Reclassifying Polish Soil-agricultural Maps into USDA-compliant PTG2008 Soil Textural Classification. Consequence for Modelling Environmental Phenomena Examplified by Wind Erosion

This paper is a side effect of preparing international publications on our long term research on  soils’ susceptibility to wind erosion. For the paper to be internationally understandable we had to translate the texture classes from the Polish soil-agricultural maps (PTG1974), used as a basis to derive ten soil units investigated in the experiments, into the widely recognised USDA classification. We spotted that the PTG1974 classes of sandy soils, falling into USDA single SAND class, have large, reaching 1620% difference in deflation rates, 25% in the case of LOAMY SAND and  SANDY LOAM class the difference was 300%. The differences of this magnitude within a single textural class imply that the USDA classes may be too general to be used in some domains of environmental modelling. This also implies that translating soil kinds (soil textural classes) in Polish soil-agricultural maps into the USDA textural classes is not rational and may lead to the loss of spatial variability of soil cover and the loss of credibility in modelling of environmental phenomena

Agroforestry creates carbon sinks whilst enhancing the environment in agricultural landscapes in Europe

Agroforestry, relative to conventional agriculture, contributes significantly to carbon sequestration, increases a range of regulating ecosystem services, and enhances biodiversity. Using a transdisciplinary approach, we combined scientific and technical knowledge to evaluate nine environmental pressures in terms of ecosystem services in European farmland and assessed the carbon storage potential of suitable agroforestry systems, proposed by regional experts. First, regions with potential environmental pressures were identified with respect to soil health (soil erosion by water and wind, low soil organic carbon), water quality (water pollution by nitrates, salinization by irrigation), areas affected by climate change (rising temperature), and by underprovision in biodiversity (pollination and pest control pressures, loss of soil biodiversity). The maps were overlaid to identify areas where several pressures accumulate. In total, 94.4% of farmlands suffer from at least one environmental pressure, pastures being less affected than arable lands. Regional hotspots were located in north-western France, Denmark, Central Spain, north and south-western Italy, Greece, and eastern Romania. The 10% of the area with the highest number of accumulated pressures were defined as Priority Areas, where the implementation of agroforestry could be particularly effective. In a second step, European agroforestry experts were asked to propose agroforestry practices suitable for the Priority Areas they were familiar with, and identified 64 different systems covering a wide range of practices. These ranged from hedgerows on field boundaries to fast growing coppices or scattered single tree systems. Third, for each proposed system, the carbon storage potential was assessed based on data from the literature and the results were scaled-up to the Priority Areas. As expected, given the wide range of agroforestry practices identified, the carbon sequestration potentials ranged between 0.09 and 7.29 t C ha−1 a−1. Implementing agroforestry on the Priority Areas could lead to a sequestration of 2.1 to 63.9 million t C a−1 (7.78 and 234.85

Application of sinmap terrain stability model to Grodarz stream watershed

The article presents research results on slope stability mapping using SINMAP model on loess upland area of Nałęczów Plateau in eastern Poland.Direct link to full article: http://www.ejpau.media.pl/volume6/issue1/environment/art-03.htmlstatus: publishe

Estimating outflow and sediment uptake chosen Polish soil kinds in simulated conditions

The work presents the research results on soil susceptibility to surface wash out, executed on model object (10 experimental plots of different soil kinds in black fallow at terrain slope 10%) in simulated rain (sprinkling) conditions.direct link: http://www.ejpau.media.pl/volume7/issue2/environment/art-05.htmlstatus: publishe

GIS in supporting decisions on erosion control. Management of rural roads'networks

status: publishe

Eal and calculated kusle erobility factor for selected Polish soils

The soil erodibility factor according to the USLE method was calculated for selected Polish soils. Data from 10 experimental plots of different soils in black fallow a terrain slope of 10% and in sprinkling conditions, were used for the study. The comparison of real data and data obtained form equations given by Wischmeier and Smith, as well as by Wiliams, revealed considerable differences in KUSLE values of the investigated soils. The statistical investigations were conducted to find the best fitting between observed and numerically predicted KUSLE values. The highest correlation (R=0.65) revealed the pair of MUSLE and ln(Kd/Kw) variables, where Kd represents real KUSLE values, while Kw KUSLE was calculated with Williams equation. The non-linear logarithmic regression model has shown the best fit, reaching the regression of R=0.77 between variables ln(Kd/Kw), MUSLE and outflow coefficient.status: publishe

Evaluation of FOSS4G software projects for environmental applications. Evaluation of gvSIG

CASCADOSS team inventoried 98 FOSS4G software projects from five functional groups: general interest, development libraries, database management systems, desktop applications and server applications. Moreover 18 FOSS Environmental Applications software were inventoried. 45 of FOSS4G and all 18 of the inventoried EA projects were documented, evaluated and given a score based on its performance with regard to each individual software potential: marketing, technical and economical. The gvSIG project has been evaluated in the group of FOSS EA applications, gaining the scores of: 47, 44 and 45 for potentials: marketing, technical and economical, respectively. This gives around 75% of maximum 60 points for each potential. The result places gvSIG among the best three of evaluated FOSS EA project, however there is still room for improvement of the project within all of three potentials.Full text on the conference website: http://www.jornadasgvsig.gva.es/ingl/articulos/status: publishe

Developing an intelligent ICT system for environmentally optimized irrigation management in agriculture

