Tolerable versus actual soil erosion rates in Europe

Erosion is a major threat to soil resources in Europe, and may impair their ability to deliver a range of ecosystem goods and services. This is reflected by the European Commission's Thematic Strategy for Soil Protection, which recommends an indicator-based approach for monitoring soil erosion. Defined baseline and threshold values are essential for the evaluation of soil monitoring data. Therefore, accurate spatial data on both soil loss and soil genesis are required, especially in the light of predicted changes in climate patterns, notably frequency, seasonal distribution and intensity of precipitation. Rates of soil loss are reported that have been measured, modelled or inferred for most types of soil erosion in a variety of landscapes, by studies across the spectrum of the Earth sciences. Natural rates of soil formation can be used as a basis for setting tolerable soil erosion rates, with soil formation consisting of mineral weathering as well as dust deposition. This paper reviews the concept of tolerable soil erosion and summarises current knowledge on rates of soil formation, which are then compared to rates of soil erosion by known erosion types, for assessment of soil erosion monitoring at the European scale

Estimating soil degradation in montane grasslands of North-eastern Italian Alps (Italy)

Grasslands cover a large portion of the terrestrial ecosystems, and are vital for biodiversity conservation, environmental protection and livestock husbandry. However, grasslands are degraded due to unreasonable management worldwide, i.e., soil erosion indirectly due to the damage of overgrazing on vegetation coverage and soil texture. An in-depth investigation is necessary to quantify soil erosion in alpine pastures, in order to manage grasslands more sustainably. In this work, we collected freely available satellite images and carried out intensive field surveys for the whole Autonomous Province of Trento (Northeastern Italian Alps) in 2016. The area (and volume) of soil erosions were then estimated and shown in maps. The average of the depths of soil erosion measured in field was used as a reference for estimating soil erosion of the entire study area. High-resolution DEMs difference in soil surface conditions was also computed in two representative areas between pre- and post-degradation to estimate the volume and the average depth of eroded soils. The degradation of soil in the study areas has been estimated in 144063 m2 and an estimated volume of 33610 ± 1800 m3. Results indicate that our procedure can serve as a low-cost approach for a rapid estimation of soil erosion in mountain areas. Mapping soil erosion can improve the sustainability of grazing management system and reduce the risk of pastureland degradation at large spatial scales

CROP INSURANCE, GOVERNMENT AGRICULTURAL POLICIES, AND SOIL EROSION

This paper investigates the relationship between government agricultural programs and soil erosion. Using county-level data from the years 1992 and 1997, we estimate a model of water-induced (i.e., sheet and rill) soil erosion and crop insurance participation for counties where corn, soybean, and winter wheat account for at least 90% of total planted acreage. This includes most of the areas that have exhibited the highest historical levels of sheet and rill erosion. We find that crop insurance participation and conservation payments are significantly associated with county average soil erosion levels. In particular, corn insurance participation exhibits a positive impact on soil erosion, while wheat insurance participation exhibits a negative impact. After controlling for differences in soil erodibility, counties that receive higher conservation payments exhibit lower levels of soil erosion. We also find that government price and income support program payments (e.g., target price-based/loan deficiency payments and AMTA payments) exhibit no statistically significant association with our soil erosion measure.Environmental Economics and Policy,

PROPOSAL TO STUDY ECONOMIC AND ENVIRONMENTAL BENEFITS OF REDUCING SOIL EROSION IN ALBANIA

Soil erosion and associated nonpoint pollution are critical problems affecting the economic welfare, food security, and public health of Albania. Nearly 60 million tons of sediment are deposited by Albanian rivers into the Adriatic Sea each year. This translates into a national average soil erosion rate of 27.2 tons per hectare per year, which is more than twice the level of "tolerable" erosion established by many countries. This also means that an average of 2.3 mm of valuable topsoil are lost to the ocean each year. Accompanying the topsoil are agrochemicals such as pesticides and fertilizers as well as industrial pollutants, which are transported to reservoirs, rivers, lakes, and the ocean, thereby causing a degradation in water quality. The objectives of the proposed study include: to quantify the magnitude of soil erosion and its effects on water quality at three levels of intensity: site-specific, watershed, and the nation as a whole; to identify high-risk areas for immediate soil erosion control using a geographic information system; to create a public awareness program that uses soil erosion control as an example of land protection in Albania; to monitor the effectiveness of soil erosion control on discharge of sediments into the Adriatic Sea using remote sensing; and to determine the economic benefits of soil erosion control.Soil conservation--Environmental aspects--Albania, Soil conservation--Economic aspects--Albania, Environmental Economics and Policy, Land Economics/Use,

Numerical modelling of soil erosion susceptibility in the Maltese Islands using geographic information systems and the Revised Uni- versal Soil Loss Equation (RUSLE)

