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Soil erosion by water is a serious problem in Ethiopia, contributing to diminishing crop yields and food shortages. Apart from understanding the magnitude, risk, and spatial distribution of the problem, identifying erosion hotspot areas is essential for effectively reversing the problem. This study aims to identify erosion hotspots in the Gotu watershed, in northeastern Ethiopia, using the revised universal soil loss equation (RUSLE) and incorporating local farmers' perspectives to prioritize conservation efforts. The RUSLE model reveals that 29,744.3 metric tons of soil is lost annually from the Gotu watershed, with an average loss of 65.3 to t ha⁻ 1  year⁻ 1 . The main contributing factors to soil erosion in the watershed include undulating topography, loss of plant cover, and continuous cultivation. The highest soil loss rates (> 80 t ha⁻ 1  year⁻ 1 ) were found in the western, northern, and southern parts of the watershed, where cultivation occurs on moderate to steep slopes with sparse vegetation cover. These areas should be prioritized for conservation interventions. Farmers identified poor crop yields and damaged conservation structures as key indicators of soil erosion prevalence in the watershed. Increasing farmer's understanding of soil erosion and the importance of soil and water conservation is essential for effectively controlling soil erosion and improving food security in the area., (© 2024. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer Nature Switzerland AG.)

Changes in soil phosphorus (P) distribution and budget critically impact the sustainability of agricultural systems. Yet, few studies have examined the long-term evolution of cropland (and crop-specific) P budget and use efficiency (PUE) at a grid level. Here, we conducted a comprehensive evaluation of the cropland P budget and PUE and their human-environmental drivers in China during 1992-2018 at a spatial resolution of 0.1°. The results reveal a significant shift in China's cropland P budget from a deficit of -3.70 Tg P yr -1 in 1992 to a surplus of 0.31 Tg P yr -1 in 2018, mainly driven by increased fertilizer application and decreased soil erosion by water. The concurrent national average cropland PUE initially decreased from 0.51 in 1992 to 0.34 in 2003, but afterwards increased to 0.39 in 2015. An environmental-Kuznets-curve-like (EKC) relationship was identified between the national average P budget (inverted U-shaped) or PUE (U-shaped) and per capita GDP in China, with the turning point occurring in 2013 for the previous and at per capita GDP of US$8.85 k (constant 2017 US$) for the latter. But PUE had been well below a threshold of 0.40 at the national level after crossing the turning point and showed a considerable trend divergence among crops, particularly for cash ones. Spatially, northern and northwestern China exhibited high positive P budget but achieved relatively low PUE in the 2010s. Crop leaf area, irrigation, fertilizer input, and precipitation were identified as the most important factors determining the multi-year spatial pattern of P budget, while fertilizer input, temperature, and residue return played a dominant role in regulating PUE. Our findings highlight the need for a long-term commitment to regionalized and crop-specific synthetic management practices for controlling P inputs and minimizing P loss in the context of global change in China., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2024 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Soil erosion from agricultural fields is a persistent ecological problem, potentially leading to eutrophication of aquatic habitats in the catchment area. Often used and recommended mitigation measures are vegetated filter strips (VFS) as buffer zones between arable land and water bodies. However, if they are designed and managed poorly, nutrients - especially phosphorus (P) - may accumulate in the soil. Ultimately, VFS can switch from being a nutrient sink to a source. This problem is further aggravated if the field runoff does not occur as uniform sheet flow, but rather in concentrated form, as is usually the case. To assess the impact of concentrated flow on VFS performance, we have taken soil core samples from field-VFS transition zones at six sites in Lower Austria. We determined a multitude of physical and chemical soil parameters, focusing on P fractions and indices. Our results revealed that concentrated flow can lead to an accumulation of P in the VFS. P levels in the VFS inside the area of concentrated runoff can be equal to or higher than in the field, even though they receive no direct fertilization. However, the concentration and distribution of nutrients in the fields and VFSs were also site-specific and affected by local factors such as the age of the VFS, cropping, and fertilization. Accordingly, there is a need for more sophisticated, bespoke VFS designs that can cope with site-specific runoff volumes and movements of nutrients that occur., (© 2024. The Author(s).)

Soils provide habitat, regulation and utilization functions. Therefore, Germany aims to reduce soil sealing to 30 ha day - 1 by 2030 and to eliminate it by 2050. About 55 ha day - 1 of soil are damaged (average 2018-2021), but detailed information on its soil quality is lacking. This study proposes a new approach using geo-information and remote sensing data to assess agricultural soil loss in Lower Saxony and Brandenburg. Soil quality is assessed based on erosion resistance, runoff regulation, filter functions, yield potential and the Müncheberg Soil Quality Rating from 2006 to 2015. Data from the German Soil Map at a scale of 1:200,000 (BÜK 200), climate, topography, CORINE Land Cover (CLC) and Imperviousness Layer (IMCC), both provided by the Copernicus Land Monitoring Service (CLMS), are used to generate information on soil functions, potentials and agricultural soil loss due to sealing. For the first time, soil losses under arable land are assessed spatially, quantitatively and qualitatively. An estimate of the qualitative loss of agricultural soil in Germany between 2006 and 2015 is obtained by intersecting the soil evaluation results with the quantitative soil loss according to IMCC. Between 2006 and 2015, about 73,300 ha of land were sealed in Germany, affecting about 37,000 ha of agricultural soils. This corresponds to a sealing rate of 11 ha per day for Germany. In Lower Saxony and Brandenburg, agricultural soils were sealed at a rate of 1.9 ha day - 1 and 0.8 ha day - 1 respectively, removing these soils from primary land use. In Lower Saxony, 75% of soils with moderate or better biotic yield potential have been removed from primary land use, while in Brandenburg this figure is as high as 88%. Implementing this approach can help decision-makers reassess sealed land and support Germany's sustainable development strategy., (© 2024. The Author(s).)

One of the problematic outcomes of soil erosion is sedimentation in stream channels adjacent to agricultural areas. Excess sediments routinely dredged are subsequently dumped in the riparian zone, where the prolonged presence of dredged sediment piles threatens the eco-hydrological balance of the agricultural-riverine environments. Reusing dredged sediments as an amendment for adjacent agricultural fields may serve as an alternative solution. However, farmers are hesitant to use this material in their fields due to the potential for weed infestation, with the associated costs incurred by crop losses. Here, we investigate the potential for weed infestation associated with reusing dredged sediments in agriculture. The research findings validate farmers' concerns regarding the undesirable proliferation of weeds following soil amelioration with dredged sediments. We present a comprehensive protocol for assessing the necessity for weed management intervention, based on infestation potential of weeds, while specifically targeting the reduction of adverse effects caused by agricultural weeds., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2023 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Soil Surface Roughness (SSR) is a physical feature of soil microtopography, which is strongly influenced by tillage practices and plays a key role in hydrological and soil erosion processes. Therefore, surface roughness indices are required when using models to estimate soil erosion rates, where tabular values or direct measurements can be used. Field measurements often imply out-of-date and time-consuming methods, such as the pin meter and the roller chain, providing inaccurate indices. A novel technique for SSR measurement has been adopted, employing an RGB-Depth camera to produce a small-scale Digital Elevation Model of the soil surface, in order to extrapolate roughness indices. Canopy cover coverage (CC) of the cover crop was also detected from the camera's images. The values obtained for SSR and CC indices were implemented in the MMF (Morgan-Morgan-Finney) model, to validate the reliability of the proposed methodology by comparing the models' results for sediment yields with long-term soil erosion measurements in sloping vineyards in NW Italy. The performance of the model in predicting soil losses was satisfactory to good for a vineyard plot with inter-rows managed with recurrent tillage, and it was improved using spatialized soil roughness input data with respect to a uniform value. Performance for plot with permanent ground cover was not so good, however it was also improved using spatialized data. The measured values were also useful to obtain C-factor for RUSLE application, to be used instead of tabular values., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2023 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

The effects of biochar (BC) on soil erosion and nutrient output have attracted widespread attention; however, the role of BC in soil and water conservation remains debated. In particular, the effect of BC on underground erosion and nutrient output in soil-mantled karst areas has not been clearly determined. The objective of this study was to investigate the effects of BC on soil and water conservation and nutrient output in surface-underground dual erosion structures in soil-mantled karst areas. Eighteen runoff plots (2 m × 1 m) were established at the Guizhou University research station. Two BC treatments (T1 = 30 t/ha; T2 = 60 t/ha) and a control treatment (CK = 0 t/ha) were used. The BC material was produced from corn straw. The experiment ran from January to December 2021 and a total of 1132.64 mm of rainfall was measured. Runoff and soil and nutrient loss at the surface and underground were collected during natural rainfall. The results showed that 1) compared to CK, the BC application significantly increased surface runoff (SR, P < 0.05) and reduced subsurface runoff (SF, P < 0.05), and underground fissure runoff (UFR) decreased in general but did not reach a significant level (P > 0.05). The total amount of SR collected in each treatment during the test period accounted for 51 %-63 % of the total amount of all collected outlet runoff (SR, SF and UFR); 2) total organic carbon (TOC), total nitrogen (TN) and total phosphorus (TP) were mainly exported through the UFR, and total potassium (TK) was mainly exported through the SR; and 3) compared to CK, the BC reduced TOC, TN and TP output through runoff but had no significant effect on TK output regardless of surface runoff or underground runoff. Thus, BC application reduces nonpoint source (NPS) pollution, and more importantly, it can inhibit TN and TP flow into groundwater through bedrock fissures. Our results provide further evidence for evaluating the soil and water conservation benefits of BC. Therefore, BC in soil-mantled karst agricultural areas can prevent groundwater pollution in karst regions. In general, BC enhances surface erosion and inhibits underground runoff and nutrients loss on soil-mantled karst slopes. This shows that the process through which BC application affects erosion in karst areas is complex, and further research is needed to investigate the long-term effects of BC application in this area., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2023 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