Globally, agriculture makes use of 70% of all water withdrawn from aquifers, streams and lakes. Agriculture accounts for 22% of freshwater abstraction in Europe, outnumbered only by freshwater abstraction for cooling in energy production (45%). In the light of the real need to practically improve the environmental performance of irrigation systems and prevent the misuse of water, the ENORASIS project was established aimed to develop an intelligent, integrated Decision Support System (ENORASIS Service Platform and Components) for environmentally optimized and thus, sustainable irrigation management to be used by farmers and water management organizations. To achieve so, the ENORASIS project developed and integrated a bouquet of advanced technologies, methodologies and models in the fields of: (i) weather prediction systems that exploit satellite observations; (ii) irrigation optimization techniques and (iii) smart irrigation systems; and (iv) wireless sensor networks (functioning with solar energy) as key enabling technology for field measurements and monitoring conditions.The system was tested in 5 pilot locations in Poland, Serbia, Cyprus and Turkey, providing large savings in water use as comparted to other irrigation practices while not compromising crop yields. The highest savings were observed in raspberry and potato plantations in Poland, reaching 90%and 59% respectively

Modelling the Hydrology of an Upland Catchment of Bystra River in 2050 Climate Using RCP 4.5 and RCP 8.5 Emission Scenario Forecasts

This article presents selected flow modeling indices of the Bystra River catchment area (east Poland) obtained using the SWAT model simulations for three regional climate models driven by the EC-EARTH global climate model for 2021–2050 and both RCP4.5 and RCP 8.5 scenarios. The research area was selected due to the large relief of the terrain, the predominance of soils made of loess and the agricultural nature of the Bystra River catchment area, which is very sensitive to climate change, has very valuable soils, and can be used as a test area for modeling land use-based adaptation measures to climate change. The calibration and validation using the SUFI-2 algorithm in the SWAT CUP program was carried out in order to determine the water balance. After obtaining satisfactory results, the SWAT-CUP program simulated the best parameter values for climate change projections. In analyzed climate projections, the monthly mean sums of actual evapotranspiration and potential evapotranspiration will be higher compared to the simulation period of the 2010–2017 model. The exception is the month of June, where actual evapotranspiration in most climate projections is lower compared to the years 2010–2017. The average monthly total runoff for the Bystra River basin will be lower in most of the 2021–2030 climate change projections for most months compared to the reference period. Also, in the 2031–2040 and 2041–2050 periods, the average monthly total runoff will be lower for the RCP 4.5 scenarios (except for one RCP 4.5 scenario in 2031–2040). Additionally, in the case of the RCP 8.5 for the two scenarios in 2041–2050, the average monthly total runoff will be higher compared to the reference years. We determine that the analysis impact of climate change will result in 31 recognized and different small sub-catchments of the Bystra River, which result from higher precipitation and less evapotranspiration for RCP 8.5 in 2041–2050. All of the above changes in the individual components of the water balance may have a negative impact on the vegetation in the coming decades. The temperature increase and the variable amount of precipitation in individual months may lead to an increased number of extreme phenomena. Increased mean monthly sum of actual and potential evapotranspiration, as well as changes in monthly sums of total runoff, may disturb the vegetation in the studied area at every stage of growth. The above components may also influence changes in the amount of water in the soil (especially during the growing season). Counteracting the effects of future climate change requires various adaptation measures

Modelling the Hydrology of an Upland Catchment of Bystra River in 2050 Climate Using RCP 4.5 and RCP 8.5 Emission Scenario Forecasts

This article presents selected flow modeling indices of the Bystra River catchment area (east Poland) obtained using the SWAT model simulations for three regional climate models driven by the EC-EARTH global climate model for 2021–2050 and both RCP4.5 and RCP 8.5 scenarios. The research area was selected due to the large relief of the terrain, the predominance of soils made of loess and the agricultural nature of the Bystra River catchment area, which is very sensitive to climate change, has very valuable soils, and can be used as a test area for modeling land use-based adaptation measures to climate change. The calibration and validation using the SUFI-2 algorithm in the SWAT CUP program was carried out in order to determine the water balance. After obtaining satisfactory results, the SWAT-CUP program simulated the best parameter values for climate change projections. In analyzed climate projections, the monthly mean sums of actual evapotranspiration and potential evapotranspiration will be higher compared to the simulation period of the 2010–2017 model. The exception is the month of June, where actual evapotranspiration in most climate projections is lower compared to the years 2010–2017. The average monthly total runoff for the Bystra River basin will be lower in most of the 2021–2030 climate change projections for most months compared to the reference period. Also, in the 2031–2040 and 2041–2050 periods, the average monthly total runoff will be lower for the RCP 4.5 scenarios (except for one RCP 4.5 scenario in 2031–2040). Additionally, in the case of the RCP 8.5 for the two scenarios in 2041–2050, the average monthly total runoff will be higher compared to the reference years. We determine that the analysis impact of climate change will result in 31 recognized and different small sub-catchments of the Bystra River, which result from higher precipitation and less evapotranspiration for RCP 8.5 in 2041–2050. All of the above changes in the individual components of the water balance may have a negative impact on the vegetation in the coming decades. The temperature increase and the variable amount of precipitation in individual months may lead to an increased number of extreme phenomena. Increased mean monthly sum of actual and potential evapotranspiration, as well as changes in monthly sums of total runoff, may disturb the vegetation in the studied area at every stage of growth. The above components may also influence changes in the amount of water in the soil (especially during the growing season). Counteracting the effects of future climate change requires various adaptation measures