Towards a better understanding of pathways of multiple cooccurring erosion processes on global farmland

Borrelli, Pasquale (author), Alewell, Christine (author), Yang, Jae E. (author), Bezak, Nejc (author), Chen, Yixian (author), Fenta, Ayele Almaw (author), Fendrich, Arthur Nicolaus (author), Gupta, Surya (author), Matthews, Francis (author), Modugno, Sirio (author), Haregewey, Nigussie (author), Robinson, David A. (author), Tan, Florence (author), Vanmaercke, Matthias (author), Verstraeten, G. (author), Vieira, Diana C.S. (author), Panagos, Panos (author)

Soil erosion is a complex process involving multiple natural and anthropic agents, causing the soil to deteriorate. Here we report, using a multi-model approach, an estimate of the spatial patterns of farmland susceptibility to wind, water, gully, tillage, and root crops harvesting erosion and where the co-occurrence of these processes is predicted. In addition, we mapped the locations where these multiple concurrent soil erosion processes may be expected to intersect with projected dry/wet climate changes by 2070. Of a modelled 1.48 billion hectares (B ha) of global cropland, our results indicate that 0.56 B ha (~36% of the total area) are highly susceptible (classes 4 and 5) to a single erosion process, 0.27 B ha (~18% of the total area) to two processes and 0.02 B ha (1.4% of the total area) to three or more processes. An estimated 0.82 B ha of farmland are susceptible to possible increases in water (0.68 B ha) and wind (0.14 B ha) erosion. We contend that the presented set of estimates represent a basis for enhancing the basic knowledge on the geography of soil erosion. The generated knowledge on multiple erosion processes is a useful starting point to help the decision-makers dealing with ex-post and ex-ante policy evaluation of the UN Sustainable Development Goal 15 activities. Scientifically, the outcomes serve to support the ongoing stratified monitoring and modelling activities within the UN-Global Soil Erosion mapping project lead by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations.

• Language: English
• Keywords: modelling, multi-model approach, water, wind, gully, tillage, crop harvesting
• Work type: Article
• Typology: 1.01 - Original Scientific Article
• Organization: FGG - Faculty of Civil and Geodetic Engineering
• Publication status: Published
• Publication version: Author Accepted Manuscript
• Year: 2023
• Number of pages: Str. 713-725
• Numbering: Vol. 11, iss. 4
• PID: 20.500.12556/RUL-151737
• UDC: 631.4
• ISSN on article: 2095-6339
• DOI: 10.1016/j.iswcr.2023.07.008
• COBISS.SI-ID: 161025027
• Publication date in RUL: 18.10.2023

BORRELLI, Pasquale, ALEWELL, Christine, YANG, Jae E., BEZAK, Nejc, CHEN, Yixian, FENTA, Ayele Almaw, FENDRICH, Arthur Nicolaus, GUPTA, Surya, MATTHEWS, Francis, MODUGNO, Sirio, HAREGEWEY, Nigussie, ROBINSON, David A., TAN, Florence, VANMAERCKE, Matthias, VERSTRAETEN, G., VIEIRA, Diana C.S. and PANAGOS, Panos, 2023, Towards a better understanding of pathways of multiple cooccurring erosion processes on global farmland. International Soil and Water Conservation Research [online]. 2023. Vol. 11, no. 4, p. 713–725. [Accessed 11 April 2025]. DOI 10.1016/j.iswcr.2023.07.008. Retrieved from: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S209563392300062X?via%3Dihub

Record is a part of a journal

• Title: International Soil and Water Conservation Research
• Shortened title: Int. Soil Water Conserv. Res.
• Publisher: China Water & Power Press (CWPP)
• ISSN: 2095-6339
• COBISS.SI-ID: 525912089

Licences

• License: CC BY 4.0, Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International
• Link: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
• Description: This is the standard Creative Commons license that gives others maximum freedom to do what they want with the work as long as they credit the author.

Secondary language

• Language: Slovenian
• Title: Prispevek k izboljšanju razumevanja sočasnega nastopa različnih vrst erozije na obdelovalnih površinah
• Keywords: modeliranje, multi-modelski pristop, voda, veter, jarkovna erozija, erozija zaradi obdelave tal, pobiranje pridelka