Modeling the contribution of ephemeral gully erosion under different soil managements: A case study in an olive orchard microcatchment using the AnnAGNPS model

A study was undertaken into the environmental and economic impacts of different soil management strategies, spontaneous grass cover with and without gully control (SC/SCGC) or conventional tillage with and without gully control (T/TGC), based on the experimental results obtained in an 6.1ha olive cr...

Full description

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Published in:Catena (Giessen) 2012-11, Vol.98, p.1-16
Main Authors: Taguas, E.V., Yuan, Y., Bingner, R.L., Gómez, J.A.
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
AnnAGNPS
Bgi / Prodig
Calibration
Catchments. Hydrological cycle
Conventional tillage
Environmental impact
Ephemeral gullies
Grass cover
Gullies
Hydrometeorology
Management
Microcatchment
Olive crop
Olives
Physical geography
Soil (material)
Strategy
Tillage
Citations: Items that this one cites
Items that cite this one
Online Access:Get full text
Tags: Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
Description
Summary:A study was undertaken into the environmental and economic impacts of different soil management strategies, spontaneous grass cover with and without gully control (SC/SCGC) or conventional tillage with and without gully control (T/TGC), based on the experimental results obtained in an 6.1ha olive crop microcatchment. Initially, 2years of rainfall–runoff–sediment load data series, (34 events) recorded under the current management (SCGC), was used for the calibration of the AnnAGNPS model at event and monthly scales providing suitable adjustments of runoff, peak flow and sediment loads (E>70, r>0.85). Ephemeral gullies were also identified using aerial orthophotography and field work. The module of the AnnAGNPS model for simulating ephemeral gully generation and the tillage operations based on a bibliographical review were used to compare different scenarios and to perform a 10year-analysis. The results showed mean runoff coefficients of 10.0% for SC/SCGC and of 3.2% for T/TGC while the average sediment loads were 2.0t∗ha−1∗year−1 (SCGC), 3.5t∗ha−1∗year−1 (SC), 3.3t∗ha−1∗year−1 (TGC) and 4t∗ha−1∗year−1 (T). Significant differences in sediment sources (rill/inter-rill erosion and ephemeral gullies) were evaluated between SC (46% of gully contribution) and T (19% of gully contribution), in order to optimize the environmental and economic effort required in each case. Finally, the annual costs associated with soil losses were estimated (
ISSN:0341-8162
1872-6887
DOI:10.1016/j.catena.2012.06.002