380 research outputs found

    Movilización de carbono orgánico por distintos procesos erosivos en la conexión ladera-cauce

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    21 páginas, 5 figuras, 2 tablas.[ES] Con el fin de caracterizar la cantidad y tipo (lábil o recalcitrante) de carbono orgánico (CO) movilizado por distintos procesos erosivos identificados en las conexiones ladera-cauce, se estudiaron las características de los depósitos de erosión concentrada en cárcavas, erosión hídrica laminar, erosión lateral-gravitacional y erosión por laboreo en el contacto ladera-cauce de una cuenca de pequeño tamaño (10 ha) y se relacionaron con las características de los suelos-fuentes originales de donde procedían. La selectividad en el arranque y transporte de suelo de los distintos procesos se pudo asociar a diferentes contenidos y tipos de CO en los depósitos. Las razones de enriquecimiento de carbono orgánico sedimento/suelo fueron bajas (~0,40 ± 0,26), a pesar de haber un ligero enriquecimiento en partículas finas (correlacionadas positivamente con el CO) en los depósitos. Todo ello se atribuyó a los efectos de la mineralización en un cauce muy activo con pocas zonas de deposición y abundantes procesos de erosión no selectiva.[EN] With the purpose of analysing the type (labile or stable) and quantity of organic carbon (OC) mobilized by different erosive processes identified at the slope-bed connection, the erosion deposits of gullies, sheet erosion, bank erosion and tillage erosion were studied in a small catchment (10 ha) and compared to the characteristics of the catchment soils. Selectivity upon soil detachment and transport was associated to different OC content and types in the erosion deposits. Enrichment ratios of organic carbon sediment/soil were low (~0,40 ± 0,26), even though a slight enrichment was described for fine particles (positively correlated to CO). These results were attributed to mineralization processes prevailing over OC burial in a very active channel where depositional sites are scarce.Este trabajo ha sido financiado por los proyectos ERCO (CGL-2007- 62590/BTE) del Ministerio de Ciencia e Innovación y el proyecto PROBASE (CGL2006-11619). La primera autora tiene el apoyo económico de una ayuda FPI del Ministerio de Ciencia e Innovación (BES-2008-002379).Peer reviewe

    Crop coefficients parameterization using remote sensing in basin-scale hydrological modelling

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    [SPA] Se utiliza un modelo hidrológico distribuido para evaluar cómo diferentes métodos influyen en la estimación de la evapotranspiración (ETc) y el balance de agua a escala de cuenca. La zona de estudio se ubica en la cuenca alta del Segura (~ 2.500 km2) en el Sureste español, zona caracterizada por una elevada heterogeneidad de condiciones del terreno y usos del suelo. El modelo hidrológico SPHY fue desarrollado y calibrado para un período de simulación de 15 años. Se emplearon cinco métodos para parametrizar el coeficiente de cultivo y se compararon los patrones espaciales y las dinámicas temporales simuladas para la evapotranspiración, la humedad del suelo y los caudales. Tres de los cinco métodos utilizan información de satélite, otro los valores del coeficiente de cultivo establecidos por FAO, y el último asume un valor constante para toda la cuenca y periodo de simulación. El análisis muestra que la generación de caudales apenas se ve afectada por la selección del método de parametrización, aunque sí es importante a la hora de calcular la evapotranspiración real, especialmente durante épocas húmedas y para los valores tabulados de FAO. [ENG] A distributed hydrologic model is used to evaluate how different methods to estimate evapotranspiration (ETc) influence the water balance and hydrologic response of basins. The study site, the upper Segura basin (~2500 km2) in Spain, is characterized by a wide range of terrain, soil, and ecosystem conditions. Input and calibration data for the hydrological model SPHY are obtained from best available data sources. The model was setup for a period of 15 year. Five crop coefficient parameterization methods are compared to explore the impact of spatial and temporal variations in these input datasets on actual evapotranspiration, streamflow and soil moisture. Methods include three that are based on remote sensing information; one based on FAO literature, and another that takes the crop coefficient equal to unity for the entire basin. The analysis shows that basin-level streamflow is hardly influenced by the choice in parameterization, but actual evapotranspiration and soil moisture are quite different, especially in the wet season and for the FAO-based method

    Why increased extreme precipitation under climate change negatively affects water security

