Terraced Slopes Research Articles

ASSESSMENT OF SOIL MOISTURE AND NUTRIENTS ON TERRACE SLOPE OF HARD-SETTING SOILS IN SEMI-ARID EASTERN KEN

<p><strong>Background:</strong> Terraces are structures consisting of ditches and embankments used to control erosion and increase land productivity. There is, however, little emphasis on the effects of the ditch dimensions on soil moisture and nutrient dynamics. <strong>Objective:</strong> To determine the effect of varying ditch depths on soil moisture and nutrient quantities and their variability within the terrace slope on hard-setting soils. <strong>Methodology:</strong> Soil samples were collected seasonally in 2014 and 2015 from terraces with different ditch depths (60, 30, and 0 [control] cm) for the determination of soil moisture content (SMC). The samples were collected from the upper, middle and lower slope positions of each terrace. Soil from the three slope positions of each terrace was also sampled at the end of the study and analyzed for total nitrogen (%TN), available phosphorous (Av. P), exchangeable potassium (K<sup>+</sup>) and % organic carbon (OC) contents. Data were subjected to a two-way analysis of variance and differences in means determined at a 95% level of confidence. <strong>Results:</strong> Significant interactions (P<0.001) in SMC were observed between seasons, ditch depths and slope positions. Higher SMC was found in treatments with 30 and 60 cm ditch depths in all the slope positions and seasons compared to the control. Soil moisture contents in the lower and upper slope positions were significantly different between the terraces with 30 and 60 cm ditch depths when rainfall was high and evenly distributed, but non-significant in poorly distributed rainfall seasons. Significant differences (P ≤ 0.05) in contents of total nitrogen and available phosphorous were found between the upper and lower slope positions of the terraces with ditches. <strong>Implications: </strong>The effect of ditch depths on moisture, total nitrogen and available phosphorous contents and their variability within the slope depended on the amount and distribution of rainfall. <strong>Conclusion: </strong>Construction of terraces with shallow ditch depths (of 30 cm) is recommended to conserve soil moisture and nutrients nitrogen and phosphorous on hard-setting soils in the marginal areas of semi-arid Eastern Kenya. </p>

THE STRATIGRAPHY OF THE VYPOVZIV HILL-FORT

This paper deals to the hill-fort of the Vypovziv archaeological complex. The materials of the 2010—2021 from different ages discovered during the excavations are published.
 The Old Rus hill-fort of a rounded shape is located at the tip of the cape, which rises 3—4 m above the terrace. It has small dimensions (75 Ч 95 m) on the outer edge of the Old Rus ramparts and about 30 Ч 40 m on the inner side (its own site). The remains of ramparts that once surrounded the settlement around the entire perimeter are now almost completely blown away (the fortifications themselves occupy the area of natural dune which consists entirely of loose sand), and only under the soles the moat rather is guessed than visible. From the northern and southern sides the moat reaches the terrace slopes and creates ramps that gently descend to the floodplain of the old Desna riverbed. From the open side also passed the moat which is now practically covered with the same sand (it can barely be traced along the slope of the hill-fort). The settlement first attracted the attention of researchers from the end of the 19th century (1889). The site was gradually surveyed during the 20th century by various scholars but in-patient research was not conducted here before 2009.
 Since 2009, the expedition of the Institute of Archaeology of the National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine and the Chernihiv Shevchenko National Pedagogical University started here the stationary works, which continued permanently until recent times.
 The oldest materials originating from the territory of the settlement are antiquities of the late Neolithic period and Bronze Age. They are quite few and mostly occur in a re-deposited state. Separate pits and small areas of cultural layers of these periods located under the Old Rus layers, at the level of the pre-virgin soil, were discovered on the hill-fort site.
 During the research of the area of hill-fort a few fragments of pots from the Early Iron Age and the Early Slavic period were found. However, no objects of this time were found here. The main cultural layers on the hill-fort are ones of the Old Rus period of the late 9th — 10th centuries. It is at this time that defensive structures appeared on the hill-fort,the site is built up, which over time undergoes re-building and reconstruction. The time of the existence of the Old Rus settlement can be divided into several stages during the late 9th — 10th centuries. It is notable that there are no buildings of the 12th—13th centuries on the Vypovziv settlement. This proves that the settlement was not used at this time.
 The Late Middle Ages and early modern times were practically not reflected in the horizons of the complex. However, Vypovziv constantly appears in written sources of the post-Mongol era, starting from the end of the 13th century. In general, from 2010 to 2017, 15 burials of the 17th—18th centuries belonging to one cemetery were discovered on the site of the settlement. This, in turn, gives reason to assume the existence of a Christian church on the Vypovziv settlement, to which the discovered cemetery was attached.

