Effects of land use changes and soil conservation intervention on soil properties as indicators for land degradation under a Mediterranean climate
Land degradation resulting from improper land use and management is a major cause of declined productivity in the arid environment. The objectives of this study were to examine the effects of a sequence of land use changes, soil conservation measures, and the time since their implementation on the d...
| Main Authors: | , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
Copernicus Publications
2015-07-01
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| Series: | Solid Earth |
| Online Access: | http://www.solid-earth.net/6/857/2015/se-6-857-2015.pdf |
| Summary: | Land degradation resulting from improper land use and management is a major
cause of declined productivity in the arid environment. The objectives of
this study were to examine the effects of a sequence of land use changes,
soil conservation measures, and the time since their implementation on the
degradation of selected soil properties. The climate for the selected 105 km<sup>2</sup> watershed varies from semi-arid sub-tropical to
Mediterranean sub-humid. Land use changes were detected using aerial
photographs acquired in 1953, 1978, and 2008. A total of 218 samples were
collected from 40 sites in three different rainfall zones to represent
different land use changes and variable lengths of time since the
construction of stone walls. Analyses of variance were used to test the
differences between the sequences of land use changes (interchangeable
sequences of forest, orchards, field crops, and range), the time since the
implementation of soil conservation measures, rainfall on the thickness
of the A-horizon, soil organic carbon content, and texture. Soil organic
carbon reacts actively with different combinations and sequences of land use
changes. The time since stone walls were constructed showed significant
impacts on soil organic carbon and the thickness of the surface horizon. The
effects of changing the land use and whether the changes were associated
with the construction of stone walls varied according to the annual
rainfall. The changes in soil properties could be used as indicators of land
degradation and to assess the impact of soil conservation programs. The
results help in understanding the effects of land use changes on land
degradation processes and carbon sequestration potential and in formulating
sound soil conservation plans. |
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| ISSN: | 1869-9510 1869-9529 |