The rapid expansion of construction land has been a common phenomenon worldwide, which resulted in the loss of high-quality arable land and severe land degradation. Here, a statistical analysis, together with a field investigation, was carried out in China to address the challenges. This study has gathered data on the reduction of land amount and quality caused by construction activities and has collected the relevant policies to control land deterioration caused by those activities. The increasing amount of farmland and open space are occupied by construction use. The annual growth of construction land from 2001 to 2017 was 43.64 × 10 4 hm 2 , with an annual average of about 38 × 10 4 hm 2 of cultivated land being converted to construction land in China. Construction activities usually cause a deterioration of the physico-chemical properties in and around construction site soils. The organic matter of post-construction soil was lower than the pre-construction by 257.4~879.8%. A lack of strong economic incentives for developers, limited effectiveness of measures to control land degradation, and weak requirements and enforcement of relevant laws and regulations allow land degradation from construction activities to remain at a significant level. For more efficiency and success, the study proposes effective measures to control the hazards that occur so widely in China.

The effective control of cropland soil erosion is urgent for all countries because of its threat to global food security. Cropland soil erosion is caused by agricultural production and driven indirectly by consumption. Analyzing the causes and preventive strategies from the consumption side is essential for soil erosion control. However, there is not yet sufficient research or practice. In this study, we estimated global cropland soil erosion with the revised universal soil loss equation, allocated it to specific types of crops, and quantified the cropland soil erosion footprint of the economies with a multiregional input-output analysis model. Our results showed that developed economies, usually importing cropland soil erosion from developing or agriculturally developed economies, are the beneficiaries in the current crop trading system. The European Union is the largest net importer, while Brazil is the largest exporter. The indirect and induced sectors are the main contributors, consuming approximately 70.48% of the total cropland soil erosion. Our results revealed the region- and product-specific contributors that could inform the reduction of global cropland soil erosion for sustainable food production and consumption.

Land use change (LUC) is identified as one of the main drivers of soil erosion in the Mediterranean. However, very little information exists regarding the relationship between land use and erosion over longer time periods and on regional scales. We quantified the LUC in Southern Spain between 1956 and 2018, examining its effect on soil erosion and assessing the mitigation role of the permanent grassland (PG). The land use influence on erosion is represented by the RUSLE's C-factor, which was modelled using the Monte Carlo Method (MCM) based on historical LUC. Moreover, future LUC scenarios by 2038 were developed by binary logistic model (scFS) and by a complete conversion of PG to cropland (scPC), permanent crop (scPP) and forest and natural (scFP). Historically, Southern Spain has experienced an impressive intensification of its agricultural system. While soil loss variation is noted within the classes, no big variation is observed in cumulative erosion on a regional scale. The underlying reasons for this resilience are multifold, but mainly attributed to the fact that a small fraction of the total surface (20%), dominates total erosion (67%). The C-factor decrease in this area displays a LUC towards forest and natural area, suggesting an agriculture abandonment. On the other hand, the agricultural intensification that has taken place in the remainder of the area, contributes much less to overall soil erosion. Future LUC scenarios illustrate the importance of PG for erosion mitigation. scFS scenario does not project major changes. However, scCP and scPP, show an abrupt increase in regional erosion by 13% and 14%, while scFP shows a negligible reduction of erosion close to 0%. This allows to quantify the erosion mitigation offered by maintaining the PG and should be taken into account for future agricultural policy., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2022 The Author(s). Published by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

The overuse of nitrogen (N) fertilizer for wheat is a serious problem in China, and previous studies seldom distinguish between the use of basal and topdressing N fertilizer. Data from 225 households in Jiangsu Province, China (a wheat planting area), were collected through face-to-face interviews with each head of the household. Regression models were used to study factors affecting farmers' application of basal and topdressing N fertilizers separately. Fertilizer retailers proposed fertilizer application levels that were in opposition to their concern for the environment. Farmers' concern for the environment only affected their application of topdressing N fertilizer and had no significant influence for use of total N fertilizer. The farmland area and amount of experience planting wheat had negative effects on basal N fertilizer use, but not on topdressing fertilizer. In the study area, the optimal strategy for decreasing N fertilizer application is designing policies to rent more farmlands to farmers with the most experience first. These farmers with their higher farm income would decrease basal N fertilizer use and the basal-topdressing ratio to improve N fertilizer use efficiency and then decrease the N fertilizer leaching into the environment., (© 2021. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer-Verlag GmbH Germany, part of Springer Nature.)

Despite the strong recommendations from scientists, to till or not to till remains a confusing question for many farmers around the world due to the worries of crop yield decline and negative impacts on soils and environment. A confused understanding of the role of the individual principles of conservation agriculture significantly limits the effectiveness and applicability of soil conservation strategies and frameworks to achieve sustainable agriculture. By distinguishing clearly between the different principles of conservation agriculture, the net effects of no-tillage on improving and sustaining agro-ecosystems are analyzed based on 49 recent meta-analyses in this study. The review shows that no-tillage leads to a significant decline of crop yield (-8.0% to 10.0%, median: -1.9%), whereas residue retention represents the key driver for improving crop production (4.0%-28.0%, median: 8.2%). The efficacy of no-tillage for water erosion control, especially runoff (-24.0% to -0.7%, median: -10.0%), is often insignificant and otherwise lower compared to residue retention (-87.0% to -14.0%, median: -45.5%). Soil carbon sequestration potential under conservation tillage is quite limited or even close to zero, and if any, it can likely be attributed to the associated residue retention (-0.1% to 12.8%, median: 9.7%) rather than no-tillage (-2.0% to 10.0%, median: 4.8%). Our analysis illustrates that in conservation agriculture, no-tillage as the original and central principle of soil management is often less effective than associated supplementary measures, in particular residue retention. Residue retention may therefore play a key role for achieving sustainable land use. An additional benefit of residue retention is the less dramatic change of farming practices compared to no-tillage. The results of this review illustrate that a new framework for assessing the benefits of conservation practices has to be developed. To till, or not to till, is not the question: residue retention seems more critical., (© 2021 John Wiley & Sons Ltd.)

Brazil is one of the largest consumers of pesticides in the world. The high rainfall rate and inadequate soil use and management promote the transfer of these compounds to the aquatic system. The aim of this study was to identify and quantify pesticides present in epilithic biofilms in order to evaluate the effectiveness of this matrix as a bioindicator able to discriminate areas and periods with different inputs of pesticides. Among the 25 pesticides analyzed in the biofilms, 20 compounds were detected. The epilithic biofilms picked up pesticides independent of their polarities, even in the period of lower use. The frequency and median concentration of five herbicides (2,4-D, atrazine, desethyl-atrazine, simazine, nicosulfuron), three fungicides (carbendazim, epoxiconazole, tebuconazole), and one insecticide (imidacloprid) were highest in biofilms sampled in summer crops during the growing period. Biofilms collected in the upper region of the catchment, where genetically modified soybean and corn cultivated in a no-tillage system prevail, the highest frequency and median concentration of three herbicides (2,4-D, thifensulfuron, isoproturon), four fungicides (carbendazim, epoxiconazole, tebuconazole, metconazole), and one insecticide (imidacloprid) were observed. Despite the excessive amounts of pesticides used in the catchment, the median values of all pesticides in the epilithic biofilm were considered low. The lower diversity and concentration of pesticides observed in the autumn/winter season is representative of lower use of pesticides, barriers to pesticide transfer from soil to water, and the biofilm's resilience capacity to decompose pesticides.