REGULARITIES OF LOCATION AND FUNCTIONING OF TEMPLE AND MONASTERY LANDSCAPES IN THE STRUCTURE OF THE CITY

The relevance of this study lies in the need for geographical justification, the need to rethink modern views on the laws of creation and operation of temple and monastery systems in the city structure. The studied territorial systems are considered as a subclass of sacred landscapes. The aim of the article is to study the patterns of location and functioning of temple and monastery landscapes in the structure of the city (on the example of Lutsk). The work uses a transdisciplinary approach, as the study of a complex territorial system which is a sacred landscape certainly requires the abandonment of the usual standard methods, established views, the implementation of new research technologies created at the intersection of several fields of knowledge. The study was conducted using the methods of systems analysis, structural and logical generalization, survey, mapping.
 The concept of temple / monastery landscapes is interpreted by us as natural-anthropogenic or anthropogenic systems, markers of which are religious buildings (church, monastery, cathedral, chapel, etc.) and functionally related areas formed in the structure of abiotic and biotic natural components, complicated by anthropogenic and man-made components associated with religious, cognitive activities of man.
 The sacred nature of temples and monasteries determines their key role in the formation of sacred space and dominance in the environment. Analysis of the geographical patterns of formation and functioning of temple and monastery landscapes shows that they are confined to the power, terrace and watershed types of landscapes, as well as contrasting environments, located near natural water bodies. The nature of vegetation within the studied territorial systems is determined by natural and social factors, in particular the features of relief and the local climate of the territory, the confessional affiliation of the cult building.
 The study of the formation and peculiarities of the functioning of temples and monasteries of Lutsk allowed to identify the following patterns: most temples and monasteries are located in the center and historical part of the city, have a dominant position in relief, built within the floodplain terrace or upper slope; the period from 1991 to the present is characterized by the process of restoration of destroyed temples and monasteries; most of the temples built after 2000 are located within residential buildings, park areas and are not characterized by a dominant (predominant) location.
 The article presents the author's landscape maps of individual territories of Lutsk within which the temple landscape was formed / is being formed. The process of formation and functioning of the sacred territorial system, the marker of which is the Lutsk Holy Trinity Orthodox Cathedral, is consistent with urban conditions and restrictions and church canons. The designed church in honor of the Mother of God of Khomsk is located within the landscape tract - steep (16°) slopes of the southern exposure on low-power eroded antropogenic modified gray podzolic soils testifies to its inconsistency with urban conditions, restrictions and restrictions.
 Ukrainian legislative and town-planning documentation envisages a number of planning restrictions concerning the peculiarities of the creation and functioning of sacred landscapes and ensures their preservation and use to meet the religious and cognitive needs of society. According to the city zoning plan, the studied territorial systems are located in the area of religious and ceremonial buildings, but in recent years they are actively created in the recreation area, as well as apartment buildings. Naturally, the increase in the population of cities leads to the expansion of their area. Therefore, when building new residential areas, it is advisable to provide for the formation / design within their temple landscapes.
 Keywords: sacred landscape, temple and monastery landscape, Lutsk.

