impair water Soil compaction infiltration into soil, crop emergence, • reduces the ability of a soil to hold root penetration and crop nutrient and can be a serious water and air, which are necessary for water uptake, all of which result in form of soil plant root growth and function depressed crop yield. • reduces crop emergence as a result of soil crusting Human-induced compaction of degradation. • impedes root growth and limits the agricultural soil can be the result of using volume of soil explored by roots tillage equipment during soil cultivation or result from the heavy weight of field equipment. • limits soil exploration by roots and Compacted soils can also be the result of natural soil- decreases the ability of crops to take up nutrients and forming processes. -
Progressive and Regressive Soil Evolution Phases in the Anthropocene
Progressive and regressive soil evolution phases in the Anthropocene Manon Bajard, Jérôme Poulenard, Pierre Sabatier, Anne-Lise Develle, Charline Giguet- Covex, Jeremy Jacob, Christian Crouzet, Fernand David, Cécile Pignol, Fabien Arnaud Highlights • Lake sediment archives are used to reconstruct past soil evolution. • Erosion is quantified and the sediment geochemistry is compared to current soils. • We observed phases of greater erosion rates than soil formation rates. • These negative soil balance phases are defined as regressive pedogenesis phases. • During the Middle Ages, the erosion of increasingly deep horizons rejuvenated pedogenesis. Abstract Soils have a substantial role in the environment because they provide several ecosystem services such as food supply or carbon storage. Agricultural practices can modify soil properties and soil evolution processes, hence threatening these services. These modifications are poorly studied, and the resilience/adaptation times of soils to disruptions are unknown. Here, we study the evolution of pedogenetic processes and soil evolution phases (progressive or regressive) in response to human-induced erosion from a 4000-year lake sediment sequence (Lake La Thuile, French Alps). Erosion in this small lake catchment in the montane area is quantified from the terrigenous sediments that were trapped in the lake and compared to the soil formation rate. To access this quantification, soil processes evolution are deciphered from soil and sediment geochemistry comparison. Over the last 4000 years, first impacts on soils are recorded at approximately 1600 yr cal. BP, with the erosion of surface horizons exceeding 10 t·km− 2·yr− 1. Increasingly deep horizons were eroded with erosion accentuation during the Higher Middle Ages (1400–850 yr cal. -
Topsoil Characterization for Sustainable Land Management 1
DRAFT FOOD AND AGRICULTURE ORGANIZATION OF THE UNITED NATIONS TOPSOIL CHARACTERIZATION FOR SUSTAINABLE LAND MANAGEMENT Land and Water Development Division Soil Resources, Management and Conservation Service Rome 1998 2 ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS This study is based upon earlier work by O.C. Spaargaren "Framework for Characterization and Classification of Topsoils in the World" (1992 unpublished) and A. Hebel "Soil Characterization and Evaluation System (SCE) with Emphasis on Topsoils and their Fertility-related Characteristics" (1994 unpublished). We would also like to acknowledge the cooperation of the University of Hohenheim, especially Dr. Gaiser and Prof. Stahr for testing the system, and various contributions, suggestions and constructive criticism received from Ms L.M. Jansen, Ms A Bot, Mr F. Nachtergaele, and last but not least, Mr M.F. Purnell. CONTENTS 1. Introduction 1 2. Topsoil Characterization Within Existing Soil Classification Systems 3 2.1 Introduction 3 2.2 Fertility Capability Classification (FCC) 3 2.3 Soil Classification Systems 3 3. Factors Influencing Topsoil Properties 7 3.1 Climate 7 3.2 Vegetation and Organic Matter 7 3.3 Topography and Physiography 8 3.4 Mineralogical Soil Constituents 9 3.5 Surface Processes 9 3.6 Biological Activity 10 3.7 Human Activity 10 4. Definition of Topsoil Properties and Modifiers 13 4.1 Texture 13 4.2 Organic Material 13 4.3 Organic Matter Status 14 4.4 Physical Features 16 4.5 Chemical Features 18 4.6 Biological Features 20 4.7 Drainage Features 21 4.8 Land Use 21 4.9 Erosion or Degradation 23 4.10 External Physical Conditions 25 4.11 Slope 26 4.12 Examples of Topsoil Characterization 26 5. -
Soils and Soil-Forming Material Technical Information Note 04 /2017 30Th November 2017
