Search Results (91)

Accurate spatial identification of check dams is a key prerequisite for evaluating soil and water conservation benefits and optimizing dam system planning on the Loess Plateau. Current deep learning models face severe misclassification and omission issues under complex terrain due to the scarcity of check dam samples and the lack of prior geographic knowledge. This study proposes a recognition method based on Faster R-CNN, constrained by suitable areas and microtopography. The Xiliugou watershed in Inner Mongolia was selected as the study area. Based on Google Earth imagery and field survey data, a check dam sample dataset was constructed, integrating the morphological features of “linear dam body with a trapezoidal slope.” Using the construction suitable area constraints defined by the Technical Specifications for Check Dams and microtopography standard deviation (δ) derived from DEM as dual spatial filtering mechanisms, these were deeply embedded into the Faster R-CNN model to limit the search space and enhance geographic plausibility. Experimental results show that the constrained Faster R-CNN model achieved a precision and recall of 92.86% and 96.89%, compared with the accuracy rate of only deep learning model recognition (60.61%), which significantly increased by 32.25%, indicating that geographical constraints have an enhancing effect. Using this method, a total of 191 embankment dams were identified in the Xiliugou Basin. New 30 unrecorded embankment dams (21 small dams and 9 micro-dams) were discovered. The model’s good generalization ability was verified in the Han Tiechuan geographical isolation area, which contained 153 embankment dam samples, with an accuracy rate of 72.94%. Spatial analysis further revealed the “successive interception along tributaries” distribution pattern and strong spatial aggregation characteristics (box dimension D ≈ 0.36) of check dams in the Xiliugou watershed. This study confirms the critical role of suitable area and microtopography constraints in improving the accuracy and reliability of deep learning models and provides a transferable technical paradigm for automated, high-precision surveys of regional soil and water conservation projects. Full article

Clogging is the main mechanism that deteriorates the hydraulic functionality of permeable pavements, particularly in porous asphalt mixtures (PAM). This study evaluated the hydraulic impact of sediments from three peri-urban micro-watersheds in the Boyacá region of Colombia on the infiltration capacity of PAM. Road infrastructure and drainage conditions were analysed using orthophotos and field inspections to identify geomorphological factors that favour sediment transport toward the roadway. Annual erosion rates were estimated using the Universal Soil Loss Equation (USLE), and sediments were characterized both within the watersheds and at their outlet onto the road. Hydraulic performance was assessed through laboratory tests using a Falling Head Permeameter, complemented by field infiltration measurements with a Modified Cantabrian Infiltrometer (0.25 m²). Results showed erosion rates of up to 7.9 t/ha·year and infiltration losses above 90% under clogged conditions. A partial hydraulic recovery of around 40% was observed after maintenance, particularly when sediments exhibited a higher sand fraction. These findings demonstrate that combining USLE-based erosion modelling with controlled hydraulic testing provides a robust framework for evaluating clogging risks in peri-urban roads and offers new evidence on the hydraulic behaviour of PAM exposed to non-urban sediments in the design and maintenance of sustainable pavements. Full article

Sustainable water management in high Andean ecosystems involves identifying and protecting recharge areas, integrating both biophysical and social knowledge. The purpose of this study was to conduct a participatory analysis of the recharge zone in the Totorani micro-basin, with a total area of 61.39 km², located in Puno District, Peru, which supplies water to more than 21,000 people. A hierarchical multicriteria analysis in a GIS environment was used, considering five variables (vegetation cover, slope, soil type, geology, and land use), complemented by participatory workshops. The results indicate that moderate recharge predominates in 56.01% of the area, followed by high (39.91%) and very high (3.81%) recharge, associated with the high-altitude Andean wetlands and alluvial plains. Areas of low recharge comprised 0.28% and were found on slopes >30%, with thin soils and low infiltration. The participatory validation process confirmed the alignment between the maps and local knowledge, emphasizing the wetlands and springs as essential areas for water regulation. The stakeholder analysis identified three key groups as direct users: farmers and livestock breeders, public or educational institutions, and social organizations. The stakeholders highlighted threats, such as agricultural expansion, overgrazing, and climate variability, while also emphasizing the importance of traditional conservation practices. Water recharge in Totorani is both a biophysical and social process, requiring the integration of technical methodologies with community participation for effective management. These findings represent a strategic contribution to water governance and offer a replicable model for other high Andean micro-basins. Full article

