Changes In Soil Cover Research Articles

Assessment of Forest Suitability of Soils in the Dry Steppe Zone of the Volgograd Region

Background: Assessing the forest suitability of soils is one of the key areas of agroforestry science. Research in this direction makes it possible to characterize areas where tree and shrub vegetation does not grow under natural conditions. The research carried out makes it possible to assess the possibilities of afforestation in the area of interest; they contribute to the perception of landscape diversity in the context of the reclamation efficiency of the created systems of protective forest plantings, their productivity and durability. Identification of soil suitability for forests is closely related to the assessment of soil quality and fertility. The study of forest suitability of soils has a pronounced regional aspect. This article presents materials from cartographic studies of the dry steppe zone of the Volgograd region of the Russian Federation. The study region is characterized by a wide variety of soil cover. Dark chestnut, chestnut soils and light chestnut soils are common in this zone. The processes of erosion, salinizationand deflation make a great contribution to the diversity of soil complexes. Methods: In this work, the cartographic research method is the main one. Achieving the research goal, creating a cartographic model of the forest vegetation properties of the study area, was carried out in three stages. At the first stage, the contours of the soil map at a scale of 1:400000 were classified into forest suitability groups. During the second stage, based on the functionality of the QGIS software package, new soil contours were created. At the third stage, area characteristics were taken, share parameters were calculated and an analysis of changes in soil cover was carried out in natural and economic areas. The research materials presented in this article were obtained during the implementation of the state task of the research work of the FSC of Agroecology RAS. The research period is from 2021-08 to 2023-11. Result: The result of the research is the creation of a cartographic model of the forest suitability of soils in the dry steppe zone of the Volgograd region. Based on measuring the areas of soil contours for each of the 17 administrative districts, the ratio of groups of forest suitability of soils was established. The revealed value of the share indicator for the study area as a whole is as follows: soils I, forest suitability groups occupy 10.4% of the territory; II -9.3%; III - 68.3%; IV - 12%. The data obtained are necessary for planning agroforestry work in the study area.

The impact of the Botanical Garden of Oles Honchar Dnipro National University reconstruction on the soil aggregate structure

The reconstruction factor can significantly affect changes in soil cover. Physical soil properties changes are one of the main reasons for some plant species disappearance and the existing communities disintegration. The variation of soil aggregate structure in the areas affected by the reconstruction and in the areas without such within the Botanical Garden of Oles Honchar Dnipro National University has been studied. It is established that on all sample polygons there is a predominance of content of microfractions (less than 0.25 mm in size). But in the polygons affected by reconstruction, the proportion of microfractions is markedly higher compared to polygons without reconstruction. The sample polygon a, on which the reconstruction was carried out, differs significantly from the others in the lowest content of macrofractions, as well as mesoaggregates of size 7–10, 5–7 and 3–5 mm. At the same time, the highest content of fractions of 1–2, 0.5–1 and 0.25–0.5 mm is observed in this polygon. On polygons that were not affected by reconstruction (polygons c and d), there is a predominance of mesoaggregates 2–3 and 3–5 mm compared to polygons that were reconstructed (polygons a and b). The discriminant analysis made it possible to differentiate the polygons by the aggregate structure pacularities. By the peculiarities of the aggregate structure, the canonical root 1 separates polygon a from all other polygons, and the canonical root 2 opposes polygon b to polygons c and d. Root 1 correlates with the content of aggregates from 3 to 10 mm in size, while root 2 correlates with the content of micro-aggregates and aggregates from 0.25 to 0.5 mm in size. The influence of the reconstruction of the Botanical Garden of Oles Honchar Dnipro National University noticeably affected the aggregate structure of the soil reconstructed polygons, leading to a marked increase in microaggregates and a corresponding decrease in mesoaggregates, favorable for the growth of phytocenosis.

