Soil surface structure stabilization by municipal waste compost application

ABSTRACT tional farmyard manure which is no longer available in intensive cropping areas. Loess-derived soils of the northern Paris basin are prone to surface Beneficial effects of sewage sludge application have structure degradation leading to erosion, flooding, and pollution. and soil material were seldom suggested, but a close from the top of surface aggregates to illuviate a few millimeters deeper

Relationship of weather types on the seasonal and spatial variability of rainfall, runoff, and sediment yield in the western Mediterranean basin

Rainfall is the key factor to understand soil erosion processes, mechanisms, and rates. Most research was conducted to determine rainfall characteristics and their relationship with soil erosion (erosivity) but there is little information about how atmospheric patterns control soil losses, and this is important to enable sustainable environmental planning and risk prevention. We investigated the temporal and spatial variability of the relationships of rainfall, runoff, and sediment yield with atmospheric patterns (weather types, WTs) in the western Mediterranean basin. For this purpose, we analyzed a large database of rainfall events collected between 1985 and 2015 in 46 experimental plots and catchments with the aim to: (i) evaluate seasonal differences in the contribution of rainfall, runoff, and sediment yield produced by the WTs; and (ii) to analyze the seasonal efficiency of the different WTs (relation frequency and magnitude) related to rainfall, runoff, and sediment yield. The results indicate two different temporal patterns: the first weather type exhibits (during the cold period: autumn and winter) westerly flows that produce the highest rainfall, runoff, and sediment yield values throughout the territory; the second weather type exhibits easterly flows that predominate during the warm period (spring and summer) and it is located on the Mediterranean coast of the Iberian Peninsula. However, the cyclonic situations present high frequency throughout the whole year with a large influence extended around the western Mediterranean basin. Contrary, the anticyclonic situations, despite of its high frequency, do not contribute significantly to the total rainfall, runoff, and sediment (showing the lowest efficiency) because of atmospheric stability that currently characterize this atmospheric pattern. Our approach helps to better understand the relationship of WTs on the seasonal and spatial variability of rainfall, runoff and sediment yield with a regional scale based on the large dataset and number of soil erosion experimental stations

Relationship of Weather Types on the Seasonal and Spatial Variability of Rainfall, Runoff, and Sediment Yield in the Western Mediterranean Basin

Rainfall is the key factor to understand soil erosion processes, mechanisms, and rates. Most research was conducted to determine rainfall characteristics and their relationship with soil erosion (erosivity) but there is little information about how atmospheric patterns control soil losses, and this is important to enable sustainable environmental planning and risk prevention. We investigated the temporal and spatial variability of the relationships of rainfall, runoff, and sediment yield with atmospheric patterns (weather types, WTs) in the western Mediterranean basin. For this purpose, we analyzed a large database of rainfall events collected between 1985 and 2015 in 46 experimental plots and catchments with the aim to: (i) evaluate seasonal differences in the contribution of rainfall, runoff, and sediment yield produced by the WTs; and (ii) to analyze the seasonal efficiency of the different WTs (relation frequency and magnitude) related to rainfall, runoff, and sediment yield. The results indicate two different temporal patterns: the first weather type exhibits (during the cold period: autumn and winter) westerly flows that produce the highest rainfall, runoff, and sediment yield values throughout the territory; the second weather type exhibits easterly flows that predominate during the warm period (spring and summer) and it is located on the Mediterranean coast of the Iberian Peninsula. However, the cyclonic situations present high frequency throughout the whole year with a large influence extended around the western Mediterranean basin. Contrary, the anticyclonic situations, despite of its high frequency, do not contribute significantly to the total rainfall, runoff, and sediment (showing the lowest efficiency) because of atmospheric stability that currently characterize this atmospheric pattern. Our approach helps to better understand the relationship of WTs on the seasonal and spatial variability of rainfall, runoff and sediment yield with a regional scale based on the large dataset and number of soil erosion experimental stations.Spanish Government (Ministry of Economy and Competitiveness, MINECO) and FEDER Projects: CGL2014 52135-C3-3-R, ESP2017-89463-C3-3-R, CGL2014-59946-R, CGL2015-65569-R, CGL2015-64284-C2-2-R, CGL2015-64284-C2-1-R, CGL2016-78075-P, GL2008-02879/BTE, LEDDRA 243857, RECARE-FP7, CGL2017-83866-C3-1-R, and PCIN-2017-061/AEI. Dhais Peña-Angulo received a “Juan de la Cierva” postdoctoral contract (FJCI-2017-33652 Spanish Ministry of Economy and Competitiveness, MEC). Ana Lucia acknowledge the "Brigitte-Schlieben-Lange-Programm". The “Geoenvironmental Processes and Global Change” (E02_17R) was financed by the Aragón Government and the European Social Fund. José Andrés López-Tarazón acknowledges the Secretariat for Universities and Research of the Department of the Economy and Knowledge of the Autonomous Government of Catalonia for supporting the Consolidated Research Group 2014 SGR 645 (RIUS- Fluvial Dynamics Research Group). Artemi Cerdà thank the funding of the OCDE TAD/CRP JA00088807. José Martínez-Fernandez acknowledges the project Unidad de Excelencia CLU-2018-04 co-funded by FEDER and Castilla y León Government. Ane Zabaleta is supported by the Hydro-Environmental Processes consolidated research group (IT1029-16, Basque Government). This paper has the benefit of the Lab and Field Data Pool created within the framework of the COST action CONNECTEUR (ES1306)