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    An increase in extreme precipitation is projected for many areas worldwide in the coming decades. To assess the impact of increased precipitation intensity on water security, we applied a regional-scale hydrological and soil erosion model, forced with regional climate model projections. We specifically considered the impact of climate change on the distribution of water between soil (green water) and surface water (blue water) compartments. We show that an increase in precipitation intensity leads to a redistribution of water within the catchment, where water storage in soil decreases and reservoir inflow increases. This affects plant water stress and the potential of rainfed versus irrigated agriculture, and increases dependency on reservoir storage, which is potentially threatened by increased soil erosion. This study demonstrates the crucial importance of accounting for the fact that increased precipitation intensity leads to water redistribution between green and blue water, increased soil erosion, and reduced water security. Ultimately, this has implications for design of climate change adaptation measures, which should aim to increase the water holding capacity of the soil (green water) and to maintain the storage capacity of reservoirs (blue water), benefiting rainfed and irrigated agriculture.</p

    Movilización de carbono orgánico por distintos procesos erosivos en la conexión ladera-cauce

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    With the purpose of analysing the type (labile or stable) and quantity of organic carbon (OC) mobilized by different erosive processes identified at the slope-bed connection, the erosion deposits of gullies, sheet erosion, bank erosion and tillage erosion were studied in a small catchment (10 ha) and compared to the characteristics of the catchment soils. Selectivity upon soil detachment and transport was associated to different OC content and types in the erosion deposits. Enrichment ratios of organic carbon sediment/soil were low (~0,40 ± 0,26), even though a slight enrichment was described for fine particles (positively correlated to CO). These results were attributed to mineralization processes prevailing over OC burial in a very active channel where depositional sites are scarce.Con el fin de caracterizar la cantidad y tipo (lábil o recalcitrante) de carbono orgánico (CO) movilizado por distintos procesos erosivos identificados en las conexiones ladera-cauce, se estudiaron las características de los depósitos de erosión concentrada en cárcavas, erosión hídrica laminar, erosión lateral-gravitacional y erosión por laboreo en el contacto ladera-cauce de una cuenca de pequeño tamaño (10 ha) y se relacionaron con las características de los suelos-fuentes originales de donde procedían. La selectividad en el arranque y transporte de suelo de los distintos procesos se pudo asociar a diferentes contenidos y tipos de CO en los depósitos. Las razones de enriquecimiento de carbono orgánico sedimento/suelo fueron bajas (~0,40 ± 0,26), a pesar de haber un ligero enriquecimiento en partículas finas (correlacionadas positivamente con el CO) en los depósitos. Todo ello se atribuyó a los efectos de la mineralización en un cauce muy activo con pocas zonas de deposición y abundantes procesos de erosión no selectiva

    Long-term effectiveness of sustainable land management practices to control runoff, soil erosion, and nutrient loss and the role of rainfall intensity in Mediterranean rainfed agroecosystems

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    Mediterranean environments are especially susceptible to soil erosion and to inappropriate soil management, leading to accelerated soil loss. Sustainable Land Management (SLM) practices (such as reduced tillage, no-tillage, cover crops, etc.,) have the potential to reduce soil, organic carbon (OC), and nutrient losses by erosion. However, the effectivity of these practices is site-dependent and varies under different rainfall conditions. The objective of this paper was to evaluate the effects of SLM practices in two rainfed systems (a wheat field and an almond orchard) representative of a large area of the driest Mediterranean regions - on runoff, soil erosion, particle size distribution, and OC and nutrient (N and P) contents in sediments. The influence of the rainfall characteristics on the effectiveness of the SLM practices was also evaluated. The SLM implemented were: reduced tillage (RT) in the wheat field and almond orchard and reduced tillage combined with green manure (RTG) in the almond orchard; these were compared to conventional tillage, the usual practice in the area. Open erosion plots were set up to monitor the effects of SLM on soil carbon and nutrients and on soil erosion after each rainfall event over six years (2010 2016). The results show that the SLM practices evaluated resulted in increased organic carbon (OC) and nutrients (N and P) contents in the soil, and reduced runoff, erosion, and mobilization of organic carbon and nutrients in sediments. Reductions in runoff of 30% and 65% and decreases in erosion of 65 and 85% were found in the wheat field and almond orchards, respectively. In addition, the total OC, N, and P losses in the wheat field were reduced by 56%, 45%, and 64%, respectively, while in the almond field the OC, N, and P losses were reduced by 90% under RT and by 85% under RTG. The beneficial effect of the SLM practices on soil erosion was observed within 18 months of their implementation and continued throughout the six years of the study. Furthermore, the effectiveness of tillage reduction with respect to erosion control and carbon and nutrients mobilization was highest during the most intense rainfall events, which are responsible for the highest erosion rates in Mediterranean areas. Our results support the key role of SLM practices under semiarid conditions as useful tools for climate change mitigation and adaptation, given the expected increase in high-intensity rainfall events in semiarid areas. © 2019 The AuthorsThis study site has been funded by several national (CYCIT AGL201125069//CICYT AGL2010-20941//CGL2013-42009-R//CGL2014-55-405-R), Regional (Séneca Foundation: 08757/PI/08//19350/PI/14), and European Commission H2020 (F6 DG RTD 037046 and Grant 728003, DIVERFARMING projects). Joris de Vente acknowledges support from a Ramón y Cajal research grant (RYC-2012-10375) and María Almagro was supported by the Juan de la Cierva Program (IJCI-2015-23500)

