Some Aspects of Soil Moisture in the Forest Ian J
Total Page:16
File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb
Load more
Recommended publications
-
Study of Soil Moisture in Relation to Soil Erosion in the Proposed Tancítaro Geopark, Central Mexico: a Case of the Zacándaro Sub-Watershed
Study of soil moisture in relation to soil erosion in the proposed Tancítaro Geopark, Central Mexico: A case of the Zacándaro sub-watershed Jamali Hussein Mbwana Baruti March, 2004 Study of soil moisture in relation to soil erosion in the proposed Tancítaro Geopark, Central Mexico: A case of the Zacándaro sub-watershed by Jamali Hussein Mbwana Baruti Thesis submitted to the International Institute for Geo-information Science and Earth Observation in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Science in Geo-information Science and Earth Observation, Land Degradation and Conservation specialisation Degree Assessment Board Dr. D. Rossiter (Chairman) ESA Department, ITC Dr. D. Karssenberg (External examiner) University of Utrecht Dr. D. P. Shrestha (Supervisor) ESA Department, ITC Dr. A. Farshad (Co supervisor and students advisor) ESA Department, ITC Dr. P. Van Dijk (Programm Director, EREG), ITC INTERNATIONAL INSTITUTE FOR GEO-INFORMATION SCIENCE AND EARTH OBSERVATION ENSCHEDE, THE NETHERLANDS Disclaimer This document describes work undertaken as part of a programme of study at the International Institute for Geo-information Science and Earth Observation. All views and opinions expressed therein remain the sole responsibility of the author, and do not necessarily represent those of the institute. Abstract A study on soil moisture in relation to soil erosion was conducted in the proposed Tancítaro Geopark, Central Mexico with special attention to the Zacándaro sub-watershed. The study aims at applying a simple water balance and an erosion model as conservation planning tools. Two methods i.e. Thorn- thwaite and Mather (1955) and the Revised Morgan-Morgan-Finney (2001) were applied in a GIS environment to model available soil moisture and soil loss rates. -
Non-Timber Forest Products
Agrodok 39 Non-timber forest products the value of wild plants Tinde van Andel This publication is sponsored by: ICCO, SNV and Tropenbos International © Agromisa Foundation and CTA, Wageningen, 2006. All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced in any form, by print, photocopy, microfilm or any other means, without written permission from the publisher. First edition: 2006 Author: Tinde van Andel Illustrator: Bertha Valois V. Design: Eva Kok Translation: Ninette de Zylva (editing) Printed by: Digigrafi, Wageningen, the Netherlands ISBN Agromisa: 90-8573-027-9 ISBN CTA: 92-9081-327-X Foreword Non-timber forest products (NTFPs) are wild plant and animal pro- ducts harvested from forests, such as wild fruits, vegetables, nuts, edi- ble roots, honey, palm leaves, medicinal plants, poisons and bush meat. Millions of people – especially those living in rural areas in de- veloping countries – collect these products daily, and many regard selling them as a means of earning a living. This Agrodok presents an overview of the major commercial wild plant products from Africa, the Caribbean and the Pacific. It explains their significance in traditional health care, social and ritual values, and forest conservation. It is designed to serve as a useful source of basic information for local forest dependent communities, especially those who harvest, process and market these products. We also hope that this Agrodok will help arouse the awareness of the potential of NTFPs among development organisations, local NGOs, government officials at local and regional level, and extension workers assisting local communities. Case studies from Cameroon, Ethiopia, Central and South Africa, the Pacific, Colombia and Suriname have been used to help illustrate the various important aspects of commercial NTFP harvesting. -
Water Content Concepts and Measurement Methods Suat Irmak, Professor, Soil and Water Resources and Irrigation Engineering