Research on microplastics (MPs) in agricultural soils has received increasing attention due to their potential ecological risks and adverse effects on the food chain. Recently, geostatistical approaches have been increasingly used to assess the spatial distribution of MPs in soils. Therefore, this study aims to predict the abundance of MPs in the soil of an agricultural micro-watershed using geostatistical methods and to produce a continuous map of the interpolated MPs. Soil samples were collected, and MP abundance was determined using the density separation method. Subsequently, exploratory data analysis was conducted, followed by the construction of the experimental semivariogram, theoretical variogram model fitting, ordinary kriging interpolation, cross-validation and, inverse distance weighting (IDW) interpolation. MPs were detected in all samples, with average abundances of 3826, 2553, and 3407 pieces kg⁻¹ in forest, pasture, and agricultural land use systems, respectively. The experimental semivariogram showed that the spatial distribution of MPs has a weak spatial dependence structure. The Kriging and IDW maps showed a distribution of MPs in the range of 600 to 7400 pieces kg⁻¹, with higher concentrations of MPs for forest and agricultural areas. Additionally, the map reveals a high abundance of MPs, with greater concentrations in depressions and areas near roads and urban centers, allowing for identifying critical points within the micro-watershed. This study offers important insights into the presence of MPs across various land uses, emphasizing the need for proactive measures to prevent and mitigate their accumulation in soil. Full article

While the root architecture of potted crop seedlings directly determines subsequent crop productivity and adaptability, these root systems remain challenging to quantify using conventional methods due to their structural complexity. To investigate the microscopic characteristics of the root systems of pepper seedlings within pots, Micro-CT was employed to scan the seedling pots. After three-dimensional (3D) reconstruction was conducted on the data acquired from the pot scans, the 3D model of the root system was segmented and extracted using the watershed algorithm. Vertically, the three-dimensional root model was divided from top to bottom into four equally spaced regions (a, b, c, and d), showing the volumetric distribution characteristics of pepper seedling roots within the pots. The results showed that region a had the largest average root volume proportion (29.72%), primarily due to the substantial volume contribution of the taproot. Region d followed with an average proportion of 27.26%, resulting from root coiling and entanglement at the pot bottom caused by the spatial constraints of the seedling tray. The middle regions of the pot, b and c, showed average root volume proportions of 23.14% and 19.89%, respectively. To further investigate the influence of root system characteristics on root injury during seedling gripping, the seedlings were categorized into three types based on their taproot growth positions. A gripping experiment was conducted on these three seedling types using spatula-equipped needles. The results showed that the greatest root injury (12.67%) was observed in Type 1 seedlings, which had taproots located closest to the needle insertion point. In contrast, the least injury (4.09%) was found in Type 3 seedlings, characterized by centrally positioned taproots. Type 2 seedlings, with their taproots growing on the side (laterally away from the insertion point), sustained intermediate injury (5.45%). This was because their lateral positioning led to an uneven distribution of mechanical stress during gripping compared with Type 3 seedlings. A validation experiment conducted on an automated seedling retrieval platform confirmed the root injury analysis. The experimental results showed maximum root injury in Type 1 seedlings (14.16%), followed by Type 2 (6.03%) and Type 3 (4.82%) seedlings, with a successful retrieval rate of 95.29%. These findings were consistent with the Micro-CT analysis. This study could provide a theoretical foundation for low-injury seedling gripping in fully automated seedling transplanters. Full article

The widespread and excessive use of plastic in our daily life has led to serious microplastic pollution in the atmosphere, water, and soil. These microplastics can enter freshwater systems and pose significant risks to the ecosystem and human health via the food chain. This environmental problem deserves proper investigation and mitigation strategies. In this study, the abundance, morphology, color, size and polymer composition of microplastics in surface water of Feiyun River Basin were systematically studied by means of field sampling, microscopy and laser micro-Raman spectroscopy. The result showed that microplastic abundance ranged from 3.7 to 36.4 items/L, with an average of 11.0 ± 2.39 items/L. These microplastics were mainly particles, followed by fragments and fibers, with white, black, and blue being the most common colors. Most of the particles were smaller than 0.1 mm (57%), and a laser micro-Raman spectrometer was used to identify the polymer types of the microplastics. The results showed that the main polymer types identified were PET, PP, and PS. Risk assessment based on PLI, PHI, and PERI indices indicated a low ecological risk of microplastics in the study area. These findings provide further insight into the sources and distribution of microplastics in local watersheds and support future assessments of riverine transport of microplastics to estuarine and marine environments. Full article

