M.C. Ramos

Soil erosion caused by extreme rainfall events: mapping and quantification in agricultural plots from very detailed digital elevation models

This paper presents a method that can be used to quantify and map soil losses at field scale produced by extreme rainfall events. The amounts of sediment produced by overland flow and Ž. concentrated overland flow inter-rill, rill and gully erosion at the agricultural plot scale are evaluated from elevation differences computed from very high resolution digital elevation models Ž. DEMs , from before and just after an extreme rainfall event. Geographical Information Systems Ž. GIS techniques are used to analyse the multi-temporal spatial data. The research case study presented makes reference to a mechanised vineyard plot located in the Alt Penedes-Anoia region `

Quantitative comparison of initial soil erosion processes and runoff generation in Spanish and German vineyards.

The aim of this study was to enable a quantitative comparison of initial soil erosion processes in European vineyards using the same methodology and equipment. The study was conducted in four viticultural areas with different characteristics (Valencia and Málaga in Spain, Ruwer-Mosel valley and Saar-Mosel valley in Germany). Old and young vineyards, with conventional and ecological planting and management systems were compared. The same portable rainfall simulator with identical rainfall intensity (40mmh(-1)) and sampling intervals (30min of test duration, collecting the samples at 5-min-intervals) was used over a circular test plot with 0.28m(2). The results of 83 simulations have been analysed and correlation coefficients were calculated for each study area to identify the relationship between environmental plot characteristics, soil texture, soil erosion, runoff and infiltration. The results allow for identification of the main factors related to soil properties, topography and management, which control soil erosion processes in vineyards. The most important factors influencing soil erosion and runoff were the vegetation cover for the ecological German vineyards (with 97.6±8% infiltration coefficients) and stone cover, soil moisture and slope steepness for the conventional land uses.

Nutrient losses from a vineyard soil in Northeastern Spain caused by an extraordinary rainfall event

Vineyards are one of the lands that incur the highest soil losses in Mediterranean environments. Most of the studies that report about this problem only focus on soil losses and few investigations have addressed the nutrient losses associated with erosion processes during the storms. The present research evaluates the loss of nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium in vineyard soils located in a Mediterranean area (NE Spain), after an extreme rainfall event recorded on 10 June 2000. The total rainfall of this event was 215 mm, 205 mm of which fell in 2 h 15 min. The maximum intensity in 30-min periods reached 170 mm h−1. This rainfall produced a large amount of sediments both inside and outside the plots, with the consequent soil mobilisation and loss of nutrients. The estimate of soil loss was based on the subtraction of two very accurate digital elevation models (DEMs) of different dates in GIS, and measures of the nutrient content of sediment collected in the plot. Soil loss in the study plot reached 207 mg ha−1. Most sediment was produced by concentrated surface runoff. Nutrient losses amounted as 108.5 kg ha−1 of N, 108.6 kg ha−1 of P and 35.6 kg ha−1 of K. The proposed method allowed mapping the sediment contribution and deposition areas and the distribution of the nutrient load and losses within the plot.

Effect of raindrop impact and its relationship with aggregate stability to different disaggregation forces

A soil surface exposed to rainfall is subjected to processes of wetting and drop impact which can lead to the formation of a seal during the rainfall, reducing infiltration and increasing erosion by increasing runoff. The objective of this research was to evaluate the relationship between the effect caused by the drop impact and the aggregate stability of the soils when they are subjected to different disaggregation forces. The aggregates were subjected to cracking (by slow wetting), slaking (by fast wetting) and mechanical breakdown (by mechanical stirring after pre-wetting in ethanol). The effect of each process was evaluated by measuring the mean weight diameter (MWDsl, MWDf and MWDst, respectively) calculated as the sum of the mass fraction of soil left in the sieve after fractionation into four size classes, ranging from <0.25 to 2 mm, multiplied by the mean aperture of the sieve meshes and divided by the initial soil weight. The effect of water impact plus wetting was quantified by the saturated hydraulic conductivity of the seal (Ks) and the time necessary to reach this value. A relative sealing index (RSI) that measured the reduction of water intake caused by sealing was defined as the relationship between the minimum value of saturated hydraulic conductivity of the seal and that reached when the drop impact was avoided. The air-dry material rupture was evaluated with a penetrometer. The main soil characteristics that determine all these processes for the study soils were analysed. Most of the studied soils were very sensitive to slaking and mechanical breakdown, while they were stable when they were subjected to slow wetting. A significant relationship was found between the minimum saturated hydraulic conductivity (Ks) and the MWDst (R2=0.40, p<0.005), and between Ks and the MWDf (R2=0.69, p<0.05). In both treatments, slaking and mechanical stirring, the percentage of aggregates retained in the larger sieve mesh was also significantly correlated with Ks. This result could indicate that both processes are implicated in the disaggregation produced by drop impact, which contribute to seal formation process. The less stable soils had the lowest Ks value (<1 mm h−1), which was reached in a short period of time (<10 min). The high silt content and the low organic matter control the loss of aggregation by mechanical breakdown and the formation of the seal. The RSI values indicated a 200-fold reduction in water infiltration for some soils, caused by the formation of a seal.

