The impact of agriculture on solute and suspended sediment load on a Mediterranean watershed after intense rainstorms

Auteur(s) et Affiliation(s)

OUTEIRO, L.

Grup de Recerca Ambiental Mediterrània (GRAM), Dep. of Physical Geography, Univ., Barcelona, Espagne

ÚBEDA, X.

Grup de Recerca Ambiental Mediterrània (GRAM), Dep. of Physical Geography, Univ., Barcelona, Espagne

FARGUELL, J.

Grup de Recerca Ambiental Mediterrània (GRAM), Dep. of Physical Geography, Univ., Barcelona, Espagne

Catalan Water Authorities (Agència Catalana de l'Aigua), Barcelona, Espagne

Description :
The solute and suspended-sediment load following 5 rainstorms (2005–2007) with varied intensities were studied at the Vernegà experimental watershed, north-western Spain. This study investigates the capacity of each land-use (forest and agricultural area) to yield water, suspended sediment concentration (SSC) and dissolved solid concentration (DSC). Results showed that the agriculture area produced significantly greater mean DSC than in the forest area. Geographic information system (GIS) spatial data layers of the watershed were produced to determine the relation of tracks, landforms, slopes and forest management to SSC yield in the forest outlet during the 5 rainstorms. Agriculture practices are the main cause of soil erosion at the study area.

Type de document :
Article de périodique

Source :
Earth surface processes and landforms, issn : 0197-9337, 2010, vol. 35, n°. 5, p. 549-560, nombre de pages : 12, Références bibliographiques : 1,5 p.

Date :
2010

Editeur :
Pays édition : Royaume-Uni, Chichester, Wiley

Langue :
Anglais