Abstract
The water erosion research was carried out in the lowland type of hilly landscape. The aim was to monitor and evaluate the importance of environmental factors (steepness of slope, relief shapes, aspect, slope length, combination slope length (L) and slope (S)—LS factor, types of land use changes) for the development of water erosion. We focused on the identification of areas threatened by erosion by interpreting aerial photographs from several time periods. This was followed by verification of erosion using soil probes. We identified 408.44 ha of areas affected by erosion, and measured the depth of soil and “A” horizons thickness. The environmental factors were modeled in geographical information systems by tools for spatially oriented data. Subsequently, the influence and significance of individual environmental factors were compared, and the probability of erosion was statistically estimated. The decisive factors in the formation of erosive surfaces are the LS factor and the slope. We also consider the factor of the relief shape to be important. The shape did not appear to be very significant as a separately evaluated factor, but all convex parts correlate with the identified erosion surfaces. The susceptibility of erosion related to the aspect of the slopes to the cardinal directions has not been confirmed. Types of land use changes with the most significant relation of erosion were confirmed in areas of strong intensification. We confirmed the importance of factors and land use for the development of erosion processes.
Highlights
In Slovakia, almost half of the area of agricultural land is threatened by erosion
This paper evaluates the importance of primary factors—slope, relief shape, aspect, slope length, LS factor, and secondary changes in land use
We focused on the basic morphological properties of relief, their combination and types of land use changes
Summary
In Slovakia, almost half of the area of agricultural land is threatened by erosion. Due to erosion of the surface, most of the fertile horizon of the soil is lost. Human interventions in the natural environment affect the natural erosion processes [7], as man works mainly by destroying natural vegetation, growing crops with a low soil protection effect, exposing the soil, increasing, and concentrating surface drain, changing soil properties during intensive agricultural activity, etc. Given these risks, soil protection and care should be one of the priorities from the global to the local level [8], which depends on the social and political conditions of the countries. One of the steps is the identification of risk areas, the development of a methodology for risk reduction and the elaboration of programs of measures to achieve the elimination of erosion processes
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