ПОЧВЫ ОКРЕСТНОСТЕЙ ТЕРМАЛЬНЫХ ПЛОЩАДОК «КОТЕЛ» И «ГРИФОН ИВАНОВА» (НАЛЫЧЕВСКАЯ ГИДРОТЕРМАЛЬНАЯ СИСТЕМА, ВОСТОЧНАЯ КАМЧАТКА)

Information about the soil cover in the vicinity of the «Kotel» and «Ivanova Gryphon» springs of the Nalychevo hydrothermal system is provided. A diagram of the soil cover is presented, and the boundaries of areas with different types of soils and travertine deposits are defined. Data on soil morphology in the surveyed area are discussed. The soils on the ancient travertine deposits of the «Kotel» spring develop according to the type of zonal soils characteristic to the Nalychevo area — volcanic stratified ash soil. It is shown that the travertines of the «Kotel» spring buried by the soil-pyroclastic cover, are characterized by stratification and inclusions of tephra interlayers. There are no signs of the beginning of soil formation on the surface of fresh travertine deposits zonal of the «Ivanova Gryphon» spring. Data on the state of the soil cover can be used in monitoring changes in soil cover under the influence of the ongoing deposition of salts from the «Ivanova Gryphon» spring and the anthropogenic impact of visitors to the «Nalychevo» Natural Park.

Livestock removal increases plant cover across a heterogeneous dryland landscape on the Colorado Plateau

Livestock removal is increasingly used as a management option to mitigate the negative impacts of grazing-related disturbances on rangelands. Removal generally increases plant cover, but it is unclear when, where, and by how much plant and soil cover changes can be expected. On the Colorado Plateau, complex geology, topography, soils, and climate all interact to mediate the relationship between land cover, climate, and disturbance. In this study we used new developments in land cover mapping and analysis to assess landscape plant and bare soil cover up to 30 years after livestock removal from two grazing allotments in Capitol Reef National Park, Utah, USA. Results indicate that livestock removal increases plant cover 0.17%–0.32% per year and reduces bare soil cover 0.34%–0.41% per year, although these rates may be suppressed by warming temperatures. Soils, assessed through soil geomorphic units, played a strong but complex role in mediating land cover changes through time. These results suggest that livestock removal is an effective strategy for increasing plant cover and reducing bare soil on the Colorado Plateau, but including soil information in decision making will enhance efficiency by improving manager’s ability to prioritize management actions effectively across space and through time.

Effects of Late-Summer Prescribed Fire on Botanical Composition, Soil Cover, and Forage Production in Caucasian Bluestem-Infested Rangeland in the Kansas Smoky Hills: Year 4 of 5

Objective: Our objective was to determine effects of late-summer prescribed fire on frequency of Caucasian bluestem (Bothriochloa bladhii) in the Kansas Smoky Hills as well as changes in soil cover, botanical composition, and forage production associated with fire treatment. Study Description: The study was in Ellsworth County, KS. Eighteen one-acre plots were randomly assigned to one of three treatments: no burn, one burn (August 14, 2019), and two burns (August 14, 2019, and August 11, 2021). Soil cover, botanical composition, forage production, and Caucasian bluestem frequency were measured annually beginning in 2019. The Bottom Line: These data suggest that regular application of late-summer prescribed fire may be an effective method to reduce Caucasian bluestem frequency while improving overall grass-species richness.

Ecological monitoring of soils in the Mugan Desert of Azerbaijan

Soil-ecological monitoring is a scientific information system for monitoring changes in soil cover, assessing the state of soils, and predicting the impact of natural and anthropogenic factors on them. This monitoring shows the results of undesirable regional and global changes in soil cover and landscape and anthropogenic changes over time. Therefore it is important to study the change in the state of land used for crops in the Mugan Desert, where intensive farming is used and to make timely proposals to resolve these changes. The Mugan Desert is located in the southeastern part of the Kura-Araz lowland. The total area of the Mugan Desert is 455,332.5 ha. The main soils are gray-brown, sierozem-meadow, meadow-sierozem, bog-meadow, and alluvial-meadow soils, which are occupied by crops. These soils were the objects of study of the authors. Soil-ecological monitoring was carried out according to the method of G.V. Dobrovolsky and other scientists. Laboratory analyzes, which were taken from soil samples, were carried out according to generally accepted methods. The authors also collected and processed soil data from stock and literary materials of the period from 1980 to 1985 and the present. The authors found that in three of the four studied soil types over 40 years, an increase in crop-producing power was observed in one - it decreased. The content of humus in gray-brown soils increased by 0.20%, meadow-sierozem - by 0.14%, sierozem-meadow - by 0.12%, and in alluvial-meadow soils the content of humus decreased by 0.17%, nitrogen - by 0.02%, phosphorus - by 0.02%. Based on the analysis, the authors compiled a soil salinity map of the Mugan steppe (M 1: 100,000) and determined that alluvial-meadow soils were mainly subjected to low salinity (+0.19%), gray-brown - medium (+0.29%), meadow-sierozem (+0.67%) and sierozem-meadow soils (+0.44%) - to strong salinity. As a result of comparing our data on soil salinity in the study area with the data of G.Sh. Mamedov (2000), the authors found that the area of saline lands in the Mugan Desert increased from 33.9% to 66.1%, of which the area of weakly saline soils decreased from 24.24% to 10.58%, of moderately saline soils increased from 9.68% to 15.6, and highly saline also increased from 5.33% to 36.4%.