Lateral sediment connectivity of landslides occurred under a heavy rainstorm and its influence on sediment yield of slope-channel cascade on the Loess Plateau

The rate at which sediment enters the channel network in the landscape reflects lateral sediment connectivity of the landscape and has significant implications on the hydrological processes in a catchment. The main objective of this research was to quantify the lateral sediment connectivity of landslides and explore their relationship to the sediment yield of slope-channel cascades. Combining fieldwork and unmanned aerial vehicle techniques, we mapped all landslide inventories and calculated the amount of soil erosion. We proposed a new lateral sediment connectivity index (LCI), which takes into account landslide area density, landslide connectivity characteristics, and landslide potential transport distance, to explore whether landslides that occurred under heavy rainstorms affect the sediment yield in slope-channel cascades through legacy effects. Results showed that the area of landslides ranged from 0.2 m2 to 1100.07 m2, and the soil erosion amount of landslides ranged from 0.21 t to 1690.81 t during the rainstorm that occurred on 4 August. 2020 with a cumulative rainfall of 216.4 mm. The LCI of landslides was more closely related to the sediment yield of slope-channel cascades after the rainstorm. It was indicated that LCI is a good index to quantify the effect of lateral sediment connectivity of landslides on sediment yield in the catchment and that landslides generated by heavy rainstorms have long-term impacts on sediment transport processes in the slope-channel cascades of the catchment. Regarding slope management, we propose to protect gully slopes by reducing lateral sediment connectivity between upslope areas and gully slopes and to protect terrace slopes by constructing boundary dikes and drainage ditches to reduce slope collapse under heavy rainstorms.

Assessment of Land Use and Land Cover Changes on Soil Erosion Using Remote Sensing, GIS and RUSLE Model: A Case Study of Battambang Province, Cambodia

Soil erosion causes land degradation which negatively impacts not only natural resources but also livelihoods of people due to low agricultural productivity. Cambodia is prone to soil erosion due to poor agricultural practices. In this research we use Battambang province as a case study to quantify impact of land use and land cover change (LULC) on soil erosion. This study assessed the impact from LULC changes to soil erosion. LULC change maps were analyzed based on Landsat satellite imagery of 1998, 2008, and 2018, computed in QGIS 6.2.9, while the soil erosion loss was estimated by the integration of remote sensing, GIS tools, and Revised Universal Soil Loss Equation (RUSLE) model. The results showed that the area of agricultural land of Battambang province significantly increased from 44.50% in 1998 to 61.11% in 2008 and 68.40% in 2018. The forest cover significantly decreased from 29.82% in 1998 to 6.18% in 2018. Various soil erosion factors were estimated using LULC and slope. Based on that, the mean soil loss was 2.92 t/ha.yr in 1998, 4.20 t/ha.yr in 2008, and 4.98 t/ha.yr in 2018. Whereas the total annual soil loss was 3.49 million tons in 1998, 5.03 million tons in 2008, and 5.93 million tons in 2018. The annual soil loss at the agricultural land dramatically increased from 190,9347.9 tons (54%) in 1998 to 3,543,659 tons (70.43%) in 2008 and to 4,267,439 tons (71.91%) in 2018 due to agricultural land expansion and agricultural practices. These losses were directly correlated with LULC, especially agricultural land expansion and forest cover decline. Our results highlight the need to develop appropriate land use and crop management practices to decrease land degradation and soil erosion. These data are useful to bring about public awareness of land degradation and alert local citizens, researchers, policy makers, and actors towards land rehabilitation to bring the area of land back to a state which is safe for increasing biodiversity and agricultural productivity. Measures to reduce or prevent soil erosion and the use of conservation agriculture practices, along with water and soil conservation, management, agroforestry practices, vegetation cover restoration, the creation of slope terraces, and the use of direct sowing mulch-based cropping systems should be considered.

Kaizer Hill (Modi'in), a pre-pottery neolithic a quarry site - the terraced slopes.

