Abstract
The Caia Irrigation Perimeter is an irrigation infrastructure implemented in 1968. As is often the case, the original soil map of this region (dated from 1961) does not have the detail needed to characterize a relatively small-sized zone, where intensive agricultural practices take place. Using FAO methodology and with the main goal of establishing a larger-scale soil map, adequate for the demands of a modern and intensive agriculture, we gathered the geological characterization of the study area and information about the topography, climate, and vegetation of the region. Using ArcGIS software, we overlapped this information and established a pre-map of soil resources. Based on this pre-map, we defined a set of detailed itineraries in the field, evenly distributed, in which soil samples were collected. In those distinct soil units, we opened several soil profiles, from which we selected 26 to analyze in the present study, since they characterized the existing diversity in terms of soil type and soil properties. Based on the work of verification, correction, and reinterpretation of the preliminary soil map, we reached a final soil map for the Caia Irrigation Perimeter, which is characterized by enormous heterogeneity, typical of Mediterranean soils, containing 23 distinct cartographic units, the most representative being the Distric Fluvisols with inclusions of Luvisols Distric occupying 29.9% of the total study area, and Calcisols Luvic with inclusions of Luvisols endoleptic with 11.9% of the total area. Considering the obtained information on soil properties; ArcGIS was used to develop a map in which it was possible to ascertain the impact of the continuous practice of irrigation in this area. This allows us to put forward relevant conclusions on the need to access and monitor specific Mediterranean soils in order to mitigate the environmental impact of irrigation practices.
Highlights
Man has been intervening for a long time in the Mediterranean region introducing sometimes changes that had fostered some sustainability problems to the existing ecosystem [1], in which the knowledge of the soil resource is increasingly important for every agricultural system [2,3,4]
For the reasons previously mentioned, we propose this research work, with the main goal of developing a soil map of the study area, capable of meeting the demands of farmers and technicians in terms of soil characteristic concerns
The performed analysis enabled us to classify 23 different soil units according to WRBSR (2006), having a number of substantially higher soil units that shown in Portuguese Soil Map, and to ascertain that preexisting information, e.g., soil and geological maps, can be very useful in solving known problems [32,33]
Summary
Man has been intervening for a long time in the Mediterranean region introducing sometimes changes that had fostered some sustainability problems to the existing ecosystem [1], in which the knowledge of the soil resource is increasingly important for every agricultural system [2,3,4]. It should be mentioned that the soil classification used to define the study area is the nomenclature inherent to the Portuguese Soils Classification Method, which is used almost exclusively at the national level disabling the possibility of assessing it internationally, giving a clear idea of the type or types of soil present in this region [5] For this reason, it was important to redo the soil classification of the Caia Irrigation Perimeter, using for this purpose an widespread, internationally accepted classification system, as is the case of FAO system (Food and Agriculture Organization) [12,13,14,15]. To demonstrate a possible use of this information, we developed a map of the areas vulnerable to degradation due to continuous irrigation practice, important when the irrigated areas in Mediterranean ecosystems grow exponentially, jeopardizing agricultural and environmental sustainability of important areas of our planet
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