Abstract
The aim of this research is to determine the change in the spatial distribution of erosion intensity in the territory of the Jablanica River Basin in the period 1971–2016 caused by land use and demographic changes. The Erosion Potential Method (EPM) was used to quantify changes in erosion intensity and to estimate the total annual sediment yield. The research results show that the value of the erosion coefficient decreased from 0.432 in 1971 to 0.360 in 2016. Specific annual gross erosion in the Jablanica River Basin was 654.41 m3/km2/year in 1971, while in 2016 it was 472.03 m3/km2/year. The analysis of proportional changes was used to determine demographic changes and land use patterns in the basin area. In terms of the scale and intensity of the erosion process, three types and one sub-type of population dynamics of settlements and land use changes were distinguished, respectively: progressive, stagnant, regressive and dominant regressive. It was concluded that the results show the significance of demographic and land use changes in the control of the intensity of erosion. The Soil Erosion Map may be useful to planners and land use managers to take appropriate decisions for soil conservation in the basin.
Highlights
Soil erosion is geographically determined as a result of the interaction between natural processes and anthropogenic influences
Soil erosion is a natural process, but the natural erosion rate has significantly increased in the last few decades as a consequence of human activity and become a serious environmental problem [10,11,12,13]
Considering the erosion rate as one of the major consequences of land degradation in the Jablanica River Basin, this study aims to assess the changes in soil erosion and the spatial distribution of soil erosion categories for the period 1971–2016
Summary
Soil erosion is geographically determined as a result of the interaction between natural processes and anthropogenic influences. Soil erosion is a natural process, but the natural erosion rate has significantly increased in the last few decades as a consequence of human activity and become a serious environmental problem [10,11,12,13] This process is one of the most significant forms of land degradation that is affected by human activity [14,15,16]. The inappropriate use of soil affects the development of erosion processes, resulting in degradation and the reduction of the infiltration–retention capacity of the soil. This creates conditions for the frequent occurrence of torrential floods and the deposition of bed load in downstream sectors [21]. Much research at the Agriculture 2020, 10, 345; doi:10.3390/agriculture10080345 www.mdpi.com/journal/agriculture
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