The research of the Kaizer Hill site (the Hilltop and its Terraces), recognized as a Pre Pottery Neolithic A (PPNA) quarry site, involved studies of the rock damage associated with the quarrying activities as well as of the recovered material remains, mostly chipped stone artifacts. We present here the results of our on-site explorations (excavations, surveys and surface-collections), focusing on the findings deriving from the Terraces. Diverse rock damage patterns were identified and described, portraying systematic rock mass-exploitation through quarrying fronts, natural rock joints and fissures enlargement, drilling and chiseling. There are multiple indications that the local bedrock (Bi’na Formation, Turonian) comprising flint and limestone was quarried under a systematic quality evaluation, leaving residual flint unsuitable for exploitation. Of interest to note that nearly all of the flint artifacts excavated and collected on the Terraces were made on raw material transported from the Hilltop (Mishash Formation, Campanian), knapped in-situ, on the quarried rock surfaces of the slopes. The flint tools bear witness to intensive use involving mainly boring and drilling. The dominant tool type is the flint axe for which a variety of waste products related to its production were found in-situ, enabling the reconstruction of axe reduction sequence. Similar axes and waste products were found in many PPN sites indicating that there was a common, widely-used scheme of making flint axes during the PPN. Interestingly, besides the flint waste, there were also limestone waste products typical of the last shaping and thinning stages of axe production, indicating that limestone axes were shaped technologically similar to the flint ones, contrary to what has been assumed before. Rare findings, such as obsidian pieces, originating from much further a-field indicate ties with other PPN communities, near and/or far. Overall, this study provides unique and novel insights on Levantine PPN lifeways.

Paleosols record dry and humid paleoenvironments during the Upper Pleistocene in the Brazilian Pantanal

Information on Quaternary landscapes and paleoenvironmental changes in the interior of Brazil are scarce. One of such areas, particularly sensitive to these variations, is the modern tropical Pantanal wetland, whose alluvial deposits record paleoenvironmental and paleoclimatic changes during the late Quaternary. Based on detailed pedological and sedimentological descriptions, stimulated optical luminescence dating and analytical data we described a well-exposed sedimentary succession that crops out in slope terraces of the Aquidauana River, located in the southern area of the Pantanal. We interpret environmental changes that have occurred since the beginning of the Upper Pleistocene, and which affected sedimentation and biogeochemical processes. Basal deposits comprise cross-stratified sands, which record active fluvial sedimentation from ∼106 to ∼70 ka, a period of probable increased river discharge. Fluvial channel facies are overlaid by pedogeneized floodplain deposits, in which we recognized a pedocomplex composed of a sequence of three late Pleistocene truncated paleosol profiles and a Holocene soil profile. The two lower paleosols are Vertisols with mottling, slickensides, rhizolites and septarian glaebules of carbonate. These characteristics indicate prolonged drought periods under semi-arid to arid climates ca. ∼70 and ∼30 ka. The upper paleosol profile is a Planosol (Ultisol) with block structure, waxiness, iron glaebules, and manganese films, pointing to prevailing humid climates during the terminal Pleistocene (since ∼30 ka). Covering this truncated Planosol is a layer of fine to medium-grained Holocene sands, with development of a horizon A of an Arenosol (Entisol). These paleoenvironmental changes correlate with regional changes in precipitation deduced from speleothems in nearby plateaus and in southeastern Brazilian sites.

Impact of Historical Agrarian Landforms on Soil Water Content Variability at Local Scale in West Carpathian Region, Slovakia

The historical agrarian landforms (AL) represent man-made features that alter the hydrological process on cultivated hillslopes. Soil water content (SWC) and its spatial and temporal variability represent an important state indicator for understanding of these processes. In order to assess the differences between individual AL in terms of SWC stability, continuous soil moisture measurements at five different monitoring localities characterized by a specific combination of AL and environmental factors were performed. Temporal SWC stability was evaluated using mean relative difference (MRD) and its standard deviation (SDRD). Differences in mean SWC and MRD values demonstrated the difference between saturated inner part of the AL and external parts such as terraced slopes and mounds, soil depths, and slope positions. In order to analyze the relationship between SWC and environmental variables, the methods of constrained ordination were applied. The most influential factors that regulate SWC variability during the periods of rain were identified as: stone content, sand fraction content, slope orientation, type of agrarian landform, and its orientation against the contour lines. Results also pointed to the fact that different factors predominate among individual localities and, therefore, SWC variability reflects the effect of combination of various environmental factors rather than effect of single parameter. Besides the improved understanding of SWC variability, our results also highlight the importance of AL in regulating the hydrological processes at historical agricultural landscape of the West Carpathian region.