EC3046 December 2019 Soil- Water Potential and Soil- Water Content Concepts and Measurement Methods Suat Irmak, Professor, Soil and Water Resources and Irrigation Engineering Soil- water status is a critical and rapidly changing tion management. In addition, it is important for studying variable that determines and impacts numerous important soil- water movement, chemical transport, crop water stress, factors in production fields such as crop emergence and evapotranspiration, hydrologic and crop modeling, soil phys- growth, water management, water and crop yield productiv- ics, water resources management, climate change impacts ity relationships, and within- field hydrologic balances. Thus, on agricultural water management and crop productivity, its accurate determination dictates and impacts the success of meteorological studies, yield forecasting, water run- off and water management and related agricultural operations. This, run- on, infiltration studies, field traffic and within- field work in turn, affects the attainment of potential yield, as well as the ability and soil- compaction studies, aridity indices, and other reduction of water losses and chemical leaching. Maintaining agricultural and ecosystem functions and practices. Effective optimum soil moisture in the crop root zone also strongly in- irrigation management requires the knowledge of “when” fluences optimum nitrogen (N) uptake by plants, which helps and “how much” water to apply to optimize crop production. to reduce N leaching. Numerous soil moisture measurement Some of the most effective irrigation management decisions technologies are available. None of the methods, however, also include “how” to apply the irrigation water for most are perfectly suited to all operational conditions as each has effective productivity under different climate, soil, crop, and drawbacks and advantages, depending on the application management practices to reduce unbeneficial water losses conditions. -
Old-Growth Forests
Pacific Northwest Research Station NEW FINDINGS ABOUT OLD-GROWTH FORESTS I N S U M M A R Y ot all forests with old trees are scientifically defined for many centuries. Today’s old-growth forests developed as old growth. Among those that are, the variations along multiple pathways with many low-severity and some Nare so striking that multiple definitions of old-growth high-severity disturbances along the way. And, scientists forests are needed, even when the discussion is restricted to are learning, the journey matters—old-growth ecosystems Pacific coast old-growth forests from southwestern Oregon contribute to ecological diversity through every stage of to southwestern British Columbia. forest development. Heterogeneity in the pathways to old- growth forests accounts for many of the differences among Scientists understand the basic structural features of old- old-growth forests. growth forests and have learned much about habitat use of forests by spotted owls and other species. Less known, Complexity does not mean chaos or a lack of pattern. Sci- however, are the character and development of the live and entists from the Pacific Northwest (PNW) Research Station, dead trees and other plants. We are learning much about along with scientists and students from universities, see the structural complexity of these forests and how it leads to some common elements and themes in the many pathways. ecological complexity—which makes possible their famous The new findings suggest we may need to change our strat- biodiversity. For example, we are gaining new insights into egies for conserving and restoring old-growth ecosystems. canopy complexity in old-growth forests. -
“Catastrophic” Wildfire a New Ecological Paradigm of Forest Health by Chad Hanson, Ph.D
John Muir Project Technical Report 1 • Winter 2010 • www.johnmuirproject.org The Myth of “Catastrophic” Wildfire A New Ecological Paradigm of Forest Health by Chad Hanson, Ph.D. Contents The Myth of “Catastrophic” Wildfire: A New Ecological Paradigm of Forest Health 1 Preface 1 Executive Summary 4 Myths and Facts 6 Myth/Fact 1: Forest fire and home protection 6 Myth/Fact 2: Ecological effects of high-intensity fire 7 Myth/Fact 3: Forest fire intensity 12 Myth/Fact 4: Forest regeneration after high-intensity fire 13 Myth/Fact 5: Forest fire extent 14 Myth/Fact 6: Climate change and fire activity 17 Myth/Fact 7: Dead trees and forest health 19 Myth/Fact 8: Particulate emissions from high-intensity fire 20 Myth/Fact 9: Forest fire and carbon sequestration 20 Myth/Fact 10: “Thinning” and carbon sequestration 22 Myth/Fact 11: Biomass extraction from forests 23 Summary: For Ecologically “Healthy Forests”, We Need More Fire and Dead Trees, Not Less. 24 References 26 Photo Credits 30 Recommended Citation 30 Contact 30 About the Author 30 The Myth of “Catastrophic” Wildfire A New Ecological Paradigm of Forest Health ii The Myth of “Catastrophic” Wildfire: A New Ecological Paradigm of Forest Health By Chad Hanson, Ph.D. Preface In the summer of 2002, I came across two loggers felling fire-killed trees in the Star fire area of the Eldorado National Forest in the Sierra Nevada. They had to briefly pause their activities in order to let my friends and I pass by on the narrow dirt road, and in the interim we began a conversation. -
