Predicting soil water erosion using the ImpelERO model and a mapped reference area in the Sevilla province (Spain)

10 pages, 5 figures, 12 references.-- El volumen consta de 588 páginas.

Soil erosion by water is one of the biggest problems in agricultural land use and management because it affects soil loss as well as on- and off-site damages. The ImpelERO model was used to develop an approach physically valid for a large spatial unit and to predict the water erosion depending on soil type and its management. This model is a prediction tool for water erosion and for selecting appropriate management practices. The spatialization of the results was done with the help of soil attribute databases and GIS-based maps. The present work was carried out as a part of the SIDASS EU project (spatially distributed simulation model predicting the dynamics of agro-physical soil state within Eastern and Western European countries for the selection of management practices to prevent soil erosion). Data on climate (taken from the on-site meteorological station), data on soil properties and on soil management were needed for the modelling. Also, a soil map (scale 1:2.000) of the reference area, a 42ha experimental farm in the Sevilla province (Spain) was used. In this area, three typical types of soils for the Mediterranean region (Aquic Haploxerept, Typic Calcixerept and Typic Xerochrept; USDA, 1987-98) were chosen to measure physical and chemical properties as well as runoff and soil loss. Two different management treatments (traditional and conservation tillage) were selected as representative for olive orchards in the reference area. The traditional tillage method consists mainly in using mouldboard ploughing and cultivation implements; whereas, the conservation tillage is characterised by not using mouldboard ploughing, by reducing the number of tillage operations and leaving the crop residues on the surface as mulch. The cover crop used in the conservation plot is Triticale (crossing between Triticum and Secale). According to the validation analysis, ImpelERO performs well in predicting the effects of management on sediment yield. Also, the spatialization tool (DEM) used appears to improve soil erosion prediction from The ImpelERO model.

The research was supported by funds provided by the SIDASS EU project (Contract number: IC15CT980106; 1999-2001; Scientific Co-ordinator: R. Horn.

Peer reviewed