Rainfall deficits and erratic dry spells pose major challenges in rainfed ecosystem. In-situ moisture conservation practices (MCP) like ridge–furrow methods, improve soil moisture but are inadequate during 2–3 week dry spells at critical crop stages (flowering and maturity), leading to yield loss. Supplemental irrigation (SI) using an ex-situ rainwater harvesting (RWH) pond can mitigate these effects, but optimizing the pond design is challenging due to limited runoff and storage losses. This study aims to design RWH pond for small farm holders with a 1.0 ha area and evaluate its efficient use for SI during intermittent dry spells and critical crop stages. The design volume was estimated using the SCS-CN method based on daily rainfall data (1974–2010) for the northeast monsoon. A pond with a capacity of 487.5 m³, constructed for a 1 ha micro-watershed, was used to observe the runoff for design validation. The harvested runoff can be used as SI for a cultivable area of 0.4 ha, based on the watershed-to-cultivable area ratio. Statistical analysis of observed and estimated runoff data from 2011 to 2023 revealed a strong correlation (r = 0.87), confirming the pond design. Harvested rainwater, applied through micro-irrigation (rain gun) at a depth of 50 mm during moisture stress periods, significantly improved cotton productivity. The combined use of harvested rainwater and MCP increased yield in the range of 3.8 to 25.3%, improved rainwater use efficiency (1.52 to 3.13 kg ha⁻¹ mm⁻¹), and had a higher benefit-cost ratio (1.15 to 2.43) over a 13-year period. This study concludes that integrating in-situ MCP with ex-situ RWH with micro-irrigation significantly improves rainfed crop productivity in vertisols. Full article

Mosses are key players in semi-arid ecosystems; however, the functional roles of mosses on hydrologic buffering and water quality have hardly been assessed. In the present study, the water storage, saturation dynamics, and ion release experiment of a set of four moss species (Hypnum lacunosum, Homalothecium lutescens, Dicranum scoparium, and Tortella tortuosa) was performed by a more simplified immersion and drainage procedure with water chemistry analyses. All species reached a sorption equilibrium between 10 and 20 min, with pleurocarpous taxa retaining 20–35% more water than acrocarpous species and possessing water-holding capacities (WHCs) between 300% and 700% of dry weight. Species-specific differences in water chemistry (pH, EC, and TDS) were observed: Tortella tortuosa presented the greatest ionic flux, and Hypnum lacunosum presented little variation in pH and electrical conductivity. These findings imply that the mosses operate as micro-scale buffers regulating both water quantity and water quality, and thereby the soil stability, infiltration, and drought resilience. The combined hydrological and biogeochemical view offers a novel understanding of bryophyte ecohydrology and highlights the significance of mosses in the practice of watershed management and climate-change mitigation. Full article

The assessment of microplastics (MPs) in terrestrial ecosystems has garnered increasing global attention due to their accumulation and migration in soils, which may have potential impacts on soil health, biodiversity, and agricultural productivity. However, research on their distribution and interactions in soil remains limited, especially in tropical regions. This study aimed to characterize MPs extracted from tropical soil samples and relate their abundance to soil and terrain attributes under different land uses (forest, grassland, and agriculture). Soil samples were collected from an experimental farm in Lavras, Minas Gerais, Southeastern Brazil, to determine soil physical and chemical attributes and MP abundance in a micro-watershed. These locations were also used to obtain terrain attributes from a digital elevation model and the normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI). The majority of microplastics found in all samples were identified as polypropylene (PP), polyethylene (PE), polyethylene terephthalate (PET), and vinyl polychloride (PVC). The spatial distribution of MP was rather heterogeneous, with average abundances of 3826, 2553, and 3406 pieces kg⁻¹ under forest, grassland, and agriculture, respectively. MP abundance was positively related to macroporosity and sand content and negatively related to clay content and most chemical attributes. Regarding terrain attributes, MP abundance was negatively correlated with plan curvature, convergence index, and vertical distance to channel network, and positively related to topographic wetness index. These findings indicate that continuous water fluxes at both the landscape and soil surface scales play a key role, suggesting a tendency for higher MP accumulation in lower-lying areas and soils with greater porosity. These conditions promote MP transport and accumulation through surface runoff and facilitate their entry into the soil. Full article

