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Agronomy
Special Issues
Surface Runoff and Soil Erosion under Various Climate Conditions
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Surface Runoff and Soil Erosion under Various Climate Conditions

A special issue of Agronomy (ISSN 2073-4395). This special issue belongs to the section "Soil and Plant Nutrition".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (30 April 2020) | Viewed by 21617

Special Issue Editor

Prof. Dr. Meni Ben-Hur

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Institute of Soil, Water, and Environmental Sciences, ARO, Volcani Center, Rishon Lezion 7505101, Israel
Interests: soil and water conservation; soil structure and aggregates stability; irrigation with various water qualities; surface runoff and soil erosion; soils salinity; sodicity and contamination
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Surface runoff and soil erosion are in general natural phenomena associated with hydrolgical, climatological, and ecological processes. Such runoff and erosion could have posetive effects on the environmen by supplying water, nutrients, and sdiments to the streams and habitats. However, on the other hands, the runoff and soil erosion could cause widespread land and water deterioration, water and soils losses, soil degradation, pollutants transport, and environmental hazards. They are affected by various factors such as, landscape, land uses, soil properties, claimed conditions, perturbations of ecosystems like, forest fires, beetles' attacks, over grazing, and deforestation and afforestation.

The global population growth and the increase of the standard living in the last decades intensify the demands for food leading to expansion of the agriculture lands and the use of intensive crop production.  This push to intensive soil tillage, irrigation with poor water qualities (saline water, treated sewage water and flooding water), and use of heavy machinery. All which could decline the soil organic matter content and the soil microorganisms' activities, rise the soil sodicity and compaction, and soil structure breakdown. Factors that decease the hydraulic conductivity and infiltration rates of the soil and increase the surface runoff and soil erosion. In this case, agricultural fields could be a big source of runoff and soil erosion.

Since in many cases, the agriculture lands and the ecosystems are adjacently, and under surface runoff and soil erosion conditions, they can affect each one to another, and because the surface runoff and soil erosion formation is strongly affected by climate conditions, this Special Issue will focus mainly on, (i) mechanisms, processes and modelling of surface runoff and soil erosion formation in agriculture fields and ecological systems; (ii) effects of surface runoff and soil erosion on crop production, soils properties, soil structure and degradation, water bodies, ecosystems, and the environment; (iii) preventing the negative effects of the surface runoff and soil erosion.

We welcome novel research, reviews and opinion papers covering all related topics from regions with different climates conditions.    

Prof. Dr. Meni Ben-Hur
Guest Editor

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Agronomy is an international peer-reviewed open access monthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2600 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • Soil structure
  • Soil degradation
  • Flooding
  • Soil erodability
  • Water and soil losses
  • Climate conditions
  • Soil crusting

Published Papers (5 papers)