The influence of city development on urban pedodiversity

The aim of this study was to use a pedodiversity index (PI) to assess changes in the spatial structure of soil cover in Inowrocław, Poland during the twentieth and twenty-first centuries. An original cartographic approach based on landscape metrics was implemented using GIS techniques and statistical calculations. Based on maps of urban soil complexes and pedodiversity, it was revealed that land and soil cover changes in two studied periods (1934–1978 and 1978–2016) significantly affected pedodiversity in the city. In general, the spatio-temporal increase of the pedodiversity index was observed. The percentage of highest values of the PI ranged from 15.9% in 1934, 17.3% in 1978 to 20.9% in 2016. We revealed that pedodiversity index (PI) values are highly spatially and temporally variable and are associated with urban development and changes in the city’s internal structure. The applied approach allowed for the identification of both spatial patterns of changes in soil cover that closely reflect the successive stages of the city's development, and problem areas that require revitalization and the implementation of the principles of sustainable development. Therefore, the proposed method can be recommended for landscape monitoring and in determining ecosystem services in urban and landscape planning, and environmental management.

INFORMATION TECHNOLOGIES OF COMPLEX ENVIRONMENTAL MONITORING BASED ON AEROSPACE AND GROUND RESEARCH DATA

The article considers the possibilities of using geoinformation systems and remote land sensing systems in detecting the development of degradation processes of the soil cover. The use of satellite technologies for the detection of soil degradation and timely response to these processes requires timely information and the availability of a database. The environmental safety system is aimed at forecasting and preventing emergency situations of technogenic and ecological nature. It includes the development of forecasting models and algorithms, as well as the allocation of resources to take immediate action in the event of such situations, as well as information about potential hazards, risks and possible consequences. With the use of geodetic surveying and computer processing of the surveying results, the coordinates of land plot plans were obtained. Satellite images were used to obtain data on changes in soil cover over a large area and on a large scale. Aerial photographs reveal small changes in soil structure, indicating signs of erosion or other degradation processes. Digital electronic terrain maps provide geographic information about an area, including geological and geomorphological features. They are used to combine other data, such as satellite images or aerial photographs, and create a comprehensive picture of the state of the soil. In the course of research, the system of ecological monitoring of soil cover using the method of infrared spectrophotometry was improved. The method of physico-chemical analysis of soil samples is substantiated and the dependence between the state of soil contamination by individual chemical elements and their genesis is established. The creation of a computer database and the use of space images in combination with other geo-information technologies really allows for effective monitoring and analysis of soil degradation and other agricultural objects.

Soil microbiological activity under different vegetation coverages in the Cerrado biome of Tocantins state

The microbial activity is very sensitive to changes in soil cover, making it an important indicator of soil quality. The study aimed to assess changes in soil microbiological activities under different vegetation coverings in the Cerrado biome of Tocantins state. The work was developed in areas of Eucalyptus sp., Pasture, agriculture and Cerrado sensu stricto in the experimental farm of the Federal University of Tocantins. The soil samples were collected in trenches of 70 x 70 cm at depths 0-10 and 10-20 cm, with six replications. The variables evaluated were: concentration and stock in the microbial biomass carbon, basal soil respiration, metabolic quotient and microbial quotient. The statistical analysis was performed using the normality test, analysis of variance and comparison of means by the Tukey test at 5% significance. The area with Eucalyptus sp. at 11 years of age, he had a stable soil microbiological activity, showing stocks in microbial biomass carbon 57.32% higher than that native forest vegetation, 84.29% that pasture and 290.91% that agriculture. The soil microbiological activities are affected by the variation of the soil vegetation cover, being efficient as an indicator of soil quality.