Enriched planting of native tree species in monoculture plantation forests is a commonly recommended forest practice. However, its effect on various ecological processes is generally lacking. Here, we carried out an experiment in a 16-year-old Eucalyptus plantation in South China to assess the effects of enriched planting of native tree species on surface water, soil erosion and nutrient losses. Two treatments were conducted in 2008: (1) enriched planting of native broadleaved tree species with uniform thinning of 60% of Eucalyptus trees (TEP); and (2) enriched planting of native broadleaved tree species without thinning (NEP). The original Eucalyptus plantation stands was used as the control (CK). Runoff plots (total n=9, 3 for each treatment or CK) were established in 2009, and surface water flow, sediment, nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P) losses were monitored from major rainfall events in 2010-2012. Results showed that enriched planting in Eucalyptus plantation significantly reduced surface water flow and soil erosion. Compared with CK, TEP and NEP reduced annual surface water flow by 29-43% and 11-16%, and reduced annual soil erosion by 38-54% and 20-33% throughout the study period, respectively. TEP and NEP had significantly lower annual mean concentrations of N and P in surface water. Compared with CK, TEP reduced annual N and P losses through surface water by 42-60% and 44-64%, respectively, while NEP reduced them by 25-28% and 24-34%, respectively. N and P losses were significantly related to surface water flow. Between the two treatments, TEP was better for retaining water and soil, and for preventing nutrient loss. These results clearly demonstrated that the enriched planting of native tree species effectively retained surface water and nutrients., (Copyright © 2019. Published by Elsevier B.V.)

Fires are a complex phenomenon that may generate a chain of responses and processes that affect each part of the ecosystem. Thus, it is important to understand the magnitude of the impacts of fire on soil properties and the response of plants to this disturbance. For the moment, few studies have examined the effects of prescribed fire on large plots in afforested pine plantations in Mediterranean ecosystems. To fill this gap, the effects of a prescribed fire on runoff, soil erosion, and water quality for approximately one year after burning have been evaluated in pine plantations in south-eastern Spain. We constructed six erosion plots in the control area and six erosion plots in the burned area that were 4 m long and 2 m wide, immediately after the prescribed fire. Runoff, soil erosion and runoff water quality were studied after each rainy event in all plots. Our results reveal that prescribed fire did not significantly affect runoff and soil erosion when low intensity precipitations occur at pine plantations. In relation to water quality, water turbidity, salinity, pH, organic matter content and ionic substances concentrations increased immediately after prescribed burn, nevertheless these changes disappeared over time. We can conclude that prescribed fire can be a useful tool for fuel reduction in Mediterranean pine plantations without wide and long-term impacts to soil losses, or water quality., (Copyright © 2019 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Soil erosion is the primary process driving land degradation. Using multiple scales of management to minimize soil erosion is crucial to achieve land degradation neutrality targets within the Sustainable Development Goals agenda. Land management (LM) influences both on-site and off-site erosion on the event-scale and over the long-term. However, each LM differs in effectiveness depending on the temporal scale considered. In order to understand how LM effects internal and external catchment dynamics, we apply LandSoil, a physically based landscape evolution model, to evaluate 7 LM scenarios over long- (30 years) and short-terms (event scale). LM scenarios included changes in land use and/or landscape structure. Under current LM, mean surface soil erosion was ∼0.69 ± 39·10 -3  m over 30 years. In contrast, a single extreme event (435 mm/24 h) in January resulted in ∼0.62 ± 3·10 -3  m loss and ∼0.04 ± 2·10 -3  m if it occurred in October. Heterogeneous patterns of erosion and deposition developed after 30 years, whereas extreme events dominantly showed soil loss and high catchment connectivity. Effectiveness of LM in erosion mitigation and sediment trapping differed according to temporal and spatial scales for each scenario. We concluded that multiple temporal and spatial scales must be incorporated in order to adaptively manage land degradation and meet neutrality targets., (Copyright © 2019 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Erosional processes are highly affected by seasonal climatic fluctuations and soil management practices. Controlled grass cover is one of the most used soil conservation practices adopted in temperate climates, even if the protective effect of grass cover may decrease according to seasonal pattern. This technique is effective and, thus, widely adopted in the inter-rows of orchards such as olives, citrus or vineyards. This study reports the erosive events recorded in two different rain-fed hillslope vineyards with different rows orientation located in the Monferrato region, NW Italy. The study is addressed at compare the effects of different inter-row managements and rainfall characteristics on runoff and soil loss in hillslope vineyards (average slope from 15% to 35%). Rainfall, runoff and erosion variables were monitored in hydraulically bounded vineyard plots, where the inter-rows were managed with tillage and grass cover. Seventy-two erosive events were recorded in the period 1992-1996 in two vineyard plots with rows along the contour lines while 86 erosive events were recorded in two plots with rows up-and-down the slope from 2000 to 2014 (158 erosive events and four plots in total). Events were classified according to rainfall characteristics as "long-lasting", "intense" and "normal". In plots with rows along the contour lines, "intense" events were responsible for the highest mean soil loss in tilled plots (0.7 Mg ha -1 ) with very high erosion rates (12.3 Mg ha -1 ) observed during a single storm. In plots with rows up-and-down the slope the highest erosion rates, 21.2 and 3.4 Mg ha -1 , were recorded during fall "long-lasting" events in the tilled and grass cover plots respectively. The grass cover proved to be effective in decreasing runoff and soil losses during most of the events (at least 68% and 61% of the occurrences, respectively) reducing soil losses especially during summer storms when most of the "intense" events occured. Furthermore, the results show the fundamental role of contour-slope row orientation in reducing runoff and soil losses, disregarding the inter-rows soil management that is adopted., (Copyright © 2018 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

The most important properties affecting the soil loss and runoff were investigated, and the effects of land use on the soil properties, together with the erodibility indices in a semiarid zone, central Iran, were evaluated. The locations of 100 positions were acquired by cLHS and 0-5-cm surface soil layer samples were used for laboratory analyses from the Borujen Region, Chaharmahal-Va-Bakhtiari Province, central Iran. To measure in situ runoff and soil erodibility of three different land uses comprising dryland, irrigated farming, and rangeland, a portable rainfall simulator was used. The results showed that the high variations (coefficient of variation, CV) were obtained for electrical conductivity (EC), mean weight diameter (MWD), soil organic carbon (SOC), and soil erodibility indices including runoff volume, soil loss, and sediment concentration (CV ~ 43.6-77.4%). Soil erodibility indices showed positive and significant correlations with bulk density and negative correlations with SOC, MWD, clay content, and soil shear strength in the area under investigation. The values of runoff in the dryland, irrigated farming, and rangeland were found 1.5, 28.9, and 58.7 cm 3 ; soil loss in the dryland, irrigated farming, and rangeland were observed 0.25, 2.96, and 76.8 g; and the amount of sediment concentration in the dryland, irrigated farming, and rangeland were found 0.01, 0.11, and 0.15 g cm -3 . It is suggested that further investigations should be carried out on soil erodibility and the potential of sediment yield in various land uses with varying topography and soil properties in semiarid regions of Iran facing the high risk of soil loss.

Large-scale deforestation, intensive land use and unfavourable rainfall conditions are responsible for significant continuous degradation of the Haitian uplands. To develop soil conservation strategies, simple and cost-effective methods are needed to assess rates of soil loss from farmland in Haiti. The fallout radionuclide caesium-137 ( 137 Cs) provides one such means of documenting medium-term soil redistribution rates. In this contribution, the authors report the first use in Haiti of 137 Cs measurements to document soil redistribution rates and the associated pattern of erosion/sedimentation rates along typical hillslopes within a traditional upland Haitian farming area. The local 137 Cs reference inventory, measured at an adjacent undisturbed flat area, was 670 Bq m -2 (SD = 100 Bq m -2 , CV = 15%, n = 7). Within the study area, where cultivation commenced in 1992 after deforestation, three representative downslope transects were sampled. These were characterized by 137 Cs inventories ranging from 190 to 2200 Bq m -2 . Although, the study area was cultivated by the local farmers, the 137 Cs depth distributions obtained from the area differed markedly from those expected from a cultivated area. They showed little evidence of tillage mixing within the upper part of the soil or, more particularly, of the near-uniform activities normally associated with the plough layer or cultivation horizon. They were very similar to that found at the reference site and were characterized by high 137 Cs activities at the surface and much lower activities at greater depths. This situation is thought to reflect the traditional manual tillage practices which cause limited disturbance and mixing of the upper part of the soil. It precluded the use of the conversion models normally used to estimate soil redistribution rates from 137 Cs measurements on cultivated soils and the Diffusion and Migration conversion model frequently used for uncultivated soils was modified for application to the cultivated soils of the study area, in order to take account of the unusual local conditions. The model was also modified to take account of the fact that cultivation in the study area commenced in 1992, rather than predating the period of weapons test fallout which extended from the mid 1950s to the 1970s. Erosion rates on the upper parts of the hillside involved in the study were found to be relatively high and ca. -23 t ha -1 y -1 with low spatial variability. In the lower, flatter areas at the bottom of the slope, deposition occurred. Deposition rates were characterized by high spatial variability, ranging from 6.0 to 71 t ha -1 y -1 . Soil redistribution rates of this magnitude are a cause for concern and there is an urgent need to implement soil conservation measures to ensure the longer-term sustainability of the local agricultural practices., (Copyright © 2017 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Agricultural ecosystem management needs to ensure food production and minimize soil erosion and nitrogen (N) leaching under climate change and increasingly intensive human activity. Thus, the mechanisms through which climatic and management factors affect crop production, soil erosion, and N leaching must be understood in order to ensure food security and sustainable agricultural development. In this study, we adopted the GIS-based Environmental Policy Integrated Climate (EPIC) model to simulate crop production, soil erosion, and N leaching, and used a partial least squares regression model to evaluate the contributions of climate variables (solar radiation, precipitation, wind speed, relative humidity, and maximum and minimum temperature) and management factors (irrigation, fertilization, and crop cultivation area) on agricultural ecosystem services (AES) in the agro-pastoral transitional zone (APTZ) of northern China. The results indicated that crop production and N leaching markedly increased, whereas soil erosion declined from 1980 to 2010 in the APTZ. Management factors had larger effects on the AES than climate change. Among the climatic variables, daily minimum temperature was the most important contributor to the variations in ecosystem services of wheat, maize, and rice. Spatial changes in the cultivated area most affected crop production, soil erosion, and N leaching for majority of the cultivated areas of the three crops, except for the wheat-cultivated area, where the dominant factor for N leaching was fertilization. Although a tradeoff existed between crop production and negative environmental effects, compromises were possible. These findings provide new insights into the effects of climatic and management factors on AES, and have practical implications for improving crop production while minimizing negative environmental impacts., (Copyright © 2017 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