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Research

15 pages, 4599 KiB  
Article
Effect of Co-Use of Fly Ash and Granular Polyacrylamide on Infiltration, Runoff, and Sediment Yield from Sandy Soil under Simulated Rainfall
by Kai Yang, Zejun Tang and Jianzhang Feng
Agronomy 2020, 10(3), 344; https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy10030344 - 03 Mar 2020
Cited by 4 | Viewed by 1924
Abstract
Coal fly ash (FA) and polyacrylamide (PAM) are two common amendments for improving hydraulic properties of sandy soil. However, their interaction effect on infiltration-runoff processes in sandy soil has been scarcely reported. In this study, FA and anionic PAM granules were mixed thoroughly [...] Read more.
Coal fly ash (FA) and polyacrylamide (PAM) are two common amendments for improving hydraulic properties of sandy soil. However, their interaction effect on infiltration-runoff processes in sandy soil has been scarcely reported. In this study, FA and anionic PAM granules were mixed thoroughly with a 0–0.2 m sandy soil layer at FA rates of 0%, 10%, and 15% (w/w soil), and PAM rates of 0%, 0.01%, and 0.02% (w/w soil) along with each FA rate. A simulated rainfall laboratory experiment (slope gradient of 10°, rainfall intensity of 1.5 mm/min) was conducted. During the rainfall, the cumulative runoff yield increased while the average infiltration rate decreased with increasing FA and PAM rates. A higher FA rate of 15% and varying PAM rates resulted in a prominent increase in cumulative sediment yield. After the rainfall, the two-dimensional distribution of water content retained in the soil profile reflected that both FA and PAM increased the water retention capacity of sandy soil, and the effect became more obvious at higher FA and PAM rates. The possible mechanism for the effect of FA and PAM on inhibiting water infiltration during the rainfall and retaining water in the soil layer after the rainfall is attributed to the filling of pores of the coarse soil particles by fine-sized FA particles and flocculation function and binding action of PAM. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Surface Runoff and Soil Erosion under Various Climate Conditions)
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11 pages, 1768 KiB  
Article
Agriculture Management Impacts on Soil Properties and Hydrological Response in Istria (Croatia)
by Bogunovic Igor, Telak Leon Josip and Pereira Paulo
Agronomy 2020, 10(2), 282; https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy10020282 - 16 Feb 2020
Cited by 18 | Viewed by 3747
Abstract
The objective of this work is to study the effects of traditional land uses (vineyard, cropland, and olive orchard) on soil properties, overland flow, and sediment loss in the Istria region (Croatia), by using simulated rainfall. The results showed that soil bulk density [...] Read more.
The objective of this work is to study the effects of traditional land uses (vineyard, cropland, and olive orchard) on soil properties, overland flow, and sediment loss in the Istria region (Croatia), by using simulated rainfall. The results showed that soil bulk density (BD) was significantly higher in cropland plots compared to the vineyard and olive orchard. No differences were observed in soil water content (SWC) and mean weight diameter (MWD). Water stable aggregates (WSA), soil organic matter (SOM), and total nitrogen (TN) were significantly higher in the olive orchard compared to the other land uses. In cropland, during the experiment, we did not identify runoff or soil losses. Runoff (Run) and sediment loss (SL) were significantly higher in the olive orchard compared to the other plots. This was very likely a consequence of tillage practices in vertic soils, the use of herbicides, low vegetation cover, as well as the incorporation of hydrophobic organic matter in the soil matrix. The principal component analysis results showed that factor 1 explained the majority of the runoff and erosion variables. Erosion rates and nutrient losses were substantially different between olive orchard plots, and vineyard and cropland. Factor 2 showed that WSA was inversely related to the available phosphorus, water holding capacity, and sediment concentration. Management practices in the studied area should use minimum tilling frequency to have plant cover and avoid erosion. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Surface Runoff and Soil Erosion under Various Climate Conditions)
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10 pages, 3143 KiB  
Article
Soil Erosion by Wind and Dust Emission in Semi-Arid Soils Due to Agricultural Activities
by Itzhak Katra
Agronomy 2020, 10(1), 89; https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy10010089 - 09 Jan 2020
Cited by 40 | Viewed by 7524
Abstract
Many soils throughout the world are currently associated with soil erosion by wind and dust emissions. Dust emission processes have major implications for loss of soil resources (such as clays and nutrients) and human exposure to air pollution. This work provides a review [...] Read more.