Forest Ecosystem Services: Cultural Values
Trees At Work: Economic Accounting for Forest Ecosystem Services in the U.S. South 11 Chapter 2 Forest Ecosystem Services: Cultural Values Melissa M. Kreye, Damian C. Adams, Ramesh Ghimire, Wayde Morse, Taylor Stein, J.M. Bowker WHAT ARE CULTURAL SERVICES? associated ecosystem and human components. However, our understanding of the many factors that give rise to cultural ow we define “culture” and societal well-being related ecosystem services is still a matter of ongoing investigation. to culture depends heavily on who is looking at it, but culture can be generally described as “the customs and H There is good reason for investigating the cultural ecosystem beliefs of a particular group of people that are used to express service values associated with forests: they are critical to our their collectively held values” (Soulbury Commission 2012). understanding of the value of forest land and the benefits of In the context of forests, culturally derived norms, beliefs, forest conservation. The U.S. South is expected to lose 30-43 and values help drive preferences for forested landscapes and million forest acres to urbanization between 1997 and 2060 forest-based benefits such as diversity and identity, justice, (Wear and Greis 2002), and structural changes in southeastern education, freedom, and spirituality (Farber and others 2002, ecosystems are expected to impact the provision of a wide Fisher and others 2009, Kellert 1996). Environmental policies range of cultural ecosystem service benefits (Bowker and others and responsible forest management can enhance how forests 2013). Concurrently, social trends also suggest that youth are help give rise to and support cultural ecosystem service values. -
Sustaining the Pedosphere: Establishing a Framework for Management, Utilzation and Restoration of Soils in Cultured Systems
Sustaining the Pedosphere: Establishing A Framework for Management, Utilzation and Restoration of Soils in Cultured Systems Eugene F. Kelly Colorado State University Outline •Introduction - Its our Problems – Life in the Fastlane - Ecological Nexus of Food-Water-Energy - Defining the Pedosphere •Framework for Management, Utilization & Restoration - Pedology and Critical Zone Science - Pedology Research Establishing the Range & Variability in Soils - Models for assessing human dimensions in ecosystems •Studies of Regional Importance Systems Approach - System Models for Agricultural Research - Soil Water - The Master Variable - Water Quality, Soil Management and Conservation Strategies •Concluding Remarks and Questions Living in a Sustainable Age or Life in the Fast Lane What do we know ? • There are key drivers across the planet that are forcing us to think and live differently. • The drivers are influencing our supplies of food, energy and water. • Science has helped us identify these drivers and our challenge is to come up with solutions Change has been most rapid over the last 50 years ! • In last 50 years we doubled population • World economy saw 7x increase • Food consumption increased 3x • Water consumption increased 3x • Fuel utilization increased 4x • More change over this period then all human history combined – we are at the inflection point in human history. • Planetary scale resources going away What are the major changes that we might be able to adjust ? • Land Use Change - the world is smaller • Food footprint is larger (40% of land used for Agriculture) • Water Use – 70% for food • Running out of atmosphere – used as as disposal for fossil fuels and other contaminants The Perfect Storm Increased Demand 50% by 2030 Energy Climate Change Demand up Demand up 50% by 2030 30% by 2030 Food Water 2D View of Pedosphere Hierarchal scales involving soil solid-phase components that combine to form horizons, profiles, local and regional landscapes, and the global pedosphere. -
Current U.S. Forest Data and Maps
