Silvicultural systems effects in soil erosion processes in mountainous mediterranean forests
Author(s)
Altieri, Valeria
Date Issued
December 20, 2019
Type
Doctoral Thesis
Abstract
Forests play a key role in providing protection against soil erosion. In this work, two methods were used to evaluate soil erosion in relation to different forest management, in Mediterranean forests. 137Cs technique is linked to the global fallout of bomb-derived radiocaesium (1950s-1970s) and is based on a comparison between 137Cs inventory measured at the study site and that obtained at a reference site. RUSLE2 model is a software program which makes soil erosion estimates based on site specific conditions. Here, four study plots in the southern Apennines (Italy) were selected in pine and beech high forests located in Aspromonte site. The measurements related to forest structural characteristics were first compared with soil erosion rates obtained with 137Cs technique application. Secondly the climate, soil, topography and management information belonging to the areas previously selected, were used to make soil erosion estimates under the RUSLE2 model. The 137Cs results revealed that in areas with higher biomass and canopy cover the soil loss values were low, highlighting the protective function of forest stands against soil erosion. Meanwhile, the soil loss values provided by the RUSLE2 assumptions, were shown to be affected by different aboveground biomass (ABG) amounts (higher soil loss values in areas with low amounts of ABG) and disturbance brought by silvicultural operations. The two methods were proved to be useful to predict soil erosion rates, demonstrating the importance of canopy cover and aboveground biomass and pointing out the need of planning adequately forest management options. However, further information and runs in RUSLE2 are needed to validate the model assumptions and extend its range of application as well as additional 137Cs measurements are required in order to enhance the accuracy of the estimates in different forest environments, in a long-term perspective.
Additional information
Dottorato di ricerca in Scienze, tecnologie e biotecnologie per la sostenibilità
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