Новые ассоциации и высшие синтаксоны ивняков в восточноевропейском секторе Арктики

Новые ассоциации и высшие синтаксоны ивняков в восточноевропейском секторе Арктики

Характеристика поселень сліпачка степового (Ellobius talpinus) у Національному природному парку «Кам’янська січ»

Preserved and protected within the territory of the Kamyanska Sich National Nature Park areas of psammophytic steppe are natural habitats of the highly specialized and stenotopic northern mole vole Ellobius talpinus. Studies of recent settlements of the species have revealed their strong preference for slopes of riparian balkas and upper terraces of the Kamiansko-Mylivska section of the Kakhovka Reservoir covered with psammophytic vegetation. As places for colonies, these rodents definitely prefer dry loess-sandy soils of light composition, avoiding shrubbery and dense grass due to the danger of disguising in them flying and terrestrial predators. A total of 14 "living" colonies of the northern mole vole were registered, 9 of which were defined as small-family settlements (less than 100 m2). The other five colonies had a clearly multi-family structure and a large area (680–1720 m2), within which spatially isolated clusters of emissions were traced hypothetically perceived as separate family constructions (up to 270 m2). According to these landmarks, some large settlements contained 3 to 9 networks of family burrows located at a distance of 57 to 106 m. Five small uninhabited settlements (45–70 m2) were also recorded with signs of last year emissions. These settlements were located on the periphery of large colonies, 108–219 m far from the nearest emissions of "living" settlements. Estimates of the total number of inhabitants of the 14 "living" settlements in the territory of the Kamianska Sich National Nature Park range from 50 to 200 individuals. As of July 2021, the number of reproductive adults in the registered colonies of the species is 40–50, while the number of young of the current year of birth should be estimated at least 100–120 individuals. Colonies of the northern mole vole are characterized by the presence in their vicinities of spring ephemeroids such as T. hypanica, T. schrenkii, B. versicolor, and C. reticulatus, which are indicator species of primary virgin steppe biotopes. The results of surveys of northern mole vole colonies and ecological assessments of protected natural habitats of the Kamianska Sich National Nature Park provide grounds for a favourable prognosis of further preservation of the last range segment of the species in the territory of Right-Bank Ukraine.

Environmental changes in Yellow River Delta with terrace construction and agricultural cropping.

BackgroundCrude flats in delta areas are often saline–alkaline and unsuitable for agricultural cropping. In the 1990s, people residing in the Yellow River delta constructed terraces on the flats for agricultural development. Herein, we investigated environmental changes resulting from this agricultural development and evaluated whether the current land use is effective and sustainable.MethodsWe sampled soil and weeds from croplands, terrace slopes, and crude flats within the delta terrace landscape. The measured soil properties included soil salinity, pH, total N, total P, and organic matter in different lands and soil layers: 0–10, 10–20, and 20–30 cm. The surveyed weed characteristics were the biomass of roots and rhizomes, species composition, life form, cover and height. These indices were statistically verified by different land types and soil layers.ResultsSoil salinity in the terrace crop lands was found to have reduced to <4 g·kg−1, whereas in the crude flats, remained >6 g·kg−1. Soil pH in the terrace croplands was surprisingly increased to >9 ; meanwhile, organic matter content decreased drastically, which is significantly different from that observed in the case of terrace slopes and crude flats. Total N and P content in the terrace crop lands were seemingly unchanged on averages but at the depths >20 cm, they reduced unavoidably. Plant underground organs were relatively scarcer in the croplands than in the other lands. Weeds grew well on the terrace slopes but were insufficient in the croplands. Overall, terrace construction is effective for developing coastal saline flats for agricultural use, but the traditional land use in the Yellow River delta has caused chronic soil degradation that is against a sustainable productive industry.

Terraced slopes as large scale natural seismic metasurfaces

In this work, a new type of metasurface which could be applied for surface waves attenuation is numerically examined. Terraced slopes are examined numerically for their applicability of attenuating surface waves. The calculations were performed by using the finite element method. The research includes an investigation for all the geometric parameters of the structure, and how its performance as a metasurface is being affected by the values of each parameter. The proposed terraced slopes can be found in many places either as a natural morphology of the ground or, in most cases, as an artificial ground formation. The findings of this work strongly indicate that the morphology of the sloped surface is fundamental regarding its potential of performing as a large-scale natural metasurface.

