Environ. Earth Sci. Proc. 2025, 35(1), 75; https://doi.org/10.3390/eesp2025035075 - 21 Oct 2025
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Soil erosion is a major threat to land productivity and environmental sustainability in Mediterranean regions, where sloping terrain, intense seasonal rainfall, and traditional agricultural practices accelerate soil loss. Olive orchards, which dominate much of the Mediterranean landscape, are particularly vulnerable. As climate change
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Soil erosion is a major threat to land productivity and environmental sustainability in Mediterranean regions, where sloping terrain, intense seasonal rainfall, and traditional agricultural practices accelerate soil loss. Olive orchards, which dominate much of the Mediterranean landscape, are particularly vulnerable. As climate change increases the frequency of extreme weather events, understanding and controlling erosion becomes even more critical. This study investigates soil erosion dynamics in a representative olive-growing watershed in Messenia, Greece, by combining field monitoring with erosion modeling using the Revised Universal Soil Loss Equation (RUSLE). A field experiment was carried out during the 2024–2025 wet season, using runoff plots installed on a 16% slope to directly measure sediment loss from natural rainfall events. The observed erosion data served as a basis for calibrating a GIS-based RUSLE model applied across the 60 km2 watershed. Model predictions showed strong agreement with field measurements, with estimated soil loss closely matching the observed seasonal total (~0.6 t/ha). This consistency demonstrates the reliability of the RUSLE model when supported by localized data. The spatial analysis further revealed that erosion risk varies widely across the landscape, with steep, poorly vegetated areas being most at risk. The results highlight the importance of local field measurements for improving model accuracy and guiding sustainable land management. Continuous monitoring and targeted erosion control strategies are essential to protect soil resources, maintain agricultural productivity, and reduce downstream environmental impacts under increasing climate pressures.
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