The objective of this study was to evaluate sediment, water and nutrient losses from different pasture managements in the Atlantic Rainforest biome. A field study was carried out in Alegre Espiríto Santo, Brazil, on a Xanthic Ferralsol cultivated with braquiaria (Brachiaria brizantha). The six pasture managements studied were: control (CON), chisel (CHI), fertilizer (FER), burned (BUR), plowing and harrowing (PH), and integrated crop-livestock (iCL). Runoff and sediment samples were collected and analyzed for calcium (Ca), magnesium (Mg), potassium (K), phosphorus (P) and organic carbon contents. Soil physical attributes and above and below biomass were also evaluated. The results indicated that higher water loss was observed for iCL (129.90mm) and CON (123.25mm) managements, and the sediment losses were higher for CON (10.24tha -1 ) and BUR (5.20tha -1 ) managements when compared to the other managements. Majority of the nutrients losses occurred in dissolved fraction (99% of Ca, 99% of Mg, 96% of K, and 65% of P), whereas a significant fraction of organic carbon (80%) loss occurred in a particulate form. Except for P, other nutrients (Ca, Mg and K) and organic carbon losses were higher in coarse sediment compared to fine sediment. The greater losses of sediment, organic carbon, and nutrients were observed for CON followed by BUR management (p<0.05). Our findings indicated that the traditional pasture management adopted in the Atlantic Rainforest needs to be rethought and burned management should be avoided. Based on the water, soil, and nutrient losses from various practices, to reduce pasture degradation, farmers should adopt edaphic practices by applying lime and fertilize to improve pasture growth and soil cover, and reducing soil erosion in the hilly Brazilian Atlantic Rainforest biome., (Copyright © 2016. Published by Elsevier B.V.)

Agricultural land use change, especially corn expansion since 2000s, has been accelerating to meet the growing bioenergy demand of the United States. This study identifies the environmentally sensitive lands (ESLs) in the U.S. Midwest using the distance-weighted Revised Universal Soil Loss Equation (RUSLE) associated with bioenergy land uses extracted from USDA Cropland Data Layers. The impacts of soil erosion to downstream wetlands and waterbodies in the river basin are counted in the RUSLE with an inverse distance weighting approach. In a GIS-ranking model, the ESLs in 2008 and 2011 (two representative years of corn expansion) are ranked based on their soil erosion severity in crop fields. Under scenarios of bioenergy land use change (corn to grass and grass to corn) on two land types (ESLs and non-ESLs) at three magnitudes (5%, 10% and 15% change), this study assesses the potential environmental impacts of bioenergy land use at a basin level. The ESL distributions and projected trends vary geographically responding to different agricultural conversions. Results support the idea of re-planting native prairie grasses in the identified High and Severe rank ESLs for sustainable bioenergy management in this important agricultural region., (Copyright © 2016 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Research results published regarding the impact of soil and water conservation practices in the highland areas of Ethiopia have been inconsistent and scattered. In this paper, a detailed review and synthesis is reported that was conducted to identify the impacts of soil and water conservation practices on crop yield, surface run-off, soil loss, nutrient loss, and the economic viability, as well as to discuss the implications for an integrated approach and ecosystem services. The review and synthesis showed that most physical soil and water conservation practices such as soil bunds and stone bunds were very effective in reducing run-off, soil erosion and nutrient depletion. Despite these positive impacts on these services, the impact of physical soil and water conservation practices on crop yield was negative mainly due to the reduction of effective cultivable area by soil/stone bunds. In contrast, most agronomic soil and water conservation practices increase crop yield and reduce run-off and soil losses. This implies that integrating physical soil and water conservation practices with agronomic soil and water conservation practices are essential to increase both provisioning and regulating ecosystem services. Additionally, effective use of unutilized land (the area occupied by bunds) by planting multipurpose grasses and trees on the bunds may offset the yield lost due to a reduction in planting area. If high value grasses and trees can be grown on this land, farmers can harvest fodder for animals or fuel wood, both in scarce supply in Ethiopia. Growing of these grasses and trees can also help the stability of the bunds and reduce maintenance cost. Economic feasibility analysis also showed that, soil and water conservation practices became economically more viable if physical and agronomic soil and water conservation practices are integrated.

Soil erosion is a widespread problem in agricultural landscapes, particularly in regions with strong rainfall events. Vegetated field margins can mitigate negative impacts of soil erosion off-site by trapping eroded material. Here we analyse how local management affects the trapping capacity of field margins in a monsoon region of South Korea, contrasting intensively and extensively managed field margins on both steep and shallow slopes. Prior to the beginning of monsoon season, we equipped a total of 12 sites representing three replicates for each of four different types of field margins ("intensive managed flat", "intensive managed steep", "extensive managed flat" and "extensive managed steep") with Astroturf mats. The mats (n = 15/site) were placed before, within and after the field margin. Sediment was collected after each rain event until the end of the monsoon season. The effect of management and slope on sediment trapping was analysed using linear mixed effects models, using as response variable either the sediment collected within the field margin or the difference in sediment collected after and before the field margin. There was no difference in the amount of sediment reaching the different field margin types. In contrast, extensively managed field margins showed a large reduction in collected sediment before and after the field margins. This effect was pronounced in steep field margins, and increased with the size of rainfall events. We conclude that a field margin management promoting a dense vegetation cover is a key to mitigating negative off-site effects of soil erosion in monsoon regions, particularly in field margins with steep slopes., (Copyright © 2015 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Agricultural management has received increased attention over the last decades due to its central role in carbon (C) sequestration and greenhouse gas mitigation. Yet, regardless of the large body of literature on the effects of soil erosion by tillage and water on soil organic carbon (SOC) stocks in agricultural landscapes, the significance of soil redistribution for the overall C budget and the C sequestration potential of land management options remains poorly quantified. In this study, we explore the role of lateral SOC fluxes in regional scale modelling of SOC stocks under three different agricultural management practices in central Belgium: conventional tillage (CT), reduced tillage (RT) and reduced tillage with additional carbon input (RT+i). We assessed each management scenario twice: using a conventional approach that did not account for lateral fluxes and an alternative approach that included soil erosion-induced lateral SOC fluxes. The results show that accounting for lateral fluxes increased C sequestration rates by 2.7, 2.5 and 1.5 g C m(-2)  yr(-1) for CT, RT and RT+i, respectively, relative to the conventional approach. Soil redistribution also led to a reduction of SOC concentration in the plough layer and increased the spatial variability of SOC stocks, suggesting that C sequestration studies relying on changes in the plough layer may underestimate the soil's C sequestration potential due to the effects of soil erosion. Additionally, lateral C export from cropland was in the same of order of magnitude as C sequestration; hence, the fate of C exported from cropland into other land uses is crucial to determine the ultimate impact of management and erosion on the landscape C balance. Consequently, soil management strategies targeting C sequestration will be most effective when accompanied by measures that reduce soil erosion given that erosion loss can balance potential C uptake, particularly in sloping areas., (© 2015 John Wiley & Sons Ltd.)