Soils and Soil-forming Material Technical Information Note 04 /2017 30th November 2017 Contents 1. Introduction to Soils ........................................................................................................................ 2 2. Components and Properties of Soil ................................................................................................ 7 3. Describing and Categorising soils .................................................................................................. 29 4. Policy, Regulation and Roles ......................................................................................................... 34 5. Soil Surveys, Handling and Management ..................................................................................... 40 6. Recommended Soil Specifications ................................................................................................ 42 7. References .................................................................................................................................... 52 “Upon this handful of soil our survival depends. Husband it and it will grow our food, our fuel, and our shelter and surround us with beauty. Abuse it and the soil will collapse and die, taking humanity with it.” From Vedas Sanskrit Scripture – circa 1500 BC The aim of this Technical Information Note is to assist Landscape Professionals (primarily landscape architects) when considering matters in relation to soils and soil-forming material. Soil is an essential requirement for providing -
What Is Soil Erosion? Soil Erosion by Wind Or Water Is the Physical Wearing Away of the Soil Surface
Do you have a problem with: • Low yields • Time & expense to repair and gullies • Small rills and channels in your fields • Soil deposited at the base of slopes or along fence lines • Sediment in streams, lakes, and reservoirs Soil Erosion May be the Problem! Erosion from cropland What is soil erosion? Soil erosion by wind or water is the physical wearing away of the soil surface. Soil material and nutrients are removed in the process. Why be concerned? • Erosion reduces crop yields • Erosion removes topsoil, reduces soil organic matter, and destroys soil structure Signs of Erosion – Sediment entering river • Erosion decreases rooting depth • Erosion decreases the amount of water, air, and nutrients available to plants • Nutrients and sediment removed by water erosion cause water quality problems and fish kills • Blowing dust from wind erosion can affect human health and create public safety hazards • Increased production costs Erosion removes our richest soil. How much does it cost? • Technical assistance to assess and plan erosion control systems from NRCS is free • No till and mulch till may require special tillage equipment or planters if this equipment is not al- ready available • Vegetative barriers may cost $50-$100 per mile of barrier • Cover crops may cost between $10 and $40 per acre depending on the type of seed used Controlling Soil Erosion Signs of Erosion – Small rills and channels on the soil Dust clouds & “dirt devils” such as the one pictured surface are a sign of water erosion here are signs of wind erosion. How to Reduce Erosion: The key to reducing is erosion is to keep the soil covered as much as possible for both wind and water ero- sion concerns. -
T.C. Selçuk Ünġversġtesġ Fen Bġlġmlerġ Enstġtüsü Tuzlu
T.C. SELÇUK ÜNĠVERSĠTESĠ FEN BĠLĠMLERĠ ENSTĠTÜSÜ TUZLU TOPRAKLARDA KATALAZ ENZĠMĠNĠN AKTĠVĠTESĠ VE KĠNETĠĞĠ Emine YILDIRIM YÜKSEK LĠSANS TEZĠ TOPRAK BĠLĠMĠ VE BĠTKĠ BESLEME ANABĠLĠM DALI KONYA, 2010 ÖZET YÜKSEK LĠSANS TEZĠ TUZLU TOPRAKLARDA KATALAZ ENZĠMĠNĠN AKTĠVĠTESĠ VE KĠNETĠĞĠ Emine YILDIRIM Selçuk Üniversitesi Fen Bilimleri Enstitüsü Toprak Bilimi ve Bitki Besleme Anabilim Dalı DanıĢman: Yrd. Doç. Dr. Fariz MĠKAĠLSOY 2010, Sayfa: 72 Jüri: Yrd. Doç. Dr. Fariz MĠKAĠLSOY Prof. Dr. Nizamettin ÇĠFTÇĠ Doç. Dr. Refik UYANÖZ Bu araĢtırmada, Tuz gölü çevresi tarım dıĢı arazilerden alınan 3 toprak örneğinde çalıĢılmıĢtır. Gazometrik metod kullanılarak katalaz enziminin aktivitesi tayin edilerek kinetik parametreleri hesaplanmıĢtır. Fiziksel, kimyasal özellikleri ve % tuz oranı farklı toprakların katalaz enzim analizi 20+1 oC laboratuar koĢullarında değiĢik substrat konsantrasyonlarda (% 3, % 6, % 9, % 12, % 15, % 18, %2 1, % 24, % 27, % 30 H2O2) yürütülmüĢtür. Bu analizde ürün olarak açığa çıkan O2‟nin zamana göre değiĢimi (20, 40, 60, 80,….300 sn) kararlı hale gelmesine kadar devam edilmiĢtir. Katalaz enzim aktivitesi (υ) ve kinetik parametreleri (υ0, Vmax ve Km) her toprak için ayrı ayrı yapılmıĢtır. Sonuçlara göre, tuz konsantrasyonu yüksek toprakta katalaz enziminin kinetik parametresi olan Km‟nin değeri yüksek bulunmuĢtur. Vmax değeri ise en düĢük olarak bulunmuĢtur. Ayrıca reaksiyon hızının % 24 substrat konsantrasyonunda artıĢ gösterdiği ve daha sonra değiĢmediği tesbit edildi. Bu metod toprakta katalaz enzim aktivitesinin tesbitinde kullanılabilir. Anahtar Kelimeler: Toprak, enzim aktivitesi, katalaz, kinetik parametreler, tuz i ABSTRACT MASTER THESĠS ACTIVITY AND KINETICS OF CATALASE ENZYME IN SALINE SOILS Emine YILDIRIM Selçuk University Graduate School of Natural and Applied Sciences Department of Soil Science and Plant Nutrition Supervisor: Yrd. Doç. -
How Do Newly-Amended Biochar Particles Affect Erodibility and Soil Water Movement?—A Small-Scale Experimental Approach