Many soils throughout the world are currently associated with soil erosion by wind and dust emissions. Dust emission processes have major implications for loss of soil resources (such as clays and nutrients) and human exposure to air pollution. This work provides a review on field experiments of dust emission based on previous studies, with new insight into the role of soil aggregation. The work focuses on dust processes in semi-arid soils that are subjected to increased agricultural land use. A boundary-layer wind tunnel has been used to study dust emission and soil loss by simulation and quantification of high-resolution wind processes. Field experiments were conducted in soil plots representing long-term and short-term influences of land uses such as agriculture, grazing, and natural preserves. The results show the impacts of soil disturbances by human activities on the soil aggregation and dust fluxes and provide quantitative estimates of soil loss over time. Substantial loss of PM10 (particulate matter [PM] that is less than 10 micrometers in diameter) was recorded in most experimental conditions. The measured PM10 fluxes highlight the significant implications for soil nutrient resources in annual balance and management strategies, as well as for PM loading to the atmosphere and the risk of air pollution. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Surface Runoff and Soil Erosion under Various Climate Conditions)
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13 pages, 5616 KiB  
Article
Freeze-Thaw Induced Gully Erosion: A Long-Term High-Resolution Analysis
by Ingrid Luffman and Arpita Nandi
Agronomy 2019, 9(9), 549; https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy9090549 - 13 Sep 2019
Cited by 7 | Viewed by 2252
Abstract
Gullies are significant contributors of sediment to streams in the southeastern USA. This study investigated gully erosion in the clay-rich soils of east Tennessee under a humid subtropical climate. The aims of this study were to (1) estimate long-term erosion rates for different [...] Read more.
Gullies are significant contributors of sediment to streams in the southeastern USA. This study investigated gully erosion in the clay-rich soils of east Tennessee under a humid subtropical climate. The aims of this study were to (1) estimate long-term erosion rates for different gully geomorphic settings, (2) compare patterns of erosion for the different settings, and (3) model the response of gully erosion to freeze-thaw events. Erosion was measured weekly from June 2012 to August 2018 using 105 erosion pins distributed in gully channels, interfluves, and sidewalls. Erosion rates were estimated from average slopes of lines of best fit of pin lengths versus time. Maximum and minimum temperature was calculated daily using an on-site weather station and freeze-thaw events were identified. Gully erosion was modeled using antecedent freeze-thaw activity for the three geomorphic settings. Long-term erosion rates in channels, interfluves, and sidewalls were 2.5 mm/year, 20 mm/year, and 21 mm/year, respectively; however, week-by-week erosion was statistically different between the three settings, indicating different erosive drivers. Models of erosion with lagged freeze-thaw variables explained up to 34.8% of the variability in erosion variables; sidewall erosion was most highly related to freeze-thaw activity. Freeze-thaw in prior weeks was an important variable in all erosion models. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Surface Runoff and Soil Erosion under Various Climate Conditions)
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10 pages, 1735 KiB  
Article
The Effect of Shallow Tillage on Soil Erosion in a Semi-Arid Vineyard
by Agata Novara, Giovanni Stallone, Artemio Cerdà and Luciano Gristina
Agronomy 2019, 9(5), 257; https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy9050257 - 22 May 2019
Cited by 50 | Viewed by 5386
Abstract
Soil erosion has been considered a threat for semi-arid lands due to the removal of solid materials by water and wind. Although water erosion is currently considered the most important process of soil degradation, a growing interest has been drawn to the impact [...] Read more.
Soil erosion has been considered a threat for semi-arid lands due to the removal of solid materials by water and wind. Although water erosion is currently considered the most important process of soil degradation, a growing interest has been drawn to the impact of soil tillage. Although numerous studies on tillage erosion have been carried out on arable land using a moldboard plow, a chisel, and a tandem disc for different crops, there are no studies on the effect of shallow tillage on soil redistribution in vineyards. The aim of this work was to evaluate the soil tillage erosion rate in a vineyard using a 13C natural abundance tracer. A strip of soil (C3-C soil) was removed, mixed with C4-C tracer, and replaced. After the installation of the strip, tillage (upslope in one inter-row and downslope in the other inter-row) was performed with a cultivator and soil was collected along the slope with an interval of 0.2 m from the C4-C strip. Soil organic carbon and δ13C were measured and the total mass of translocated soil (T) soil was calculated. The net effect of tillage after two consecutive operations (downslope and upslope tillage) was a T of 49.3 ± 4.2 kg m−1. The estimated annual erosion rate due to tillage in the studied vineyard was 9.5 ± 1.2 Mg ha−1year−1. The contribution of the soil tillage erosion rate was compared with that of water erosion in the same vineyard, and we conclude that tillage is a threat to soil degradation. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Surface Runoff and Soil Erosion under Various Climate Conditions)
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