Agroforesterie et services écosystémiques en zone tropicale

Respectueux de l’environnement et garantissant une sécurité alimentaire soutenue par la diversification des productions et des revenus qu’ils procurent, les systèmes agroforestiers apparaissent comme un modèle prometteur d’agriculture durable dans les pays du Sud les plus vulnérables aux changements globaux. Cependant, ces systèmes agroforestiers ne peuvent être optimisés qu’à condition de mieux comprendre et de mieux maîtriser les facteurs de leurs productions. L’ouvrage présente un ensemble de connaissances récentes sur les mécanismes biophysiques et socio-économiques qui sous-tendent le fonctionnement et la dynamique des systèmes agroforestiers. Il concerne, d’une part les systèmes agroforestiers à base de cultures pérennes, telles que cacaoyers et caféiers, de régions tropicales humides en Amérique du Sud, en Afrique de l’Est et du Centre, d’autre part les parcs arborés et arbustifs à base de cultures vivrières, principalement de céréales, de la région semi-aride subsaharienne d’Afrique de l’Ouest. Il synthétise les dernières avancées acquises grâce à plusieurs projets associant le Cirad, l’IRD et leurs partenaires du Sud qui ont été conduits entre 2012 et 2016 dans ces régions. L’ensemble de ces projets s’articulent autour des dynamiques des systèmes agroforestiers et des compromis entre les services de production et les autres services socio-écosystémiques que ces systèmes fournissent

Multi-scale calibration and validation of MHYDAS-erosion for a small mediterranean vineyard catchment : a case study

In this work we present a case study of the multi-scale calibration and validation of MHYDAS-Erosion applied to a Mediterranean vineyard. The calibration was performed using expert knowledge in linking physical parameters to land uses with the automatic parameter estimation software PEST. MHYDAS-Erosion was calibrated and validated using spatially distributed observations on total discharge and soil loss. Calibration has been performed within six rainfall events; both hydrological and erosion parameters were calibrated using RMSE, R2 and the modified version of the Nash-Sutcliffe model efficiency criteria. Calibration results indicate there was good agreement between simulated and observed total discharge and total soil loss at the seven observation points (modified Nash-Sutcliffe efficiency (mNSE) ranging between 0.89 and 0.95). Acceptable results were obtained in terms of parameter values, identification of their physical meaning and coherence. However, some limitations were also identified, and could be remedied in more detailed studies involving (i) spatially-distributed rainfall on the catchment, (ii) a description of groundwater exfiltration and (iii) spatially-distributed properties of the ditches over the catchment. Validation results were quite satisfactory for three of the four validation events. The results from this case study suggest that MHYDAS-Erosion may need a specific calibration when applied to another catchment, but once it is calibrated, it could be used for multi-scale soil loss forecasting

Stakeholders’ Perception of the Relevance of Water and Sediment Connectivity in Water and Land Management