An improved rainfall erosivity index obtained from experimental interrill soil losses in soils with a Mediterranean climate

The most common index to predict rainfall erosivity is based on the kinetic energy (KE) and the maximum intensity in a 30-min period. However, rainfalls recorded in the Mediterranean climate are, in most cases, the short duration (<30 min) and the high intensity. The goal of this work was to improve rainfall erosivity indices for the Mediterranean conditions from experimental interrill soil losses measured in natural conditions in 1-m2 plots. The plots were located in three vineyard fields, whose soils are classified as Typic Calcixerept, Typic Xerofluvent and Typic Xerorthent, and ploughed at the same time as the vineyards. Soil losses and runoff were collected after each rainfall event during 1 year and rainfall data were obtained from bucket gauges installed at the same places. Mean intensity of the storms was less than 10 mm h−1, but maximum intensities in short periods were as high as 103 mm h−1. Kinetic energy was calculated using different expressions proposed in the literature and improved with our data obtained with a disdrometer type Joss Waldvogel. Soil losses were related to kinetic energy and to different combinations of kinetic energy and maximum intensity for different time intervals. The best correlation was that obtained between soil losses and the product of kinetic energy by Sempere Torres and the maximum intensity in 5-min intervals (I5), which explained more than 80% of the variability. When a surface crust was formed quickly there was no significant relation between soil loss and rainfall parameters.

Spatial variability in grape yield and quality influenced by soil and crop nutrition characteristics

Knowledge of spatial variability of soil fertility and plant nutrition is critical for planning and implementing site-specific vineyard management. To better understand the key drivers behind vineyard variability, yield mapping from 2002 to 2005 and 2007 (the monitor broke down in 2006) was used to identify zones of different productive potential in a Pinot Noir field located in Raimat (Lleida, Spain). Simultaneously, the vineyard field was sampled in 2002, 2003 and 2007, applying three different schemes (depending on the number of target vines in different grape yield zones). The sampling carried out in 2002, which involved different soil, topographic and crop properties (mineral contents in petiole), made it possible to evaluate the influence of these parameters on the grape yield variability. The zones of lowest yield coincided with locations in which the nutritional status of the crop exhibited the lowest values, particularly with respect to petiole contents of calcium and manganese. Sampling systems adopted in 2003 and 2007 (grape quality and soil attributes) confirmed the inverse spatial correlation between grape yield and some grape quality parameters and, more importantly, showed that the percentage of soil carbonates had a great influence on grape quality probably due to the reduced availability of manganese in calcareous soils. Site-specific vineyard management could therefore be considered using two different strategies: variable-rate application of foliar fertilizers to increase the yield in areas with low production and also foliar or soil fertilizers to improve the quality specifications in some areas.