Global climate and land use changes could strongly affect soil erosion and the capability of soils to sustain agriculture and in turn impact regional or global food security. The objective of our study was to develop a method to assess soil sustainability to erosion under changes in land use and climate. The method was applied in a typical mixed Mediterranean landscape in a wine-growing watershed (75 km(2)) within the Languedoc region (La Peyne, France) for two periods: a first period with the current climate and land use and a second period with the climate and land use scenarios at the end of the twenty-first century. The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change A1B future rainfall scenarios from the Météo France General circulation model was coupled with four contrasting land use change scenarios that were designed using a spatially-explicit land use change model. Mean annual erosion rate was estimated with an expert-based soil erosion model. Soil life expectancy was assessed using soil depth. Soil erosion rate and soil life expectancy were combined into a sustainability index. The median simulated soil erosion rate for the current period was 3.5 t/ha/year and the soil life expectancy was 273 years, showing a low sustainability of soils. For the future period with the same land use distribution, the median simulated soil erosion rate was 4.2 t/ha/year and the soil life expectancy was 249 years. The results show that soil erosion rate and soil life expectancy are more sensitive to changes in land use than to changes in precipitation. Among the scenarios tested, institution of a mandatory grass cover in vineyards seems to be an efficient means of significantly improving soil sustainability, both in terms of decreased soil erosion rates and increased soil life expectancies., (Copyright © 2014 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

The Yimeng Mountains is one of China's most susceptible regions to soil erosion. In this region, slopes are composed of granite- or gneiss-derived soils that are commonly cultivated using earth-banked terraces. Based on the (137)Cs measurement for nine reference cores, the present study analysed the spatial patterns of (137)Cs inventory and soil erosion using 105 sampling points in a seven-level earth-banked terrace system. The mean (137)Cs inventory, standard deviation, coefficient of variation, and allowable error for the nine reference cores were 987 Bq m(-2), 71 Bq m(-2), 7%, and 6%, respectively, values that may reflect the heterogeneity of the initial (137)Cs fallout deposit. Within each terrace, the (137)Cs inventory generally increases from the rear edge to the front edge, accompanied by a decrease in the erosion rate. This results from planation by tillage and rainfall runoff during the development of the earth-banked terraces. Across the entire seven-level terrace system, (137)Cs inventories decrease from the highest terrace downwards, but increase in the lower terraces, whereas erosion rate displays the opposite trend. These trends are the result of the combined effects of the earth-bank segmented hillslope, the limited protection of the earth banks, and rainfall runoff in combination with tillage. The high coefficients of variation of (137)Cs inventories for the 21 sampling rows, with a mean value of 44%, demonstrate the combined effects of variations in original microtopography, anthropogenic disturbance, the incohesive soils weathered from underlying granite, and the warm climate. Although earth-banked terraces can reduce soil erosion to some extent, the estimated erosion rates for the study area are still very high., (Copyright © 2014 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

The use of river basin modelling to guide mitigation of non-point source pollution of wetlands, estuaries and coastal waters has become widespread. To assess and simulate the impacts of alternate land use or climate scenarios on river washload requires modelling techniques that represent sediment sources and transport at the time scales of system response. Building on the mean-annual SedNet model, we propose a new D-SedNet model which constructs daily budgets of fine sediment sources, transport and deposition for each link in a river network. Erosion rates (hillslope, gully and streambank erosion) and fine sediment sinks (floodplains and reservoirs) are disaggregated from mean annual rates based on daily rainfall and runoff. The model is evaluated in the Burdekin basin in tropical Australia, where policy targets have been set for reducing sediment and nutrient loads to the Great Barrier Reef (GBR) lagoon from grazing and cropping land. D-SedNet predicted annual loads with similar performance to that of a sediment rating curve calibrated to monitored suspended sediment concentrations. Relative to a 22-year reference load time series at the basin outlet derived from a dynamic general additive model based on monitoring data, D-SedNet had a median absolute error of 68% compared with 112% for the rating curve. RMS error was slightly higher for D-SedNet than for the rating curve due to large relative errors on small loads in several drought years. This accuracy is similar to existing agricultural system models used in arable or humid environments. Predicted river loads were sensitive to ground vegetation cover. We conclude that the river network sediment budget model provides some capacity for predicting load time-series independent of monitoring data in ungauged basins, and for evaluating the impact of land management on river sediment load time-series, which is challenging across large regions in data-poor environments., (© 2013. Published by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