Recent studies primarily focus on how the fiber content and curing age influence the pore structure and strength of concrete. However, The interfacial bonding mechanism in basalt-fiber-reinforced concrete hydration remains unclear. The lack of a long-term performance-prediction model and insufficient research on multi-field coupling effects form key knowledge gaps, hindering the systematic optimal design and wider engineering applications of such materials. By integrating X-ray computed tomography (CT) with the watershed algorithm, this study proposes an innovative gray scale threshold method for pore quantification, enabling a quantitative analysis of pore structure evolution and its correlation with mechanical properties in basalt-fiber-reinforced concrete (BFRC) and normal concrete (NC). The results show the following: (1) Mechanical Enhancement: the incorporation of 0.2% basalt fiber by volume demonstrates significant enhancement in the mechanical performance index. At 28 days, BFRC exhibits compressive and splitting tensile strengths of 50.78 MPa and 4.07 MPa, surpassing NC by 19.88% and 43.3%, respectively. The early strength reduction in BFRC (13.13 MPa vs. 22.81 MPa for NC at 3 days) is attributed to fiber-induced interference through physical obstruction of cement particle hydration pathways, which diminishes as hydration progresses. (2) Porosity Reduction: BFRC demonstrates a 64.83% lower porosity (5.13%) than NC (11.66%) at 28 days, with microscopic analysis revealing a 77.5% proportion of harmless pores (<1.104 × 10⁷ μm³) in BFRC versus 67.6% in NC, driven by densified interfacial transition zones (ITZs). (3) Predictive Modeling: a two dimensional strength-porosity model and a three-dimensional age-dependent model are developed. The proposed multi-factor model demonstrates exceptional predictive capability (R² = 0.9994), establishing a quantitative relationship between pore micro structure and mechanical performance. The innovative pore extraction method and mathematical modeling approach offer valuable insights into the micro-structural evolution mechanism of fiber concrete. Full article

Andean grassland ecosystems in Peru are characterized by diverse plant species adapted to environmental factors including weather, soil type, elevation, slope orientation, and soil moisture. This study evaluated the floristic composition, alpha diversity, indicator species, and suitable species for Andean livestock in the Sillapata micro-watershed, Junín region, Peru, across rainy and dry seasons. Data collection involved 100 m linear transects, and analyses included floristic composition and dissimilarity, Shannon-Wiener (H′) and Simpson (D) diversity indices, and the identification of indicator and suitable species using QGIS vs 3.28.14 and R software vs 4.3.2. Results revealed a total of 130 species classified into 74 genera and 23 families, with Asteraceae and Poaceae as the dominant families, exhibiting variations in richness and dissimilarity between control points and seasonal periods. Alpha diversity (H′) ranged from 2.07 to 3.1867, while Simpson’s index (D) ranged from 0.7644 to 0.9234. Six indicator species were identified, along with 11 families containing suitable species, predominantly Poaceae (38–60%), Cyperaceae (11–15%), and Asteraceae (3–9%). The findings indicate that the studied ecosystem exhibits a heterogeneous floristic composition with medium to low and variable diversity, influenced by seasonal climatic changes and the current grassland management regime, which involves rotational grazing with cattle adapted to high-altitude conditions. Full article

Micro-terrain recognition plays a crucial role in the planning, design, and safe operation of transmission lines. To achieve intelligent and automatic recognition of micro-terrain surrounding transmission lines, this paper proposes an improved semantic segmentation model based on UNet++. This model expands the single encoder into multiple encoders to accommodate the input of multi-source geographic features and introduces a gated fusion module (GFM) to effectively integrate the data from diverse sources. Additionally, the model incorporates a dual attention network (DA-Net) and a deep supervision strategy to enhance performance and robustness. The multi-source dataset used for the experiment includes the Digital Elevation Model (DEM), Elevation Coefficient of Variation (ECV), and profile curvature. The experimental results of the model comparison indicate that the improved model outperforms common semantic segmentation models in terms of multiple evaluation metrics, with pixel accuracy (PA) and intersection over union (IoU) reaching 92.26% and 85.63%, respectively. Notably, the performance in identifying the saddle and alpine watershed types has been enhanced significantly by the improved model. The ablation experiment results confirm that the introduced modules contribute to enhancing the model’s segmentation performance. Compared to the baseline network, the improved model enhances PA and IoU by 1.75% and 2.96%, respectively. Full article