BALANÇO DE RADIAÇÃO EM ÁREAS DE EXPANSÃO AGRÍCOLA NO SUDOESTE DO PIAUÍ

Áreas agrícolas vêm se intensificando no Estado do Piauí, esse desenvolvimento resulta em danos à vegetação nativa, causando impactos ambientais. Estudos que avaliem esses impactos, são de extrema relevância para quantificar as modificações causadas na superfície. Assim, objetivou-se identificar mudanças da cobertura do solo e avaliar seus impactos no balanço de radiação, índices de vegetação e temperatura da superfície em área de expansão agrícola no sudoeste do Piauí. A área avaliada está inserida no município de Baixa Grande do Ribeiro, utilizou-se imagens dos satélites Landsat 5 TM e Landsat 8, obtidas entre os anos de 1990 e 2018. Avaliou-se o Índice de Vegetação da Diferença Normalizada (NDVI), Índice de Vegetação Ajustado ao Solo (SAVI), Albedo (α), Saldo de Radiação, Radiação de Ondas Longas (ROLs) e Temperatura da Superfície (Ts). Identificou-se a redução de 32,25% vegetação nativa e crescimento de 1.219,1% da exploração agropecuária. A vegetação natural do Cerrado apresentou menor temperatura, albedo e ROLs e maior saldo de radiação, quando comparada às áreas de solo exposto. A exploração agrícola no Sudoeste do Piauí, vem promovendo modificações na vegetação natural da região, causando impactos ambientais, promovendo o aumento da temperatura da superfície e diminuindo a disponibilidade de energia. Faz-se necessário a realização de mais trabalhos que forneçam mais informações sobre essas modificações e ainda da atuação de políticas públicas para fins de planejamento agrícola e ambiental.

Scientific and technical knowledge of sugarcane cover-management USLE/RUSLE factor

ABSTRACT: Sugarcane covers 10.6 Mha of Brazilian agricultural land (13 % of all cropland), mainly in the south-central region. In tropical climate conditions, the physiological characteristics of sugarcane allow a wide range of management systems with contrasting soil erosion outcomes. Models can assess these differences and the Universal Soil Loss Equation (USLE) based models are the most frequently used. The cover-management factor (C Factor) is the USLE input variable that represents the changes in soil cover and management. We collected, compared, and evaluated sugarcane C Factor values reported in technical and scientific literature to support modelers and soil scientists on the adequate choice of these values. We analyzed references reporting primary C Factor values and sources that applied these values or described them. We found 50 references, showing a wide value variation ranging from 0.0012 to 0.5800. Thirteen references were primary sources. We found seven primary sources for Brazilian sugarcane growing conditions, but only two papers were peer-reviewed. Sugarcane C Factor modelers frequently used C values based on a poor understanding and description of the methodological and geographical origin of these values and out of the context of the specific crop management systems of application. Therefore, the results may not be compatible with the study site conditions. The primary sources lack clarity in the description of the site–specific environmental and management conditions in which the C Factors were obtained, hindering the use of these specificities by the end user.

Өндіріс әсер ететін аумақтағы топырақтың экологиялық жай-күйін бағалау

The article presents data on the study of changes in soil cover under the influence of human activity.    The results of the conducted studies on the determination of the humus content and pH level, the content of heavy metals in technogenically disturbed soils in the adjacent territory of the natural gas processing enterprise are presented. The obtained data on the content of gross and mobile forms of heavy metals indicates that the maximum permissible concentration level for these pollutants is not exceeded.