The detrimental impact of sediment and associated pollutants on water quality is widely acknowledged, with many watercourses in the UK failing to meet the standard of 'good ecological status'. Catchment sediment budgets show that hill slope erosion processes can be significant sources of waterborne sediment, with rates of erosion likely to increase given predicted future weather patterns. However, linking on-site erosion rates with off-site impacts is complicated because of the limited data on soil erosion rates in the UK and the dynamic nature of the source-pathway-receptor continuum over space and time. Even so, soil erosion control measures are designed to reduce sediment production (source) and mobilisation/transport (pathway) on hill slopes, with consequent mitigation of pollution incidents in watercourses (receptors). The purpose of this paper is to review the scientific evidence of the effectiveness of erosion control measures used in the UK to reduce sediment loads of hill slope origin in watercourses. Although over 73 soil erosion mitigation measures have been identified from the literature, empirical data on erosion control effectiveness are limited. Baseline comparisons for the 18 measures where data do exist reveal erosion control effectiveness is highly variable over time and between study locations. Given the limitations of the evidence base in terms of geographical coverage and duration of monitoring, performance of the different measures cannot be extrapolated to other areas. This uncertainty in effectiveness has implications for implementing erosion/sediment risk reduction policies, where quantified targets are stipulated, as is the case in the EU Freshwater Fish and draft Soil Framework Directives. Also, demonstrating technical effectiveness of erosion control measures alone will not encourage uptake by land managers: quantifying the costs and benefits of adopting erosion mitigation is equally important, but these are uncertain and difficult to express in monetary terms., (Copyright © 2013 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Regarding increasing pressures by global societal and climate change, the assessment of the impact of land use and land management practices on land degradation and the related decrease in sustainable provision of ecosystem services gains increasing interest. Existing approaches to assess agricultural practices focus on the assessment of single crops or statistical data because spatially explicit information on practically applied crop rotations is mostly not available. This provokes considerable uncertainties in crop production models as regional specifics have to be neglected or cannot be considered in an appropriate way. In a case study in Saxony, we developed an approach to (i) derive representative regional crop rotations by combining different data sources and expert knowledge. This includes the integration of innovative crop sequences related to bio-energy production or organic farming and different soil tillage, soil management and soil protection techniques. Furthermore, (ii) we developed a regionalization approach for transferring crop rotations and related soil management strategies on the basis of statistical data and spatially explicit data taken from so called field blocks. These field blocks are the smallest spatial entity for which agricultural practices must be reported to apply for agricultural funding within the frame of the European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development (EAFRD) program. The information was finally integrated into the spatial decision support tool GISCAME to assess and visualize in spatially explicit manner the impact of alternative agricultural land use strategies on soil erosion risk and ecosystem services provision. Objective of this paper is to present the approach how to create spatially explicit information on agricultural management practices for a study area around Dresden, the capital of the German Federal State Saxony., (Copyright © 2013 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Mercury (Hg) is a persistent pollutant highly bioaccumulated in the aquatic environment through the food chain reaching high concentration levels in the tissues of predator fishes. Among the relevant sources of anthropogenic mercury emissions in Latin America and the Caribbean (LAC), mining is one of the most important along with soil erosion due to deforestation and agricultural activities where pesticides are intensively used. Several reports have demonstrated an association between a fish-based diet with elevated Hg levels in the blood and neurotoxic effects in humans. In this systematic review with quantitative analysis data from 92 articles were compiled, providing evidence of Hg concentration in fishes that are commonly consumed in LAC. An assessment was conducted using three indices for health risk: the Minamata Initial Assessment (MIA), the Target Hazard Quotient (THQ), and the Meals per Week (MPW) index. Of the 410 fish species studied, 5.4% had concentrations above 0.95 μg g−1 of wet weight (ww), which is the recommended limit for Total Hg (THg) ingestion through fish consumption according to the MIA index, regardless of the water habitat (i.e., marine or freshwater). Additionally, the Target Hazard Quotient (THQ) calculation indicated high-risk values (THQ ≥ 1) in 15 out of the 19 countries studied, and very high-risk values (THQ ≥ 10) were obtained from Hg concentrations measured in 5 fish species inhabiting watersheds in Trinidad and Tobago, Suriname and Peru. Finally, recommendations on fish consumption were made based on the MPW index. This study reveals the need for updated biomonitoring studies of Hg concentrations in fish to perform more accurate human health risk analyses. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Soil erosion is a hazard in every part of the world. The small-scale farmers often grapple with low agricultural production and food insecurity. This study was conducted to estimate soil loss in response to land use/cover change in 1990, 2000, 2010, and 2020 around Ghibe hydroelectric III dam in Southern Ethiopia. The Revised Universal Soil Loss Equation (RUSLE) model was applied using a geographic information system (GIS). Digital elevation model with 30 m to determine topographic factor and supportive practice (P) factor, rainfall from the National Meteorological Institute to calculate the erosivity (R) factor, a digital soil map of the world for erodibility (K) factor, and Landsat 5TM images of 1990, 2000, 2010, and the Landsat 8 OLI of 2020 to determine trends of land use/cover change and the cover management (C) factor were employed. The raster layers of topography, cover management, rainfall erosivity, soil erodibility, and conservation techniques were processed and multiplied using the GIS platform. The overall accuracy of supervised classification was 89.89. The results showed that the percentage of cropland and built-up areas increased by 11.93 and 32.44%, respectively throughout the three study periods. Conversely, the proportion of forest land, grassland, bare land, and bushland declined by 8.2, 9.3, 10.13, 8.6%, respectively. The average annual soil loss rates increased from 30.95 t ha−1 yr−1 in 1990 to 43.85 t ha−1 yr−1in 2020. This is significantly higher than the maximum threshold rate of erosion for Ethiopian highlands (11 t ha−1 yr−1). The local government officers, non-governmental organizations, and farmers who are trained should strengthen watershed management techniques. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Phosphorus (P) is an important soil element for sustaining plant growth and the integrity of terrestrial ecosystems, and the soil P cycle is strongly influenced by climate change and agricultural activities. However, little is known about how soil P has evolved with climate change and intensive agriculture at mid‐high latitudes, where the soil P cycle is sensitive to climate change. To answer this question, an ecohydrological model (EcoHAT‐P) driven by remote sensing data was used in this study to calculate soil P concentration and loss and was calibrated and validated using 272 soil samples collected in the Sanjiang Plain, a typical mid‐high latitude region with a long history of strong agricultural activity. Soil P concentration and loss, and plant uptake of soil P, were analyzed for the years 2000–2019 and 2020–2040. The results showed that soil total P, soil P loss, and plant P uptake all increased under intensive agriculture. The soil P cycle at mid‐high latitudes was more sensitive to temperature than to precipitation. Increased temperature would increase soil P loss and plant P uptake by 93.94% and 8.16%, respectively, and soil legacy P from intensive agriculture would become the main source even if external P inputs were eliminated. The results highlight the evolution of soil P transport at mid‐high latitudes and clarify the response of soil P cycle to climate change under intensive agriculture. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Urban rivers worldwide have been increasingly threatened by nitrate (NO3−) pollution. The Xianyang-Xi'an segment of the Weihe River, located in the loess plateau with serious soil erosion, has been highly urbanized and with intensive agricultural activities. Tracing the sources and transformations of NO3− is particularly challenging for this watershed which has multiple N sources and variable environmental factors. In this study, integrating antecedent studies with multiple stable isotopes and MixSIAR models, these river basins can be categorized into three classes: (1) urban areas, sewage, and manure were the predominant sources of NO3− in the Weihe River's mainstream, accounting for 73.4 ± 12.8%; (2) suburban areas, sewage and manure (Fenghe River, 58.0 ± 14.0%; Bahe River, 53.9 ± 15.0%) were recognized as the main sources of NO3−; (3) and the rural areas, ammonium nitrogen fertilizers were identified as the primary source of NO3− in the Heihe and Laohe Rivers. In addition, nitrification dominated the mainstream of the Weihe, Fenghe, and Bahe Rivers, while neither denitrification nor nitrification was evident in the Heihe and Laohe Rivers. In conclusion, this study is important for the improvement of surface water quality of rivers with different land use types and the development of targeted water environment management. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Ancient water harvesting systems, such as those from the Indus Valley Civilization (~3500 BCE), have been vital for irrigation and climate resilience, especially in arid regions. One such prominent system in South Asia, called tank irrigation, initially thrived through community management but declined post-independence due to colonial policies and neglect in Sri Lanka and India. This study evaluates current policy frameworks and rehabilitation programs to enhance the resilience of these systems in India, develop strategies for their protection and adaptation to climate change, and integrate global lessons for sustainable development. Methods: A systematic meta-analysis of grey literature was conducted to aggregate data on policy constraints. Policy analysis involved detailed investigations of relevant documents, regulations, and comparative analyses of frameworks at regional and national levels. Pilot projects on tank rehabilitation were assessed through reported case studies and field surveys to gauge impact. Thematic analysis was used to explore the global potential of these systems in climate resilience and overall environmental sustainability. Results: The analysis showed that pilot projects for tank rehabilitation had limited success in achieving sustainability under current climate conditions. Tank irrigation systems are crucial for adapting to extreme weather, including floods, droughts, and heat waves, replenishing groundwater, reducing soil erosion, and ensuring reliable water supplies. Traditional water harvesting technologies support 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), including clean water access, hunger reduction, gender equality, and climate action. Integrating AI and machine learning in water management benefits disaster response, while eco-tourism aids system maintenance and cultural awareness. Discussion: The study underscores the need for policy reforms to enhance tank rehabilitation and institutional arrangements. It calls for increased beneficiary participation and constitutional recognition of current practices. Strategic, national-scale assessments and resilience targets are recommended to improve the effectiveness of such water harvesting systems in mitigating natural hazards and enhancing environmental services. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Mitigating soil erosion's effects have been prioritized since the early 20th century. Rainfall simulators and analytical prediction models are used to determine soil erosion susceptibility. This study used different methodologies to measure soil erodibility in two hydrographic sub-basins, the Renato and Caiabi, in the Middle and Upper Teles Pires River in Mato Grosso state, Brazil. The rainfall simulator showed a higher range of K-factor values for the Renato sub-basin of 0.0009 to 0.0086 Mg × h × (MJ × mm)−1 and a lower range of K-factor values for the Caiabi sub-basin of 0.0014 to 0.0031 Mg × h × (MJ × mm)−1. Soil loss equations similarly estimated a higher range of K-factor values for the Renato of 0.0008 to 0.0990 Mg × h × (MJ × mm)−1 and a lower range of K-factor values for the Caiabi of 0.0014 to 0.0846 Mg × h × (MJ × mm)−1. There was no significant difference at the 5% level for the K factor determined by the rainfall simulator for both sub-basins. Equations specified in Bouyoucos (1935) and Lombardi Neto and Bertoni (1975) showed significant correlation (5%) for farming systems in the Caiabi sub-basin. Indirect methodologies that performed well for correlation were equations 2 and 3 from Roloff and Denardin (1994), which use iron and aluminum as parameters. Soil erosion was most influenced by physical texture parameters of the region's soil. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Microalgae have unique properties that allow them to thrive in unconventional spaces, making them suitable for areas that are not normally suitable for crop growth. This is due to their ability to multiply rapidly, grow easily and adapt to different environments at low cost. As a result, the present study aims to analyze the potential of microalgae as a source of agricultural nutrition, as well as the health benefits they can provide. The following research was conducted on an experimental scale using a closed system (photobioreactor) for the cultivation of microalgae, its physicochemical characterization of the cultures and dry biomass. It can be observed the percentages of 11 N; 1.4 P; 0.3 K and its micronutrients are essential for plant growth, since microalgae-based biofertilizers are considered as a sustainable, cost-effective and environmentally friendly alternative to chemical fertilizers. The use of microalgae biomass as a biofertilizer in agriculture can increase fertility, reduce soil erosion and nutrient loss, and improve soil quality over time. It also benefits plants, vegetables and greens, as it contains nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium, which are necessary for growth. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The gradual accumulation of phosphorus from historical fertilization can contribute to the eutrophication of surface waters by increasing the potential for subsurface leaching losses. Grazing lands areas are a priority for concern, and phytoremediation efforts in grazing lands have prioritized grasses that may be used as forage for cattle. This study investigated the influence of three different forage species—Paspalum notatum, Hemarthria altissima, and Cynodon nlemfuensis—on the loss of phosphorus in leachate from surface soils. The experiment used a nested pot mesocosm design that allowed us to monitor leachate volume and concentration biweekly over the course of 3 months. Pots containing P. notatum plants leached significantly more phosphorus than pots containing C. nlemfuensis or empty pots with no plants growing in them, despite losing an equivalent amount of water. H. altissima lost equivalent amounts of phosphorus in leachate water, but each H. altissima plant removed approximately 33.6 mg of phosphorus, approximately 2.5× that removed by P. notatum (13.4 mg). C. nlemfuensis had lower average leachate phosphorus concentrations at each biweekly sampling than either plant species (C. nlemfuensis‐P. notatum, padj = 0.001; C. nlemfuensis‐H. altissima, padj = 0.02), averaging only 0.110 ppm in leachate relative to 0.175 ppm and 0.200 ppm in pots beneath H. altissima and P. notatum, respectively. This, combined with C. nlemfuensis' slightly higher‐than‐average aboveground P content and overall aboveground biomass expression suggest it is the best possible phytoremediation candidate. As even minor leachate P loads can be critically threatening to neighboring oligotrophic water bodies, if the conservation of downstream environments is the priority, the short‐term threat of increased leachate must be considered. Further research is needed to explore the underlying mechanisms and field‐scale implications of these findings. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Soil is a valuable resource for food production, and it demands a long time to recover itself. Soil erosion is one of the most important issues for countries based on agriculture. This review article analyzed articles published on the topic of general soil erosion in Central Asian countries in 1993-2022. More than 50% of the articles reflect the results of the conducted practical work. The main content of these scientific works is aimed at the prevention of erosion processes, their evaluation and the development of countermeasures. During the considered period, the number of publications on soil erosion has increased in the last years compared to the first years, which indicates that the attention to the topic has increased in recent years. The purpose of this article is to get accurate information about the state of soil erosion in the countries of Central Asia and to get acquainted with the practical works carried out against erosion in these countries. For this aim, the contents of the articles were reviewed and the results of the scientific works conducted on the topic of erosion in each country were presented. According to the content of the articles, the use of modern techniques and technologies in the evaluation and prevention of soil erosion gives effective results.