Unified Failure Strength Criterion for Terrace Slope Reinforcement Materials

This paper presents a study on the failure strength criterion of terrace slope reinforcement materials, such as lean cemented sand and gravel (LCSG) material, under a triaxial stress state. Cement content and confining pressure were selected as major factors to investigate their influence on the peak stress of terrace slope reinforcement materials based on experimental results and data from the literature. The mechanical properties of the LCSG samples, with cement contents of 60, 80, and 90 kg/m3, and noncemented sand and gravel materials were tested under four confining pressure levels (namely, 300, 600, 1000, and 1500 kPa). The results show that the strength of LCSG material improves as the confining pressure increases. When the confining pressure exceeds 1200 kPa, the rate of increase of the strength for LCSG material and other cemented grained materials declines generally. The material strength displays a linear increase with the growth of the cement content. When the axial load rises up to a certain value, damage will occur at the particle cemented site near the shear plane, and the resistance stress generated by the cementation shows a trend of growth first and then attenuation, and concurrently, the friction between particles increases by degrees. Based on the identified strength characteristics of LCSG material under different cement contents and confining pressures, a new strength criterion that incorporates the frictional strengths and the cementing strengths is proposed for LCSG and other similar materials. The results of this work can provide an important theoretical basis for the stability calculation of terrace slopes and LCSG dams.

Automated detection of former field systems from airborne laser scanning data: a new approach for Historical Ecology

Former field systems (FFS) are the most widespread traces of ancient activities in present European landscapes and represent significant perturbations to ecosystems. Through its ability to penetrate forest canopies and detect microlandforms, Airborne Laser Scanning data reveal archaeological relics over large areas, from periods older than the first available Historical Topographic Maps. Mapping these traces from ALS-derived data (e.g. Digital Elevation Model (DEM)) thus allows for a determination of a new temporal baseline in order to evaluate the effects of a longer history on current patterns of biodiversity. Here, we evaluate the ability of traditional machine learning (Random Forest-RF) and deep learning (Fully Connected Networks-FCN) models to detect Medieval Terraced slopes and Ridges and Furrows (RaF) from an ALS-derived DEM in the southern Vosges (1462 km2). We used a combination of Local Binary Patterns and topographical metrics to measure properties of FFS and to train detection models. We then assessed the relative performance of each model semantically and spatially. Our results demonstrated the high suitability of our approach for reproducing major trends in the landscape with a high level of similarity between the predicted and reference spatial patterns (Structural Similarity Index - SSIM > 0.75). RF outperformed FCN for Terraced Slopes, whilst minimizing the false positive rate. FCN slightly outperformed RF for the RaF dataset but showed promising abilities to survey unseen data with a low sensitivity to annotation errors. We suggest that this approach has the potential to offer new spatio-temporal possibilities in Historical Ecology studies as a means of automatically detecting past archaeological ecosystems from a landscape to a regional scale.

Typical features of short-profile soils in the Middle Urals

Data on short-profile mountainous soils of the Middle Urals are discussed. In the new Russian soil classification system, these soils belong to the orders of lithozems (Leptosols), petrozems (Lithic Leptosols), organo-accumulative (Skeletic Umbrisols), Al–Fe-humus (Entic Podzols, Albic Podzols), and gley (Gleysols) soils. Information-logical analysis of factual data attests to a close relationship between the thickness of soil profiles and the genetic types of soils. Thus, the degree of development of the profile can be a diagnostic indicator of the type of soil formation. Short-profile soils develop in all high-altitude landscapes. Lithozems are widespread in all vertical zones. Other short-profile soils are more definitely related to certain altitudes. Thus, organo-accumulative soils mainly develop in the subalpine zone at 650–750 m a.s.l. under tall-herb meadows, podburs are found in the mountainous tundra zone at 800–940 m a.s.l. on slightly sloping surfaces. Podzols tend to occur under elfin forest zone (740–850 m) and in the transitional zone between elfin forest and tundra on steep slopes. Gley soils are formed under woodlands on flat or slightly sloping terraces at the ecotone between the zones of mountainous taiga and park woodland.