Dinâmica da cobertura do solo em três bacias hidrográficas da região amazônica do estado de Mato Grosso, Brasil

O impacto gerado a partir das modificações do uso do solo reflete expressivamente nos componentes do ciclo hidrológico, impactando no uso dos recursos naturais. O objetivo desse trabalho foi avaliar a dinâmica da ocupação do solo nas bacias hidrográficas do rio Caiabi, Nandico e Celeste, situadas na região médio norte do Estado de Mato Grosso, entre os períodos de 1986 e 2015. Foram aplicadas técnicas de geoprocessamento como combinações coloridas falsa-cor e classificação supervisionada empregando o algoritmo de máxima verossimilhança (maxver). Foram definidas duas classes temáticas de ocupação do solo, sendo elas floresta e área antropizada. Os resultados são apresentados em mapas temáticos que mostram a distribuição espacial das mudanças ocorridas na cobertura do solo. Concluiu-se que 44% da área de floresta foi removida entre 1986 e 2015. A maior mudança na cobertura do solo ocorreu entre os anos de 1997 e 2006, resultando em uma redução de 1017,0 km2 de área de floresta.

Neofityzacja łęgów jesionowo-wiązowych w dolinach polskich rzek = Neophyte-induced degradation of Poland’s riparian hardwood forests

Riparian hardwood forests have become very rare in most areas across Europe, as their fertile habitats have mostly been transformed into grasslands and arable land. Furthermore, where small patches remain, these are seen to be subject to major changes in soil cover and plant composition, thanks to habitat change induced by drainage, river engineering, the construction of river embankments and forestry. A further, highly visible symptom of the degradation of riparian hardwood forest is invasion by alien species (neophytes). This article therefore draws on work to analyze Poland’s vegetation of riparian hardwood forest, by reference to some 249 phytosociological relevés from 83 sites located along river valleys (Fig. 1). The work came within Natura 2000 habitat monitoring, and specifically a research project entitled Riparian hardwood forest services in the middle Vistula river valley. The main objectives here were to point to any relationships that might pertain between the share of invasive alien species and the structure and composition of riparian hardwood forest vegetation, as well as to determine the former’s habitat requirements. The studied communities were divided into two groups: ZI – with the presence of invasive alien species, and ZN – natural communities lacking such species (as listed by Tokarska-Guzik et al., 2012). Relationships between the share of invasive species and the structure and composition of native vegetation were tested by comparing species richness (number of species: S – general, SA – trees, SB – shrubs, SC – herbs, SD – bryophytes), species diversity (H – the Shannon diversity index (Shannon and Weaver, 1949), J – the Pielou evenness index (Pielou, 1975)), habitat preferences of species by reference to Ellenberg ecological indicators (Ellenberg et al., 1992) and socio-ecological affinity (after Schmidt et al., 2011). Spearman rank correlation coefficients were used to assess relationships between the numbers of invasive alien species and the cover-shares they accounted for on the one hand, and the values of all studied parameters on the other. Mean values were compared across the ZI and ZN groups using the Mann-Whitney U-test. Statistical analyses were performed using PAST 2.17 (Hammer et al., 2001). Invasive alien species were recorded on ca. 70% of the plots studied. Small balsam was species among the 15 observed most frequently and achieving greatest abundance (Table 1, Fig. 2). Lower general richness of species in the communities where invasive alien species are present results mainly from decline in numbers of hygrophilous and shade-tolerant forest species, as well as shrubs and bryophytes (Table 2). This may be related to changes in habitat conditions that diminish competition from the existing composition of the phytocoenosis. The undergrowth of communities featuring invasive species is composed of species preferring habitats with higher light availability, with a higher soil pH and a richer trophic status, but there are few species of more moist habitats. The broad habitat range characteristic for small balsam (as regards light and soil pH) combine with its preference for drier mesophilous sites and a marked capacity to disperse providing for the expansion of the species, which in fact comes to dominate in disturbed forest communities. On a more-positive note, the analysis shows how the degradation of riparian hardwood forests could be limited, if only their natural habitat conditions can be assured.