Copal is a non-timber forest product of historical, cultural, and industrial significance in Mexico. The use of unsustainable harvesting methods and a lack of understanding of the factors influencing their production have led to a decline in natural populations of resin-producing species. This study aimed to identify the dendrometric, edaphoclimatic, physiological, and resin extraction method variables with the greatest influence on resin yield in Bursera bipinnata using correlation analysis and multiple linear regression. The research was conducted in the Los Sauces micro-watershed, Morelos, Mexico, with a randomly selected sample of 70 trees. Nineteen explanatory variables were categorized into dendrometric, edaphoclimatic, physiological, and extraction method parameters. Variables significantly correlated with resin yield were diameter at breast height, crown diameter, crown volume, altitude, resin tapping faces on the stem, resin tapping faces on branches, total resin tapping faces, resin tapping face height, total resin tapping area, and the Normalized Difference Moisture Index (NDMI) in October. The regression model revealed that resin yield increased significantly with total tapping area ($\beta =0.649$) but decreased with greater incision length ($\beta =-0.308$) and higher NDMI values in October ($\beta =-0.205$), explaining 43.8% of the variation in resin yield. Results highlight the importance of tissue damage intensity, tree physiological status, and water availability as determinants of resin production. The model provides practical guidelines for optimizing extraction techniques, enabling sustainable harvesting that maintains tree vitality and supports long-term productivity in resin-harvesting communities. Full article

This study assessed the water quality and ecological integrity of the Columbe River micro-watershed in the Ecuadorian Andes through a multidimensional approach incorporating biotic, physicochemical, and structural indices. Indices such as the Andean Biotic Index (ABI), Biological Monitoring Working Party index adapted for Colombian conditions (BMWP-Col), Fluvial Habitat Index (IHF), Riparian Quality Index adapted for Andean conditions (QBR-And), and Water Quality Index (WQI) characterized environmental quality gradients and evaluated the impact of human activities across 11 monitoring sites. Hierarchical cluster analysis classified sampling sites into three groups: less polluted (LP), moderately polluted (MP), and highly polluted (HP). HP sites showed elevated levels of biochemical oxygen demand (BOD₅), chemical oxygen demand (COD), electrical conductivity (EC), and turbidity, alongside low biotic and structural scores, indicating advanced ecological degradation. Conversely, LP sites demonstrated greater ecological integrity, despite elevated BOD₅ and COD levels across the watershed, suggesting widespread diffuse contamination. The findings identify anthropogenic activities such as livestock, agriculture, and domestic discharges as major pressures on water quality and macroinvertebrate biodiversity. Significant correlations between physicochemical parameters—including BOD₅ and EC—and declining biotic indices underscore the link between chemical water degradation and ecological fragmentation. In this context, this study highlights the critical need for comprehensive management and restoration strategies to combat pollution, safeguard relatively pristine areas, and rehabilitate the ecological integrity and connectivity of high-altitude Andean aquatic ecosystems under anthropogenic pressure. Full article

Epiphytic organisms are characteristic elements of the Andean dry forest, playing a crucial role in ecosystem diversity and functionality, but they are threatened by deforestation-related factors. The diversity of epiphytic lichens and bryophytes was recorded in the Pisaca Reserve, which has an artificial pond locally known as “Laguna Pisaca”, serving as a critical micro-watershed. This pond provides water services to the city of Catacocha, motivating local communities to protect its biodiversity. In each zone (low, middle and high), 10 plots of 5 × 5 m were established, where the presence and coverage of lichens and bryophytes were sampled in 4 trees per plot (120 trees). Richness and diversity (Shannon–Weaver and Simpson indices) were calculated. Generalized linear models (GLM) were used to analyze the effect of the zone on richness and diversity, and multivariate analysis was used to analyze species composition. A total of 90 species were recorded (65 lichens and 25 bryophytes), distributed in three zones: 74 in the high, 67 in the low and 41 in the middle zone. Species richness and composition showed significant variations in relation to the three zones, influenced by forest structure, small altitudinal changes and forests disturbance. The forests of the Pisaca Reserve harbor a great diversity of lichens and epiphytic bryophytes, which serve as refuges for biodiversity in the Andean dry montane forest of South Ecuador. Full article