Prioritization of Sub-Watersheds to Sediment Yield and Evaluation of Best Management Practices in Highland Ethiopia, Finchaa Catchment

Excessive soil loss and sediment yield in the highlands of Ethiopia are the primary factors that accelerate the decline of land productivity, water resources, operation and function of existing water infrastructure, as well as soil and water management practices. This study was conducted at Finchaa catchment in the Upper Blue Nile basin of Ethiopia to estimate the rate of soil erosion and sediment loss and prioritize the most sensitive sub-watersheds using the Soil and Water Assessment Tool (SWAT) model. The SWAT model was calibrated and validated using the observed streamflow and sediment data. The average annual sediment yield (SY) in Finchaa catchment for the period 1990–2015 was 36.47 ton ha−1 yr−1 with the annual yield varying from negligible to about 107.2 ton ha−1 yr−1. Five sub-basins which account for about 24.83% of the area were predicted to suffer severely from soil erosion risks, with SY in excess of 50 ton ha−1 yr−1. Only 15.05% of the area within the tolerable rate of loss (below 11 ton ha−1yr−1) was considered as the least prioritized areas for maintenance of crop production. Despite the reasonable reduction of sediment yields by the management scenarios, the reduction by contour farming, slope terracing, zero free grazing and reforestation were still above the tolerable soil loss. Vegetative contour strips and soil bund were significant in reducing SY below the tolerable soil loss, which is equivalent to 63.9% and 64.8% reduction, respectively. In general, effective and sustainable soil erosion management requires not only prioritizations of the erosion hotspots but also prioritizations of the most effective management practices. We believe that the results provided new and updated insights that enable a proactive approach to preserve the soil and reduce land degradation risks that could allow resource regeneration.

NATURAL AND CLIMATE FEATURES OF THE RIVER TERRITORIES OF THE CITY OF UZHHOROD AND SPECIFICS OF THEIR DEVELOPMENT

The article examines the natural and climatic features of the region and the city of Uzhhorod, which affect the specifics of the development of near riverside areas. The Uzh River is formed in the mountainous areas of the Carpathians. The functioning of the river ecosystem changes when it reaches the sloping terraces and plains. Anthropogenic pressure of the city causes an increase of problems in the process of its self-reproduction. The development of the city, provided by the Master plan of the city, architectural and planning means and initiatives of the city residents determine the connections and relationships between the main components of the system: river, city and man. Architectural and spatial approaches to the design of a harmoniously integrated system of the river and the city are based on its self-reproduction as part of nature, primarily from a biological standpoint. Also, modern global urban trends in the opening of cities to rivers and the design of new "waterfront" of cities contribute to the cleaning of rivers and landscaping of surrounding areas. In the Master plan of the city of Uzhhorod, the landscape and recreational zones occupy an important place. The zones of the objects of the nature reserve fund are defined to ensure the preservation of unique natural landscapes with special conditions of use. Recreational zones of active entertainment are the urban areas of common use with appropriate objects for active recreation of the citizens as well as community centres. Considering the existing transport connections of Uzhhorod and pedestrian paths to the embankment territories, their location almost in the middle of the city as a coherence of the periphery with the central area of the city, the idea of creating a single system of embankment areas of the city was worked out, which will be interconnected by barrier-free bicycle tracks and pedestrian paths

The influence of microbial mats on travertine precipitation in active hydrothermal systems (Central Italy)