Effects of rainfall intensity and slope on sediment, nitrogen and phosphorous losses in soils with different use and soil hydrological properties

The aim of this research was to analyse the effect of rainfall intensity and slope on soil and nutrient losses by hydric erosion in soils with different hydrological characteristics. This research was carried out on soils collected from slopes with different land uses/covers (LU/LC) -forest, scrub, agricultural, afforested and barren land-, from a mountain area (Sierra de Santo Domingo in the South Pyrenean region), where intensive farming and land use changes including land abandonment and changes in soil cover have occurred.Soils were placed on erosion boxes (30 cm × 20 cm) and compacted to a bulk density similar to that measured in the field (slope values ranged between 10 and 20%). Soil properties such as organic matter content, soil texture and N and P contents were analysed (values used as concentration in the original soil). Soils were subjected to simulated rainfall with intensity values usually recorded in the area during storms. Runoff volumes were collected at 10 min intervals from the time that runoff was generated. The steady infiltration rate as well as the average runoff rates and soil losses were evaluated for each land use. In the runoff samples, sediment concentration and nutrients (N and P) were analysed using different aliquots. The comparative analysis of the results obtained under simulated rainfall in plots with soils from different land uses allowed determining the differences in contribution of each land use to soil and nutrient losses when they are subjected to similar rainfall intensities. The results showed that the maximum runoff rates were reached in agricultural soil and barren land after 40 min at low intensity and after about 20 min at high intensity. However, in soils under forest, scrub and afforestation, runoff rates were much lower for the same rainfall intensity and duration period. Soil sealing was the main factor reducing infiltration in the agricultural and in barren LU/LC soils, while in the other cases runoff was mainly produced after saturation. Soil losses were more than 10xtimes higher in barren land and in agricultural soils than in the other land uses. Nitrogen losses in agricultural soils were about 3 times higher than in forest, and scrub or in afforested LU/LC. Under high intensity rainfall, there was an enrichment ratio (ER) of nitrogen in the sediment in relation to the original soil, which was higher in scrub and agricultural lands (up to 1.33 and 1.32, respectively) than in the rest of land uses (1.1 on average). Phosphorous losses were mainly associated with soil particles and the land uses that gave rise to higher P losses was agricultural under any intensity, while P losses increased significantly in forest and afforested LU/LC at high intensity. The enrichment ratio (ER) was higher in agricultural soils (up to 1.82, increasing with intensity), forest and afforested LU/LC (1.33 and 1.16, respectively under high intensity) than in scrub (1.22) and barren lands (near 1). Information gained in this research can be of interest to manage mountain agroecosystems to limit N and P supply from headwaters to hydrological systems.

Relationship between Soil Burn Severity in Forest Fires Measured In Situ and through Spectral Indices of Remote Detection

Forest fires in Galicia have become a serious environmental problem over the years. This is especially the case in the Pontevedra region, where in October 2017 large fires (>500 hectares) burned more than 15,000 Ha. In addition to the area burned being of relevance, it is also very important to know quickly and accurately the different severity degrees that soil has suffered in order to carry out an optimal restoration campaign. In this sense, the use of remote sensing with the Sentinel-2 and Landsat-8 satellites becomes a very useful resource due to the variations that appear in soil after a forest fire (changes in soil cover are noticeably appreciated with spectral information). To calculate these variations, the spectral indices NBR (Normalized Burn Ratio) and NDVI (Normalized Difference Vegetation Index) are used, both before and after the fire and their differences (dNBR and dNDVI, respectively). In addition, as a reference for a correct discrimination between severity degrees, severity data measured in situ after the fire are used to classified at 5 levels of severity and 6 levels of severity. Therefore, this study aims to establish a methodology, which relates remote-sensing data (spectral indices) and severity degrees measured in situ. The R2 statistic and the pixel classification accuracy results show the existing synergy of the Sentinel-2 dNBR index with the 5 severity degrees classification (R2 = 0.74 and 81% of global accuracy) and, for this case, the good applicability of remote sensing in the forest fire field.

Spatio-temporal analysis of land use/land cover change and its effects on soil erosion (Case study in the Oplenac wine-producing area, Serbia).

In this paper, various spatial modelling techniques were applied to analyse changes in soil cover and their impact on soil erosion in the Oplenac wine-producing area in Serbia in the past (1985 and 2013) and in the future (with predictions for 2041). The Integrated Valuation of Ecosystem Services and Trade-offs Sediment Delivery Ratio (InVEST SDR) model and the Modules for Land Use Change Evaluation (MOLUSCE) model, integrated with methods of remote sensing, were successfully applied and were shown to be valid tools for predicting the impact of Land Use Land Cover (LULC) changes when estimating soil loss. The results revealed that the greatest impact of land use changes between 1985 and 2013 was on a reduction in areas under vineyards and an extension of meadow and pasturelands as an individual and social response to economic conditions during the research period. The forecast for 2041 reflected the trends observed in the previous period, with the greatest changes witnessing an increase in urban areas and a decrease in areas of arable land. It was also found that the effect of LULC changes on spatio-temporal patterns in the Oplenac wine-producing area did not have a major impact on soil loss, meaning this area, with its good agro-climatic characteristics, is suitable for the intensification of agricultural production.

