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Item type:Publication, The effect of natural infrastructure on water erosion mitigation in the Andes(2021-07-28)Soil erosion by water is affecting natural and anthropogenic environments through its impacts on water quality and availability, loss of soil nutrients, flood risk, sedimentation in rivers and streams, and damage to civil infrastructure. Sustainable management aims to avoid, reduce and reverse soil erosion and can provide multiple benefits for the environment, population, and livelihoods. We conducted a systematic review of 121 case studies from the Andes to answer the following questions: (1) Which erosion indicators allow us to assess the effectiveness of natural infrastructure? (2) What is the overall impact of working with natural infrastructure on on-site and off-site erosion mitigation? and (3) Which locations and types of studies are needed to fill critical gaps in knowledge and research? Three major categories of natural infrastructure were considered: protective vegetation, soil and water conservation measures, and adaptation measures that regulate the flow and transport of water. From the suite of physical, chemical and biological indicators commonly used in soil erosion research, two indicators were particularly relevant: soil organic carbon (SOC) of topsoil, and soil loss rates at the plot scale. In areas with protective vegetation and/or soil and water conservation measures, the SOC of topsoil is –on average– 1.3 to 2.8 times higher than in areas under traditional agriculture. Soil loss rates in areas with natural infrastructure were reported to be 38 % to 54 % lower than rates measured in untreated croplands. Further research is needed to evaluate whether the reported effectiveness holds during extreme events related to, for example, El Niño–Southern Oscillation. - Some of the metrics are blocked by yourconsent settings
Item type:Publication, Agricultural land degradation in Peru and Bolivia(Springer Nature, 2022-01-01)Soil erosion is the most prominent evidence of soil degradation and is regarded as the main type of agricultural land degradation worldwide. The objective of this contribution is to assess soil degradation associated with agricultural lands in Peru and Bolivia. The assessment is mainly based on a recent soil erosion survey; maps describing soil erosion rates across 5 km grids for the years 1990, 2000, 2010, and 2020; and global observations of agricultural land areas. We observe that soil erosion rates in agricultural lands from Peru and Bolivia are steadily growing. We also observe that (1) the highest quantities of soil erosion are found in the Andean highlands and the largest areas of soil denudation in the Amazonian sections, and (2) there is a positive relation between erosion degree and soil organic carbon stock. The main drivers of soil erosion are the intensive agriculture production and fertilizer use that have increased in Peru and Bolivia. This land use intensification in both countries is also the driver of other land degradation factors such as soil salinization and soil pollution. The use of sewage (e.g., gray water) in urban and peri-urban agricultural areas increases the risk to soil health by inducing the dispersion of microplastics assisted by soil erosion. Overgrazing affects a large portion of the highlands from both countries. Very limited information of the extent of slash-and-burn fire agriculture exists; however, this practice is mostly observed in the Department of Santa Cruz (Bolivia). To prevent or minimize the pressure on soil resources associated with soil erosion or soil pollution, we highlight the need to support sustainable soil management practices and responsible use of fertilizers in agricultural land. - Some of the metrics are blocked by yourconsent settings
Item type:Publication, The effect of natural infrastructure on water erosion mitigation in the Andes(Copernicus Publications, 2022-02-28)Abstract. To expand the knowledge base on natural infrastructure for erosion mitigation in the Andes, it is necessary to move beyond case by case empirical studies to comprehensive assessments. This study reviews the state of evidence on the effectiveness of interventions to mitigate soil erosion by water and is based on Andean case studies published in gray and peer-reviewed literature. Based on a systematic review of 118 case studies from the Andes, this study addressed the following research questions. (1) Which erosion indicators allow us to assess the effectiveness of natural infrastructure? (2) What is the overall impact of working with natural infrastructure on on-site and off-site erosion mitigation? (3) Which locations and types of studies are needed to fill critical gaps in knowledge and research? Three major categories of natural infrastructure were considered: restoration and protection of natural vegetation, such as forest or native grasslands, forestation with native or exotic species and implementation of soil and water conservation measures for erosion mitigation. From the suite of physical, chemical and biological indicators commonly used in soil erosion research, two indicators were particularly relevant: soil organic carbon of topsoil and soil loss rates at plot scale. The protection and conservation of natural vegetation has the strongest effect on soil quality, with 3.01±0.893 times higher soil organic carbon content in the topsoil compared to control sites. Soil quality improvements are significant but lower for forestation and soil and water conservation measures. Soil and water conservation measures reduce soil erosion to 62.1 % ± 9.2 %, even though erosion mitigation is highest when natural vegetation is maintained. Further research is needed to evaluate whether the reported effectiveness holds during extreme events related to, for example, El Niño–Southern Oscillation.