AbstractThe study of hydrothermal travertines contributes to the understanding of the interaction between physico‐chemical processes and microbial mats in carbonate precipitation. Three active travertine sites were investigated in Central Italy to characterise the types of carbonate precipitates and the associated microbial mats at varying physico‐chemical parameters. Carbonate precipitated fabrics at the decimetre to millimetre‐scale and microbial mat composition vary with decreasing water temperature: (a) at relatively higher temperature (55–44°C) calcite and aragonite crystals precipitate on microbial mats of Chloroflexi and sulphur‐oxidizing microbes forming filamentous streamer fabrics with sparse cyanobacteria, (b) at intermediate temperature (44–40°C), rafts, coated gas bubbles and dendrites are associated with Spirulina cyanobacteria and other filamentous and rod‐shaped cyanobacteria, (c) low temperature (34–33°C) laminated crusts and oncoids forming in a terraced slope system are associated with diverse Oscillatoriales and Nostocales filamentous cyanobacteria, Spirulina and diatoms. At the microscale, carbonate precipitates are similar in the three sites consisting of prismatic calcite crystals organised in radial rosettes or fibrous aragonite spherulites (40–300 µm in diameter), overlying or embedded in Extracellular Polymeric Substances. Clotted peloidal micrite dominates at temperatures &lt;40°C, also encrusting filamentous microbes. Carbonates are associated with gypsum crystals; extracellular polymeric substances are enriched in silicon, aluminium, magnesium, calcium, phosphorous and sulphur; authigenic aluminium‐silicates form aggregates on Extracellular Polymeric Substances. This study confirms that microbial communities in hydrothermal settings vary as a function of water temperature. Carbonate precipitates at the microscale are similar in the three settings, despite different microbial communities, suggesting that travertine precipitation, driven by carbon dioxide degassing, is influenced by biofilm extracellular polymeric substances acting as a substrate for crystal nucleation (Extracellular Polymeric Substances‐mediated mineralization) and affecting the resultant fabric types, independently from specific microbial community composition and metabolism.

The Terraces of the Anti-Atlas: From Abandonment to the Risk of Degradation of a Landscape Heritage

The Anti-Atlas is subject to an intense rural exodus. The agricultural terraces built for several centuries have been abandoned. They are gradually deteriorating. The risks of runoff and erosion are becoming significant. The objective was to study the effect of the abandonment of terraces on the risks of runoff and erosion in the territory of two villages, Tizerkine and Timzemzit. After the characterization of the soil surface conditions, the extent of erosion and the risk of runoff were qualified according to the age of abandonment. Erosion was assessed by estimating the “soil surface factor” (PAP/CAR method) and infiltration by the double ring method. The abandonment of the terraces has led to a reduction in the plant cover of the soil surface and its opening and to enhancing its compaction. The risk of runoff is high. A year of abandonment reduced the infiltration from 301.8 mm/h (SD: 105.8 mm/h) to 129.6 mm/h (SD: 28.9 mm/h). Furthermore, 5 years of abandonment reduced it to 62.9 mm/h (SD: 14.9 mm/h). The walls of the terraces are gradually being destroyed with an increasing age of abandonment. More than half (57%) of the terraced slope surface has suffered moderate to high water erosion. More than 11% of the surfaces are severely degraded after 20 years of abandonment. The heritage made up of these managed slopes is being lost. Particular attention must be paid to these landscapes in order to better rehabilitate and develop them.

The Origin of Terraces in Buried Valleys in the Northwest of the East European Plain

Abstract —The paper considers the origin of terraces that often complicate the slopes of abnormally deep buried valleys in the northwest of the East European Plain. The Izborsk–Maly valley (Pskov Region, Russia), which is half filled with Quaternary sediments, was chosen as the object of study. Since the upper part of the valley remains unfilled, it is possible to study in detail both geologic and geomorphologic structures of its terraced slopes being of particular interest in the context of the origin of buried valleys and the role of substrate in it. The four denudation-terrace levels that have been identified on the slopes of the Izborsk–Maly valley at absolute elevations of 53, 56–58, 70–72, and 75–77 m formed during the destruction of the preglacial karst landscape under the influence of Pleistocene glaciations. The formation of the terraces was probably linked with several stages of overdeepening of the valley and its expansion by the glacial erosion processes, which corresponded to at least two stages of the ice sheet advance in this area. The last stage may have been the beginning of the Late Valdai (Weichselian) glaciation or the activation of the edge of an ice sheet during its Luga phase (~15.7 cal kyr BP). Results of the study suggest that the Izborsk–Maly valley formed in subglacial conditions. The degree of glacial erosion was determined primarily by the coherence of Devonian carbonate-terrigenous rocks hosting the valley and the degree of the area transformation by karst processes. The cirque shape of slopes is the evidence of karst processes expression in pre-glacial time. Analysis of literature data shows that the origin of denudation terraces in the buried valleys in the northwest of the East European Plain has been paid little attention. The obtained data contribute to the study of this problem and provide insights into the origin of buried valleys.