Using concepts of connectivity in challenges regarding land and water management (flooding, erosion, nutrient leaching, landslides) can only be fully harnessed if knowledge is communicated well between scientists and stakeholders. Proper communication requires prior understanding of end‐users' perception of connectivity as a useful framework. Therefore, we analysed (i) perceptions of ‘connectivity’ for stakeholders involved in water and land management across Europe, (ii) potential for stakeholders to apply connectivity‐related measures in their management decisions, (iii) stakeholders’ biggest challenges in water and land management, and (iv) stakeholders' expectations for future ‘connectivity’ research agendas. We studied 85 questionnaires from 19 countries using a grounded theory approach. One‐third of stakeholders understood connectivity in its scientific context, while 39% perceived connectivity indirectly through their personal experiences (e.g., water and sediment fluxes and erosion). Half of stakeholders’ perceived links and challenges were related to availability of data and methods, communication, and institutions or policy, while others believed they were related to water quality and quantity, soil erosion and quality, and climate change. Half of the stakeholders considered connectivity management important, and one‐third showed high interest in managing connectivity. Adopting connectivity into management is hindered by institutional‐ and policy‐based management limitations, insufficient data and methods, and ineffective knowledge transfer. Explicitly considering heterogeneity of stakeholder perceptions is required for projects regarding management of connectivity at European, national and local scales

Addition of organic and inorganic amendments to regenerate the surface structure of silty soils

The widespread degradation of the structure of silty soils under no till systems (NT) that has been observed in recent years is characterized by the presence of a platy structure (P) near the soil surface. Under these conditions, addition of organic and inorganic amendments could have beneficial effects on soil physical properties. We assessed structural regeneration following addition of amendments in an Argiudoll of Paraná, Argentina. Poultry litter (PL) and gypsum (G) were applied, providing an organic and inorganic amendment, respectively. Four treatments were tested: PL (7.5 Mg/ha), G (3 Mg/ha), the combination of PL + G (7.5 + 3 Mg/ha), and control (T) with no amendment. Description and quantification of the structural state of the soil profile was made using a Visual Soil Evaluation method: “Le profil cultural”. Aggregate stability, bulk density, total porosity, pore size distribution and soil shear strength for each soil structure and soil organic carbon (SOC) were determined at two depths. Twenty months after the amendment applications, both PL and PL + G treatments led to a significant increase of SOC in the upper 5 cm of soil. The proportion of Gamma (Γ) structure increased and P declined under PL and PL + G compared with G and T inn the A horizon. Treatments G and PL + G contributed to an increase in average diameter of aggregates in Γ only. The use of PL amendment alone or in combination with G could be a promising strategy to regenerate, in the short‐term, the degraded soil structure under NT.EEA ParanáFil: Gabioud, Emmanuel. Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuaria (INTA). Estación Experimental Agropecuaria Paraná; ArgentinaFil: Sasal, María Carolina. Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuaria (INTA). Estación Experimental Agropecuaria Paraná; ArgentinaFil: Wilson, Marcelo G. Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuaria (INTA). Estación Experimental Agropecuaria Paraná; ArgentinaFil: Seehaus, Mariela. Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuaria (INTA). Estación Experimental Agropecuaria Paraná; ArgentinaFil: Van Opstal, Natalia. Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuaria (INTA). Estación Experimental Agropecuaria Paraná; ArgentinaFil: Beghetto, Stella. Universidad Nacional de Entre Ríos. Facultad de Ciencias de la Educación; ArgentinaFil: Wingeyer, Ana. Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuaria (INTA). Estación Experimental Agropecuaria Paraná; Argentin

Effect of land use and management on the early stages of soil water erosion in French Mediterranean vineyards

The effect of changes in land use on the early stages of soil water erosion was studied on brown calcareous soils (Calcic Luvisols), a widespread type of soil suitable for wine-growing in the French Mediterranean area. This type of soil is subject to high intensity rainfall events. Rainfall of 60 mm/h was simulated on dry soil for several types of land use including scrubland, fallow and several wine-growing strategies (chemical and mechanical inter-row weeding, grassing, straw mulching, rock fragment cover and clearing rock fragments). No soil loss was observed for fallow and scrubland. The highest runoff rates and soil losses were observed for chemically weeded vineyards, with however, a reduction of soil losses when the prunings were left on the soil. Vineyards mulched with straw or with rock fragment cover were protected against runoff and soil erosion. As the grassing was recent, it was only partially effective, although several indicators showed that it might be promising in the future. A method of ranking the land uses in terms of protection against runoff and soil losses was derived from the experimental data. The statistical relationships between runoff, soil losses and various surface proper-ties (soil cover including litter, weeds and rock fragments, crusts) and properties of the 0-5 cm topsoil layer (aggregate stability, carbon organic content, and porosity) were determined. The rate of initial crusts, the crusting with the rains, the aggregate stability, the carbon organic content and the soil porosity were significantly related to the runoff. The soil cover and the crusting with the rains were significantly related with the water turbidity. All theses parameters were significantly related to soil losses. However, runoff was poorly related to the water turbidity. The causality links between the results and the ranking of the land uses are discussed