Article How Do Newly-Amended Biochar Particles Affect Erodibility and Soil Water Movement?—A Small-Scale Experimental Approach Steffen Seitz * , Sandra Teuber , Christian Geißler, Philipp Goebes and Thomas Scholten Department of Geosciences, Soil Science and Geomorphology, University of Tübingen, Rümelinstrasse 19–23, 72070 Tübingen, Germany; [email protected] (S.T.); [email protected] (C.G.); [email protected] (P.G.); [email protected] (T.S.) * Correspondence: steff[email protected]; Tel.: +49-7071-29-77523 Received: 16 July 2020; Accepted: 23 September 2020; Published: 6 October 2020 Abstract: Biochar amendment changes chemical and physical properties of soils and influences soil biota. It is, thus, assumed that it can also affect soil erosion and erosion-related processes. In this study, we investigated how biochar particles instantly change erodibility by rain splash and the initial movement of soil water in a small-scale experiment. Hydrothermal carbonization (HTC)-char and Pyrochar were admixed to two soil substrates. Soil erodibility was determined with Tübingen splash cups under simulated rainfall, soil hydraulic conductivity was calculated from texture and bulk soil density, and soil water retention was measured using the negative and the excess pressure methods. Results showed that the addition of biochar significantly reduced initial soil erosion in coarse sand and silt loam immediately after biochar application. Furthermore, biochar particles were not preferentially removed from the substrate surface, but increasing biochar particle sizes partly showed decreasing erodibility of substrates. Moreover, biochar amendment led to improved hydraulic conductivity and soil water retention, regarding soil erosion control. In conclusion, this study provided evidence that biochar amendments reduce soil degradation by water erosion. -
Addressing Pasture Compaction
Addressing Pasture Compaction Weighing the Pros and Cons of Two Options UVM Project team: Dr. Josef Gorres, Dr. Rachel Gilker, Jennifer Colby, Bridgett Jamison Hilshey Partners: Mark Krawczyk (Keyline Vermont) and farmers Brent & Regina Beidler, Guy & Beth Choiniere, John & Rocio Clark, Lyle & Kitty Edwards, and Julie Wolcott & Stephen McCausland Writing: Josef Gorres, Rachel Gilker and Jennifer Colby • Design and Layout: Jennifer Colby • Photos: Jennifer Colby and Rachel Gilker Additional editing by Cheryl Herrick and Bridgett Jamison Hilshey Th is is dedicated to our farmer partners; may our work help you farm more productively, profi tably, and ecologically. VT Natural Resources Conservation Service UVM Center for Sustainable Agriculture http://www.vt.nrcs.usda.gov http://www.uvm.edu/sustainableagriculture UVM Plant & Soil Science Department http://pss.uvm.edu Financial support for this project and publication was provided through a VT Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) Conservation Innovation Grant (CIG). We thank VT-NRCS for their eff orts to build a 2 strong natural resource foundation for Vermont’s farming systems. Introduction A few years ago, some grass-based dairy farmers came to us with the question, “You know, what we really need is a way to fi x the compaction in pastures.” We started digging for answers. Th is simple request has led us on a lively journey. We began by adapting methods to alleviate compac- tion in other climates and cropping systems. We worked with fi ve Vermont dairy farmers to apply these practices to their pastures, where other farmers could come and observe them in action. We assessed the pros and cons of these approaches and we are sharing those results and observations here. -
Preventing Soil Compaction Preserving and Restoring Soil Fertility
Preventing Soil Compaction Preserving and Restoring Soil Fertility Including the Classification Key for Detection and Evaluation of Harmful Soil Compaction in the Field www.umwelt.nrw.de Content Preface ............................................of the minister 2 1. Introduction ...................................................... 4 2. The importance of soil structure......................... 6 3. Causes of harmful soil compaction..................... 13 4. Effects of harmful soil compaction...................... 18 5. Detecting harmful soil compaction..................... 21 6. Preserving and improving soil structure ................ 25 7. What to do, if the soil is already compacted?...... 32 8. Final remarks.................................................... 36 Literature .............................................................. 37 4 1. Introduction Agricultural soil cultivation and harvest inevitably cause slight soil compaction. Especially detrimental is soil compaction which occurs deep in the subsoil, as this compaction cannot be reversed with normal soil cultiva- tion. Due to expected future warmer winters in Germany as a result of climate change, fewer and shorter frost periods are to be expected and with that the so-called “frost action” with its soil loosening effect will occur less frequently. This means that a natural way to loosen soil structure will be lost. Field traffic, with heavy loads on wet soils, is an especially critical contributor to severe soil compaction. With the increasing “just in time” harvest practice of farmers, this is a potential source of conflict. To address this, improved techniques to reduce soil pressure and to understand actual soil water content can be helpful. The steady increase in weight of agricultural machinery and field traffic frequency – both have increased by three- to fourfold within the last 40 years – in combina- tion with the technical ability to drive on increasingly wet soils, has led to ever greater compaction of our soils.