The Mediterranean region is subject to various factors that exacerbate soil erosion pressures. Such factors include agricultural land fragmentation and abandonment, unsustainable agricultural practices and rapid urbanisation. Soil erosion in the Maltese Islands has been identi ed as a predominating land degradation process and a major threat to the sustainability of the agricultural sector. The small scale of the Maltese Islands facilitates an in detail national study of soil erosion processes and contributing socio-economic dynamics. The research methods, erosion rate values and controlling dynamics discussed in this work have a particular relevance to the Mediterranean area.peer-reviewe

Effectiveness of exclosures to control soil erosion and local communities perception on soil erosion

The study investigated how effective exclosures are in the fight against soil erosion and how they are perceived as a means to control soil erosion by the local community (farmers and local experts). The universal soil loss equation (USLE) used to estimate potential soil erosion. Data on local community perception obtained from a survey of 62 farm households and five local experts. In-depth interview, group discussion and non-participant field observation also carried out to obtain additional information. The USLE results agreed with the farmers' (67%) and local experts' opinion that erosion at study area is severe and affect the quality of lives of residents. Insignificant difference (p > 0.05) was observed in the estimated soil loss among treatments. However, the estimated soil loss from free grazing lands was higher by 47% than soil loss from exclosures which illustrated that exclosures are effective to control soil erosion. The majority of farmers (70%) also rated exclosures effectiveness to control soil erosion as high. Local communities were optimistic about the chances to rehabilitate degraded lands and make them productive. The majority of farmers (60%) did not consider population growth as a cause of soil erosion. For the majority of interviewed farmers, poor land management is more important. Efforts to create awareness within the rural communities should focus on the link between high population growth, environmental degradation and poverty. The optimistic view of local communities can be considered as an asset for the planning and development of degraded lands rehabilitation efforts

Numerical modelling and economics of agricultural land degradation in the Maltese Islands

The study applies a new GIS-based numerical modelling approach to calculate the economic burden agricultural land owners suff er through soil erosion land degradation. Numerically modelled soil erosion volumes in Maltese agricultural areas were estimated at 766 278 m3/yr costing 7.98M€/yr to replace. The model calculates that the average owner incurs 1170€/0.01km2/yr on soil replacement and soil improvement requirements. With average yearly economic revenue of 1720€/0.01km2/yr, this cost benefi t imbalance may force agricultural land owners to not replace eroded soils. Over time, as a result of soil erosion, an increasingly large proportion of agricultural land may no longer suitable for agricultural purposes. Over 50 years, 1.53km2 (0.5% of Maltese area) of agricultural land may be depleted of soil, incurring an average national agricultural revenue loss of 0.26M€ per year. Soil erosion rates, and associated economic implications, may be mitigated with cost e ffective management practices. Two such practices include conservation tillage, which o ffers various economic advantages to farmers, and the restoration of breaches in slope-facing rubble walls in areas subject to soil erosion. The latter may require an investment of 11.94M€ at the National scale or €1,600 by the average agricultural land owner. Both measures contribute towards the sustainable use of Maltese agricultural areas and maintaining key associated ecosystems services.peer-reviewe

The On-Site and Downstream Costs of Soil Erosion in the Magat and Pantabangan Watersheds

This article report is a condensed version of “The On-Site and Downstream Costs of Soil Erosion,” PIDS Technical Report 87-04 of the Upland Resource Policy Program. It estimates the economic costs arising from indiscriminate exploitation of the uplands. It also offers a practical methodology for assessing the economic impact of soil erosion and illustrates the methodology with results from two major watersheds--Magat and Pantabangan.watershed, uplands, soil erosion, soil conservation

The On-Site and Downstream Costs of Soil Erosion in the Magat and Pantabangan Watersheds

This article report is a condensed version of “The On-Site and Downstream Costs of Soil Erosion,” PIDS Technical Report 87-04 of the Upland Resource Policy Program. It estimates the economic costs arising from indiscriminate exploitation of the uplands. It also offers a practical methodology for assessing the economic impact of soil erosion and illustrates the methodology with results from two major watersheds--Magat and Pantabangan.watershed, uplands, soil erosion, soil conservation

Predicting soil erosion after land use changes for irrigating agriculture in a large reservoir of southern Portugal

The construction of the Alqueva reservoir in a semi-arid Mediterranean landscape brought new opportunities for irrigated farming. Land use changes and climate change may alter the risk of soil erosion that was not predicted in the initial development plans and decrease the lifetime of the investment. A comprehensive methodology that integrates the Revised Universal Soil Loss Equation (RUSLE) and geographic information system was adopted to study the effect on soil erosion of different land-uses of the Alqueva reservoir region. Analysing the soil erosion of each land-use it was obtained the following land use erosion vulnerability: Olive orchard>Vineyard>Montado>Alfalfa. The strong erosion variances that were observed in the study area show the importance of locating the 'hot spots' of soil erosion. Simulated scenarios for the entire area can be used as a basis for site-specific soil conservation plans, to promote sustainable land management practices and to facilitate localized erosion control practices and environmentally friendly farming. (C) 2015 The Authors. Published by Elsevier B.V