Contour tillage is an agricultural practice that significantly contributes to enhancing water retention, reducing the risk of flooding, and mitigating soil erosion. Information about the tillage direction is used for modelling water and tillage erosion. In our study, we used Light Detection and Ranging (LiDAR) visualizations, originally developed for archaeological research, to visualise tillage traces and map tillage direction in the Nitra district (SW Slovakia). The tillage traces were visible in all agricultural parcels, on various agricultural fields, under various agricultural crops. The LiDAR visualisations also revealed pre-collectivization field patterns and even prehistorical field patterns in certain areas. Among the 5 961 investigated points, we recorded the application of contour tillage in 30.63% of the cases. The preference for contour tillage varied among farmers, with the highest reported percentage reaching 49.74%. Our analysis did not reveal a significant correlation between the preference for contour tillage and the slope steepness.

Abstract Soil erosion is a hazard in every part of the world. The small-scale farmers often grapple with low agricultural production and food insecurity. This study was conducted to estimate soil loss in response to land use/cover change in 1990, 2000, 2010, and 2020 around Ghibe hydroelectric III dam in Southern Ethiopia. The Revised Universal Soil Loss Equation (RUSLE) model was applied using a geographic information system (GIS). Digital elevation model with 30 m to determine topographic factor and supportive practice (P) factor, rainfall from the National Meteorological Institute to calculate the erosivity (R) factor, a digital soil map of the world for erodibility (K) factor, and Landsat 5TM images of 1990, 2000, 2010, and the Landsat 8 OLI of 2020 to determine trends of land use/cover change and the cover management (C) factor were employed. The raster layers of topography, cover management, rainfall erosivity, soil erodibility, and conservation techniques were processed and multiplied using the GIS platform. The overall accuracy of supervised classification was 89.89. The results showed that the percentage of cropland and built-up areas increased by 11.93 and 32.44%, respectively throughout the three study periods. Conversely, the proportion of forest land, grassland, bare land, and bushland declined by 8.2, 9.3, 10.13, 8.6%, respectively. The average annual soil loss rates increased from 30.95 t ha−1 yr−1 in 1990 to 43.85 t ha−1 yr−1in 2020. This is significantly higher than the maximum threshold rate of erosion for Ethiopian highlands (11 t ha−1 yr−1). The local government officers, non-governmental organizations, and farmers who are trained should strengthen watershed management techniques.

Recent research has revealed the patterns of spatial and temporal variability of crop yields for the Polissia and the Forest-Steppe regions of Ukraine. In addition, the approaches to differentiating agroeconomic and agroecological components in the variability of the productive potential of the territories were developed. Approaches have been developed to quantify the spatial and temporal variability of soil erosion for individual areas of the region. The issue of assessing the impact of erosion processes on crop yields at the regional level remains unresolved. The diversity of landscapes and soil cover in Polissia and the Forest-Steppe of Ukraine was assessed in this article. The research covered 10 administrative regions of the north and northwest of Ukraine, which are located mainly within mixed forests (Polissia) and the eastern European forest steppe (Forest-Steppe). Part of the territory is tangential to the Carpathian mountain forests and the Pontic steppe. Within the study area, 30 WRB soils were identified. The largest area is occupied by Phaeozems Albic (21.7% of the total area of the region). These soils are located mainly in the southern and central parts of the region. In the north of the region, Phaeozems Albic form an almost continuous cover, and to the north, the areas of these soils become island-like. Phaeozems Luvic cover 12.1% of the region's territory. The Phaeozems group also includes Phaeozems Gleyic (0.93%), Phaeozems Haplic (0.13%), and Phaeozems Sodic (1.78%). Albeluvisols Umbric (17.1%) occupy a significant part of the region's territory. These soils occupy the north of the region and extend south along the Dnipro River floodplain. Spatially close to these soils are Albeluvisols Gleyic (12.8%). In the western part of the region, in Prykarpattia, there are Albeluvisols Stagnic (0.82%). The organic carbon content in the soils of the administrative districts of the region in the 0-5 cm layer was 5.2±3.3% and ranged 0.5% to 23.9%. In the layers of 5–15 and 15–30 cm, this figure decreased to 1.9 ± 1.1% and 1.9 ± 1.0%, respectively. In the 30–60 cm layer, the organic carbon content was 1.4 ± 0.8% and ranged 0.1% to 6.1%. The lowest organic carbon content was observed in the north central part of the region, and the highest content was observed in the north-east and north-west of the region. In the south of the region, there was found a strip of soils with moderate organic carbon content. The lowest content of organic carbon is characteristic of Albeluvisols and Podzols, which are located in the north of the region. In turn, the highest content of organic carbon is characteristic of organogenic Histosols, which, together with Albeluvisols and Podzols, form the basis of the soil cover structure of the territories in the northeast and northwest of the region. It should be noted that the agronomic role of these soils is insignificant, and their organic carbon content cannot be considered as a traditional indicator of fertility. Nevertheless, organic carbon is a reliable indicator of the anti-erosion properties of both natural and agricultural soils. The organic carbon content of Chernozems is quite high, which is a factor in the high fertility of these soils and their importance in agricultural production. The organic carbon content of Fluvisols and Gleysols is naturally high. The importance of these hydromorphic soils is due to their high productive potential, which ensures their use in agriculture. It is also worth noting their high seed protection potential. Phaeozems cover a large area of the region and contain a high level of organic carbon. These soils form the basis of agricultural production and forestry in the region. The silt content in the region's soils measured 45.6 ± 8.5%, ranging 19.1% to 57.6%. The north of the region is represented by soils with the lowest silt content (19–41%). In the center, in the west of the region, there is a zone with the highest silt content (53–58%). In other parts of the region, there are transitional levels of silt content in the soil. The clay content in the soils was 30.7 ± 13.8% and ranged 7.4% to 36.0%. The zone with the lowest clay content in soils has been formed in the north. The highest clay content in soils is typical for the southern part in the center of the region. The sand content in soils is highest in the northern part of the region, and the lowest in the southwestern and southern parts of the region.

Water erosion poses a significant threat to more than 50% of agricultural land in the Czech Republic. Maize (Zea mays L.) is particularly susceptible to soil erosion, with the bare soil space between maize rows exposed to erosive agents. Intercropping has emerged as a potential solution to mitigate soil erosion risks in maize cultivation. A series of soil erosion field experiments were conducted from 2022 to 2023 using natural rainfall to investigate the influence of selected intercrop mixtures during the growing season on sediment yields and surface runoff volume. The results revealed a gradual decrease in surface runoff volume and sediment yields over the growing season. Significantly reduced surface runoff volume and soil loss were observed in two tested intercropped plots S2 - rye (Secale cereale) and incarnate clover (Trifolium incarnatum); S3 - ryegrass only (Lolium)), compared to a control plot managed conventionally with maize (S1). Surface runoff volume and soil loss from S2 and S3 reached 2.57-43.5% and 1.26-11.65% of the control plot, respectively. These findings highlight the soil conservation effect of intercrop technologies (S2 and S3) in mitigating soil erosion in maize cultivation. The importance of vegetation cover in reducing soil erosion intensified over time. Intercropping holds promise as a sustainable agricultural management strategy for sloping maize fields.

[Objective] The objective is to explore the spatial and temporal changes of soil erosion and its main controlling factors in the Longchuan River Basin, as well as to understand mastering the local soil and water, which is conducive to building an ecological barrier in the upper reaches of the Yangtze River. [Methods] The temporal and spatial variation characteristics of soil erosion in the Longchuan River Basin during 2000 to 2020 were studied using the revised universal soil loss equation (RUSLE) combined with GIS and RS technology. Additionally, the optimal parameters-based geographical detector (OPGD) model was used to quantify the influence and interaction of driving factors on the temporal and spatial dynamic changes of soil erosion in the Longchuan River Basin. [Results] (1) Soil erosion in the Longchuan River Basin was mainly slight and moderate erosion. In 2000, the proportion of slight and moderate erosion was 49.17%. In 2010, the total proportion was 50.29%; In 2020, the total proportion is 59.29%. There was little change in soil erosion from 2000 to 2010, but from 2010 to 2020, a total of 9.01% of areas experiencing soil erosion transitioned from moderate to slight or mild levels. (2) The results of the OPGD showed that the land use type had the strongest explanatory power for the temporal and spatial dynamic changes of soil erosion in the study area, with a q value was 0.18. The interaction between land use type and slope had the strongest explanatory power for soil erosion in Longchuan River Basin, with a q value reached 0.45. [Conclusion] Soil erosion in the Longchuan River Basin is mainly slight and mild, with an overall improving trend, but there are still areas with strong soil erosion. Land use type has the strongest impact on soil erosion in the basin, with woodlands and meadows being the most important types covering 67.02% of the total area in the study area. In the future, we should focus on regional changes in vegetation coverage, continue to promote ecological protection policies, and be alert to the risk of soil erosion in complex terrain areas.