CURRENT U.S. FOREST DATA AND MAPS Forest age FIA MapMaker CURRENT U.S. Forest ownership TPO Data FOREST DATA Timber harvest AND MAPS Urban influence Forest covertypes Top 10 species Return to FIA Home Return to FIA Home NEXT Productive unreserved forest area CURRENT U.S. FOREST DATA (timberland) in the U.S. by region and AND MAPS stand age class, 2002 Return 120 Forests in the 100 South, where timber production West is highest, have 80 s the lowest average age. 60 Northern forests, predominantly Million acreMillion South hardwoods, are 40 of slightly older in average age and 20 Western forests have the largest North concentration of 0 older stands. 1-19 20-39 40-59 60-79 80-99 100- 120- 140- 160- 200- 240- 280- 320- 400+ 119 139 159 199 240 279 319 399 Stand-age Class (years) Return to FIA Home Source: National Report on Forest Resources NEXT CURRENT U.S. FOREST DATA Forest ownership AND MAPS Return Eastern forests are predominantly private and western forests are predominantly public. Industrial forests are concentrated in Maine, the Lake States, the lower South and Pacific Northwest regions. Source: National Report on Forest Resources Return to FIA Home NEXT CURRENT U.S. Timber harvest by county FOREST DATA AND MAPS Return Timber harvests are concentrated in Maine, the Lake States, the lower South and Pacific Northwest regions. The South is the largest timber producing region in the country accounting for nearly 62% of all U.S. timber harvest. Source: National Report on Forest Resources Return to FIA Home NEXT CURRENT U.S. -
Modeling Soil Nitrate Accumulation and Leaching in Conventional and Conservation Agriculture Cropping Systems
water Article Modeling Soil Nitrate Accumulation and Leaching in Conventional and Conservation Agriculture Cropping Systems Nicolò Colombani 1 , Micòl Mastrocicco 2,*, Fabio Vincenzi 3 and Giuseppe Castaldelli 3 1 SIMAU-Department of Materials, Environmental Sciences and Urban Planning, Polytechnic University of Marche, Via Brecce Bianche 12, 60131 Ancona, Italy; [email protected] 2 DiSTABiF-Department of Environmental, Biological and Pharmaceutical Sciences and Technologies, Campania University “Luigi Vanvitelli”, Via Vivaldi 43, 81100 Caserta, Italy 3 SVeB-Department of Life Sciences and Biotechnology, University of Ferrara, Via L. Borsari 46, 44121 Ferrara, Italy; [email protected] (F.V.); [email protected] (G.C.) * Correspondence: [email protected]; Tel.: +39-0823-274-609 Received: 25 January 2020; Accepted: 29 May 2020; Published: 31 May 2020 Abstract: Nitrate is a major groundwater inorganic contaminant that is mainly due to fertilizer leaching. Compost amendment can increase soils’ organic substances and thus promote denitrification in intensively cultivated soils. In this study, two agricultural plots located in the Padana plain (Ferrara, Italy) were monitored and modeled for a period of 2.7 years. One plot was initially amended with 30 t/ha of compost, not tilled, and amended with standard fertilization practices, while the other one was run with standard fertilization and tillage practices. Monitoring was performed continuously via soil water probes (matric potential) and discontinuously via auger core profiles (major nitrogen species) before and after each cropping season. A HYDRUS-1D numerical model was calibrated and validated versus observed matric potential and nitrate, ammonium, and bromide (used as tracers). Model performance was judged satisfactory and the results provided insights on water and nitrogen balances for the two different agricultural practices tested here. -
Effects of Climatic Change on Soil Hydraulic Properties During
water Article Effects of Climatic Change on Soil Hydraulic Properties during the Last Interglacial Period: Two Case Studies of the Southern Chinese Loess Plateau Tieniu Wu 1,2 , Henry Lin 2, Hailin Zhang 1,*, Fei Ye 1, Yongwu Wang 1, Muxing Liu 1, Jun Yi 1 and Pei Tian 1 1 Key Laboratory for Geographical Process Analysis & Simulation, Hubei Province, Central China Normal University, Wuhan 430079, China; [email protected] (T.W.); [email protected] (F.Y.); [email protected] (Y.W.); [email protected] (M.L.); [email protected] (J.Y.); [email protected] (P.T.) 2 Department of Ecosystem Science and Management, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA 16802, USA; [email protected] * Correspondence: [email protected]; Tel.: +86-27-6786-7503 Received: 16 January 2020; Accepted: 10 February 2020; Published: 12 February 