Surface runoff and accelerated erosion in a peri-urban wellhead area in southeastern Brazil

Degradation of hydrological conditions can adversely impact water resource quality and quantity. This degradation can generate social and economic losses, including losses for users outside the basin area. Therefore, studies focusing on surface runoff and accelerated erosion processes are needed to enable interventions that address degradation-induced challenges. In the present study, the surface runoff and accelerated erosion potential of the Feijão River basin were presented in charts at a 1:50,000 scale. The Feijão River basin has an area of 243.16 km2 and is used as the main water source for the city of São Carlos, Brazil. Geoenvironmental attributes, such as substrate, climate, relief, soil, water bodies and land cover and use, were integrated and assessed in a GIS environment, using a multicriteria analysis and weighted sum tool. The results show that a large part of the area (86.12% of the basin) exhibits a low surface runoff potential and a moderate accelerated erosion potential. Accelerated erosive processes are triggered by changes in soil cover and have a direct relationship with the removal of existing vegetation and implementation of anthropogenic activities. In this case, as well as for most of the areas in southeastern Brazil, extensive grazing followed by sugar cane cultivation was the main driving force of erosion, acting as trigger for accelerated erosive processes at the water source area.

English

On-going urbanization stresses the necessity for structural and aesthetically organized urban landscapes to improve citizens’ life quality. Recreational zones create a ‘green frame’ of a city and provide vital functions and services for city dwellers. This research focuses on the comparative analysis of spatial distribution of the key soil properties (acidity, organic carbon and nutrient contents) in the urban park named after Artyom Borovik (Moscow, Russia) before and after reconstruction. The maps of the urban soil’s properties were created for both periods by interpolation of the field data, collected from the depths 0-30, 30-50 and 50-100 cm. The maps of the analyzed properties were developed using open Quantum GIS2.4 software by Inverse Distance Weighting (IDW). High spatial variability was observed for the soil properties with the highest variance reported for nutrient concentrations. High heterogeneity in P2O5 and K2O was obtained both in topsoil and subsoil, before and after reconstruction. We found that average concentrations of P2O5 and K2O were correspondingly above and below legal threshold taken for the Moscow city. As a result of the reconstruction the pH has changed from slightly acid and acidic to neutral and slightly alkaline. The topsoil soil organic carbon (SOC) content has increased in result of reconstruction but still was below threshold, recommended by municipal regulations. The findings of the research can be used to project possible changes in soil cover resulted from expansion and reorganization of green areas, which is essential to support decisions in urban planning and soil management in sustainable cities.

Archaeology for the Anthropocene: Scale, soil, and the settlement of Iceland

Abstract Archaeologists have devised numerous methods for measuring and describing past human-environmental interactions, but connecting historic case studies with present-day global concerns often proves challenging. New ways of considering scale are needed to bring case studies of past communities into productive conversation with the global Anthropocene. Iceland, one of the last land masses colonized by humans, was transformed by the agricultural practices of the first generations of Norse settlers in the 9th and 10th centuries, including a significant reduction in forest cover and soil loss to erosion. However, the large-scale, island-wide process of erosion manifested in different ways that become clear when changes in soil cover are investigated at the regional scale. These changes were beneficial in some places and detrimental in others, and the development of inequality was contingent on both social and environmental contexts. Scholars of the contemporary Anthropocene must likewise connect local effects, including landscape degradation and social inequality, to anthropogenic processes that operate beyond the scale of everyday experience. Social landscapes, including infrastructure and environmental degradation, act in concert with ecological processes to reconstitute the ‘natural’ into new, taken-for-granted landscapes of inequality. Studying the way past communities experienced relatively larger-scale anthropogenic environmental change leads to new ways of thinking about, and perhaps managing, human responses to contemporary global-scale change.