Seasonal temperature and precipitation variability during the last 60 years in a Mediterranean climate area of Northeastern Spain: a multivariate analysis

This paper presents the analysis of mean daily temperature and precipitation from 1950 to 2010 in an area with Mediterranean climate of NE Spain including some coastal areas near Barcelona and the Penedès and Camp de Tarragona Depressions located between the Coastal Mountain Range and the Mediterranean Sea. Their variability, with especial attention to the frequency of extreme events, was analysed by using 18 indexes: seven for temperature and 11 for precipitation were analysed for four meteorological observatories. A multivariate analysis was performed in order to analyse the temperature and precipitation trends. During the analysed period, an increase in mean annual maximum temperature was observed in all observatories ranging between 1.5 and 2.2°C associated with an increase in the number of days with high extreme temperatures. Minimum temperature only increased significantly in the coast observatories (about 1.4°C). By seasons, temperature trends were greater at Vilafranca del Penedès and Barcelona observatories and lower at Reus airport. Maximum spring temperature increased between 1.5 and 2.5°C, summer temperature increased between 1.6 and 2.5°C and autumn temperature increased by up to 2.2°C. Precipitation presented a high variability from year to year, without significant trends. The most significant results were related to the dry conditions observed in spring 2000s, the wet conditions recorded in summer 2000s and 1980s and the longer dry periods in autumn 2000s. The increase of temperatures determined the increase of evapotranspiration, and due to the higher irregular distribution, water deficits for crop development were recorded. An advance of phenological dates and a reduction of grape yield are associated to climate trends.

Soil water content, runoff and soil loss prediction in a small ungauged agricultural basin in the Mediterranean region using the Soil and Water Assessment Tool

The aim of the present work was to evaluate the possibilities of using sub-basin data for calibration of the Soil and Water Assessment Tool (SWAT) model in a small ungauged basin (46 ha) and its response. This small basin was located in the viticultural Anoia-Penedès region (north-east Spain), which suffers severe soil erosion. The data sources were: daily weather data from an observatory located close to the basin; a detailed Soil Map of Catalonia; a 5-m resolution digital elevation model (DEM); a crop/land use map derived from orthophotos taken in 2010 and an additional detailed soil survey (40 points) within the basin, which included properties such as texture, soil organic carbon, electrical conductivity, bulk density and water retention capacity at – 33 and –1500 kPa. A sensitivity analysis was performed to identify and rank the sensitive parameters that affect the hydrological response and sediment yield to changes of model input parameters. A one-year calibration and one-year validation were carried out on the basis of soil moisture measured at 0.20-m intervals from depths of 0.10 to 0.90 m in two selected sub-basins, and data related to estimations of runoff and sediment concentrations in runoff collected in the same sub-basins. The paper shows a methodological approach for calibrating SWAT in small un-gauged basins using soil water content measurements and runoff samples collected within the basin. The SWAT satisfactorily predicted the average soil water content, runoff and soil loss for moderate intensity events recorded during the study periods. However, it was not satisfactory for high intensity events which would require exploring the possibilities of using sub-daily information as an input model parameter.

Precision analysis of the effect of ephemeral gully erosion on vine vigour using NDVI images

The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of ephemeral gully erosion on vine vigour. The vine vigour was estimated through the Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI) derived from a detailed multispectral aerial image acquired August 11, 2010. An analysis of variance and a Duncan’s multiple range test was performed to compare NDVI values in areas around the axis of gully incision and in control areas not affected by gullies. The soil eroded volume was measured from a 0.1 m resolution digital elevation model acquired by an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) on May 07, 2012. The results demonstrate the utility of multispectral images to determine the area affected by gully erosion in vineyards, as well as of the digital elevation models derived from UAVs for precision conservation projects.

Hillslope terracing effects on the spatial variability of plant development as assessed by NDVI in vineyards of the Priorat region (NE Spain)

The availability of heavy machinery and the vineyard restructuring and conversion plans of the European Union Common Agricultural Policy (Commission Regulation EC no. 1227/2000 of 31 May 2000) have encouraged the restructuring of many vineyards on hillslopes of Mediterranean Europe, through the creation of terraces to favor the mechanization of agricultural work. Terrace construction requires cutting and filling operations that create soil spatial variability, which affects soil properties and plant development. In the present paper, we study the effects of hillslope terracing on the spatial variability of the normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI) in fields of the Priorat region (NE Spain) during 2004, 2005, and 2006. This index was computed from high-resolution remote sensing data (Quickbird-2). Detailed digital terrain models before and after terrace construction were used to assess the earth movements. The results indicate that terracing by heavy machinery induced high variability on the NDVI values over the years, showing significant differences as effect of the cut and fill operations.