[Objective] The impact of soil erosion on nutrient content and stoichiometric ratios in soil is crucial for further comprehending and effective control of quality degradation in the sloping farmlands of black soil regions. [Methods] Selecting straight slopes cultivated for over a century and a convex slope cultivated for more than five decades in the typical black soil area of Keshan County as the research objects, utilizing 137Cs tracing method to estimate soil erosion rates on the slopes. Quantitative analysis was conducted on the relationship between soil erosion and key parameters such as soil organic carbon (SOC), total nitrogen (TN), and total phosphorus (TP) contents, along with the stoichiometric ratio in the ecological chemistry. [Results] (1) Using 137Cs tracing technique, the average annual erosion rate of the whole slope was 4 428.56 t/(km2·a), the average erosion rates of the linear and convex slopes were 3 284.53, 5 884.59 t/(km2·a), and the total erosion volumes were calculated at 3.21×105, 2.94×105 t/km2, respectively. (2) The overall carbon/nitrogen ratio (C/N) on the slopes showed a highly significant positive correlation with SOC (p0.05). [Conclusion] Ultimately, soil erosion redistributed SOC, TN and TP on the slopes, affecting the stoichiometric ratios of soil nutrients and leading to substantial nutrient loss on the slopes.

[Objective] To delve deeper into the spatiotemporal characteristics and pivotal driving factors underlying the hardness of black soil in eroded sloping farmlands. [Methods] Based on the dynamic monitoring of soil penetration resistance across 110 sample points in typical water erosion sloping farmlands, coupled with measurements of pertinent factors, the factors affecting soil penetration resistance were analyzed by multivariate linear regression (MLR) and random forest (RFR) models, and its transfer function was further construct. [Results] The spatiotemporal variability of soil penetration resistance was influenced by a combination of soil depth, moisture conditions, and agricultural practices. Notably, the spatial heterogeneity was significantly lower in the topsoil layer compared to the sub-surface layer, with coefficients of variation of 17.4% and 26.3%, respectively. As the soil dried out and the duration since the last tillage increases, spatial heterogeneity tended to intensify. Soil erosion played a significant role, with higher soil penetration resistance observed in areas of intense erosion compared to deposition zones, particularly under wet conditions where the difference is most pronounced (p

[Objective] In order to clarify the law of sediment yield and sediment loss of different land use types under different rainfall types, and to evaluate the benefit of sediment reduction of different land use types under different rainfall types. [Methods] Based on the monitoring data of runoff and soil loss under natural rainfall conditions over 2015—2016 in 31 runoff plots located in the Loess Plateau of China the characteristics of sediment yield and loss in different land use types, including farmlands, abandoned lands, artificial grasslands, natural grasslands, shrublands and artificial forest lands were discussed. The efficiency of runoff and sediment reduction for each land use type under different rainfall types was determined. [Results] The runoff and soil loss of abandoned lands were the largest (30 mm, 86 t/hm2) and artificial forest lands were the smallest (8 mm, 24 t/hm2) under the annual rainfall scale, and there was no significant difference between other land use types. Through the application of duster analysis a total of 120 rainfall events were categorized into three distinct rainfall types based on criteria that included amount, duration, and maximum intensity of rainfall in a 30-minute period. That is, Rainfall Type I: characterised by moderate rainfall duration (749 min), moderate rainfall volume (35.4 mm), and moderate rainfall intensity (16.9 mm/h); Rainfall Type II: comprising short-duration rainfall (222 min), moderate rainfall volume (25.2 mm), and intense rainfall intensity (23.8 mm/h); Rainfall Type III: involving a long duration of rainfall (1 451 min), substantial rainfall volume (40.6 mm), but low intensity of rainfall (11.5 mm/h). When considering the impact of these types of rainfall within the given scale, the study observed the following trends, for the runoff coefficient, exhibiting Rainfall Type II > Rainfall Type III > Rainfall Type I, while for soil loss, exhibiting Rainfall Type II > Rainfall Type I > Rainfall Type III. The runoff coefficient of Rainfall Type I was significantly higher than that of other land use types, reaching 17.7%, which was 2.36 times that of artificial forest land. There were no significant difference in runoff coefficient under Rainfall Type II, and the average runoff coefficient was 19.9%. The runoff coefficient of abandoned lands, artificial grasslands, natural grasslands, and farmlands (average of 14.3%) was significantly higher than that of shrublands and artificial forest lands (averaging at 9.0%). The soil loss of famlands, artificial grasslands, shmblands and artificial forest lands under Rainfall Type II (3.94, 0.87, 1.06, 1.08 t/hm2) > Rainfall Type I (1.60, 0.60, 0.59, 0.63 t/hm2) > Rainfall Type III (0.09, 0.20, 0.06, 0.04 t/hm2). [Conclusion] In the Loess Plateau, the artificial forest land was the first choice to control soil and water loss effectively under the condition of medium-low rainfall intensity and medium-long duration rainfall, and the soil and water conservation effect of shrubland and grassland was better under short-duration heavy rainfall.

[Objective] The effects of exposed rocks on the runoff, sediment yield, and hydrodynamic characteristics of slope land needs further study. [Methods] Through the laboratory simulation test, the slope lands with different rock exposure rates (0, 10%, 30%, 50%, 70%) were set, and the artificial simulation rainfall test under different rainfall intensities (30, 60, 90 mm/h) was carried out, in order to explore the impact of rainfall intensity and exposed rocks on runoff, sediment yield and hydrodynamic characteristics of slope land. [Results] The surface runoff and sediment yield of slope land increased with the increased of rainfall intensity, and decreased with the increase of rock exposure rate. Under varying rainfall intensities, the runoff and sediment yield of slopes with 0 and 10% rock exposure rates slope land were not significantly difference in most cases (p>0.05), but the slope with a 0 rock exposure rate was significantly difference from other slopes with rock exposure (p

In order to achieve sustainable land management, there is a need to comprehensively investigate the factors affecting soil erosion. If there are critical areas in terms of SE in a watershed, by accurately identifying them, it will be possible and reasonable to control and fight against erosion. This research, used Multi-Criteria Decision Making models include AHP, ANP, and BWM in the GIS environment to determine the erosion prone areas. First, the effective factors on erosion were determined based on the opinions and case studies conducted in the area. In the following, the desired data were obtained from relevant organizations, field observations, and previous datasets. In the next step, questionnaires on the impact of criteria on erosion were sent to experts, and after completing the questionnaires, the relative importance of criteria was obtained in Expert Choses and Supper Decision software's. Next, maps were prepared and combined. Finally, the erosion-susceptibility map of the region was obtained. The results showed that the geological formation factor had the significant effect on the erodibility with a relative importance of 0.23. In the following, the area was classified into five classes in terms of sensitivity to erosion, and the areas with high sensitivity have the largest area. The results of the MADM models used in this research were evaluated using the MPASIC experimental method, which all were suitable, so they are capable of determining erosion-prone areas.

[Objective] This study was aimed to explore the impacts of rainfall characteristics and vegetation cover patterns on slope hillslope runoff and sediment yields in the Three Gorges Reservoir area, and to adapt to the new needs of the prominent contradiction between man and land and the development of rural industries for the optimal utilization of underforest land resources. [Methods] Taking a typical fallow forest in the Three Gorges Reservoir area as the research object, four runoff plots with full-slope herbaceous cover (QF), upper-slope bare ground + lower-slope herbaceous cover (XF), equidistant herbaceous strip cover (TF), and full-slope herbless coverage (WF), were set up to carry out field observation of slope runoff and sand production in 24 erosive rainfall events and to identify the effects of erosive rainfall and vegetation cover patterns on hillslope runoff and sediment yields. [Results] (1) The 24 erosive rainfall events were classified into three categories, including A-type (small rainfall, heavy rainfall intensity, and short duration), B-type (large rainfall, heavy rainfall intensity, and short duration), and C-type (small rainfall, light rainfall intensity, and long duration). A-type was the rain type with the highest occurrence frequency at 45.83%. The cumulative rainfall of B-type was the largest, accounting for 63.44% of the total rainfall. (2) The cumulative runoff depth and cumulative erosion volume of the four vegetation cover patterns generally showed QF < XF < TF < WF; The peak value of runoff depth and erosion volume all occurred in B-type rainfall, which led to an increase in runoff depth of 337.74%~410.32% and an increase in erosion volume of 283.47%~504.58% compared to A-type rainfall. (3) The proportion of runoff depth and erosion amount produced by the WF was 75.75% and 98.51%, while XF and TF accounted for only 12.20% and 1.08%, 7.28% and 0.34%, respectively. Compared with WF, the runoff interception and reduction of XF and TF were 84.18% and 75.85%, and the sediment interception and reduction were 96.99% and 93.30%, respectively. [Conclusion] By comparing the runoff and sediment yields of runoff plots under different vegetation cover patterns, it was found that the modes of upper-slope tillage + lower-slope l herbaceous coverage, strip tillage + contour hedgerow can take into account the functions of water regulation and soil conservation of forest land and ecological planting of understory, which can provide a theoretical basis for ecological restoration and the optimal utilization of understory land resources in the Three Gorges Reservoir area.