2020 Abstract: The hydraulic properties of paleosols on the Chinese Loess Plateau (CLP) are closely related to agricultural production and are indicative of the environmental evolution during geological and pedogenic periods. In this study, two typical intact sequences of the first paleosol layer (S1) on the southern CLP were selected, and soil hydraulic parameters together with basic physical and chemical properties were investigated to reveal the response of soil hydraulic properties to the warm and wet climate conditions. The results show that: (1) the paleoclimate in the southern CLP during the last interglacial period showed a pattern of three warm and -
FOREST BIODIVERSITY Earth’S Living Treasure
OLOGIC OR BI AL DI Y F VER DA SI L TY A 2 N 2 IO M T a A y N 2 R 0 E 1 T 1 N I FOREST BIODIVERSITY Earth’s Living Treasure INTERNATIONAL DAY FOR BIOLOGICAL DIVERSITY 22 May 2011 FOREST BIODIVERSITY Earth’s Living Treasure Published by the Secretariat of the Convention on Biological Diversity. ISBN: 92-9225-298-4 Copyright © 2010, Secretariat of the Convention on Biological Diversity. The designations employed and the presentation of material in this publication do not imply the expression of any opinion whatsoever on the part of the Secretariat of the Convention on Biological Diversity concerning the legal status of any country, territory, city or area or of its authorities, or concerning the delimitation of its frontiers or boundaries. The views reported in this publication do not necessarily represent those of the Convention on Biological Diversity. This publication may be reproduced for educational or non-profit purposes without special permission from the copyright holders, provided acknowledgement of the source is made. The Secretariat of the Convention would appreciate receiving a copy of any publications that use this document as a source. Citation: Secretariat of the Convention on Biological Diversity (2010). Forest Biodiversity—Earth’s Living Treasure. Montreal, 48 pages. For further information, please contact: Secretariat of the Convention on Biological Diversity World Trade Centre 413 St. Jacques Street, Suite 800 Montreal, Quebec, Canada H2Y 1N9 Phone: 1 (514) 288 2220 Fax: 1 (514) 288 6588 E-mail: [email protected] Website: www.cbd.int Design & typesetting: Em Dash Design Cover illustration: Cover illustration: Untitled, 2010. -
Ground, Proximal, and Satellite Remote Sensing of Soil Moisture
REVIEW ARTICLE Ground, Proximal, and Satellite Remote Sensing 10.1029/2018RG000618 of Soil Moisture Key Points: Ebrahim Babaeian1 , Morteza Sadeghi2 , Scott B. Jones2 , Carsten Montzka3 , • Recent soil moisture measurement 3 1 and monitoring techniques and Harry Vereecken , and Markus Tuller estimation models from the point to 1 2 the global scales and their Department of Soil, Water and Environmental Science, The University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ, USA, Department of limitations are presented Plants, Soils and Climate, Utah State University, Logan, UT, USA, 3Forschungszentrum Jülich GmbH, Institute of Bio‐ • The importance and application of and Geosciences: Agrosphere (IBG‐3), Jülich, Germany soil moisture information for various Earth and environmental sciences disciplines such as fi forecasting weather and climate Abstract Soil moisture (SM) is a key hydrologic state variable that is of signi cant importance for variability, modeling hydrological numerous Earth and environmental science applications that directly impact the global environment and processes, and predicting and human society. Potential applications include, but are not limited to, forecasting of weather and climate monitoring extreme events and their impacts on the environment and variability; prediction and monitoring of drought conditions; management and allocation of water human society are presented resources; agricultural plant production and alleviation of famine; prevention of natural disasters such as wild fires, landslides, floods, and dust storms; or monitoring of ecosystem response to climate change. Because of the importance and wide‐ranging applicability of highly variable spatial and temporal SM fi Correspondence to: information that links the water, energy, and carbon cycles, signi cant efforts and resources have been M. Tuller, devoted in recent years to advance SM measurement and monitoring capabilities from the point to the global [email protected] scales.