    Carbon redistribution by erosion processes in an intensively disturbed catchment

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    29 Pags.- 6 Tabls.- 6 Figs. This article belongs to a special issue of Catena titled "Geoecology in Mediterranean mountain areas. Tribute to Professor José María García Ruiz". The definitive version is available at: http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/journal/03418162Understanding how organic carbon (OC) moves with sediments along the fluvial system is crucial to determining catchment scale carbon budgets and helps the proper management of fragile ecosystems. Especially challenging is the analysis of OC dynamics during fluvial transport in heterogeneous, fragile, and disturbed environments with ephemeral and intense hydrological pulses, typical of Mediterranean conditions. This paper explores the catchment scale OC redistribution by lateral flows in extreme Mediterranean environmental conditions, from a geomorphological perspective. The study area is a catchment (Cárcavo) in SE Spain with a semiarid climate, erodible lithologies, and shallow soils, which is highly disturbed by agricultural terraces, land levelling, reforestation, and construction of check-dams. To increase our understanding of catchment scale OC redistribution induced by erosion, we studied in detail the subcatchments of eight check-dams distributed along the catchments main channel. We determined 137Cs, physicochemical characteristics, and the OC pools of the catchment soils and sediments deposited behind each check-dam, performed spatial analysis of catchment properties and buffer areas around the check-dams, and carried out geomorphological analysis of the slope-channel connections. The soils showed very low total organic carbon (TOC) values, oscillating between 15.2 and 4.4 g kg− 1 for forest and agricultural soils, respectively. Sediments mobilized by erosion were poor in TOC (6.6 ± 0.7 g kg– 1) compared to the eroded (forest) soils, and the redistribution of OC through the catchment, especially of the mineral associated organic carbon (MAC) pool, showed the same pattern as clay particles and 137Cs. The TOC erosion rates estimated for the Cárcavo watershed are relatively low (0.031 ± 0.03 Mg ha− 1 y− 1) but similar to those reported for subhumid Mediterranean catchments that are less fragile and more conducive to plant growth. The TOC erosion/total erosion ratio was lower (0.06%) than other estimates, although the average OC concentration of the sediments was higher than that of the agricultural soils of the catchment, underlining the problem of maintaining sustainable soil OC contents. The OC in deposited sediments came not only from surface erosion processes, but also from deeper soil or sediment layers mobilized by concentrated erosion processes. Sediment richer in OC came from the surface soil of vegetated (reforested) areas close and well connected to the channels. Subcatchments dominated by laminar erosion processes showed a TOC erosion/total erosion ratio that was two times higher than that of subcatchments dominated by concentrated flow erosion processes. The lithology, soils, and geomorphology exert a more important control on OC redistribution than land use and vegetation cover in this geomorphologically very active catchment.This work was financially supported by the projects ADAPT (CGL2013-42009-R) and DISECO (CGL2014-55-405-R) from the Spanish Government, National Plan of Science; the project CAMBIO (18933/JLI/13) of the Seneca Foundation, Regional Government of Murcia (Spain); and the project SOGLO (P7/24 IAP BELSPO) from the Belgian Government. Joris de Vente was supported by a ‘Ramón y Cajal’ grant (RYC-2012-10375).Peer reviewe
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