Geomodelling of Destruction of Soils of Ukrainian Steppe Due to Water Erosion

Abstract

Spatial raster distribution models of the values of factors influencing the potential soil erosion hazard were created using GIS technologies. The erosion hazard was estimated using the modified RUSLE (Revised Universal Soil Loss Equation) model. The potential of annual soil loss of arable land was calculated. The spatial gradation of erosion violation of administrative and territorial units in the steppe zone of Ukraine was provided. About 32.7% of arable land that is subject to high erosion hazard was allocated. About 48 administrative and territorial units have a specific area less than 5% of erosion disturbed lands. They are characterized by a resistant type of agrolandscapes regarding the water-erosion processes. Most administrative and territorial units with high erosive-accumulative potential (the percentage of the area is 15% or more) are located in the western and southwestern parts of the steppe zone of Ukraine. The specific area of erosion hazardous lands reaches up to 32% in separate administrative-territorial units. The obtained results allow determining the need for a spatially discrete-distribution implementation of adaptive-landscape anti-erosion design with the elements of soil-protective agriculture.

Analysis of Soil Erosion Risk in a River Basin – A Case Study from Hogoshti River Basin (Kosovo)

“…The rainfall erosivity (R) shows the potential of rain which can cause soil erosion from exposed surfaces, especially from unprotected, and is a product for a consecutive 30-minute intense rainfall (EI30) [Zhang et al, 2013. The assessment of the climatic conditions of potential soil loss was carried out using factor of energy and rainfall intensity that are reflected in the erosion hazard using relative indices or rainfall erosion index (REI) [Dudiak et al, 2019]. Due to lack of detailed rainfall records for the river basin, many authors correlate the EI 30 with the Modified Fournier Index (MFI), whose rainfall erosivity value can be obtained based on monthly and annual precipitation data set.…”

Spatial Modeling of the Effects of Deflation Destruction of the Steppe Soils of Ukraine

“…The modified form of this equation was proposed by Zingg (1953), but it has not been applied further. Chepil (1950) noted that the method proposed by the authors eliminates the spatiotemporal differences of individual factors; therefore, he offered to calculate the potential wind erosion using a method that is similar to the equation for soil loss due to the water erosion processes Dudiak et al, 2019). It is considered that the proposed method is universal, but considering the significant metric differences in the fields, it complicates the process of obtaining an accurate spatial model of the average field length protection, which leads to errors in the calculation of soil losses.…”

“…Significant effects of wind erosion are typical of the arid and semi arid zones, with a small amount of precipitation, high air temperature and degree of evaporation, reinforced by strong winds and low differentiation of vegetation protection. It was established Dudiak et al, 2019) that the acceleration of the deflation processes occurs in the territories with increased anthropogenic stress, which leads to an ecological disturbance of the natural balance of territorial ecosystems. Scientists note (Achasov et Pichura et al, 2019) the relevance of studying the factors and processes of wind erosion, the frequency of its effect, heterogeneity of the spatial distribution and economic consequences in recent decades as a necessary condition for ensuring sustainable land use.…”

Anthropogenic and Climatic Causality of Changes in the Hydrological Regime of the Dnieper River

“…and in drainage basins (plowing of land, deforestation, hydromelioration, etc.) (Prytkov et al, 2007;Cesoniene et al, 2017;Kacienė, 2018;Dudiak et al, 2019). For many years, the process of formation of river flow that is determined by patterns of long-term fluctuations and seasonal variations was considered as the result of many factors, which determines mainly scholastic approach to study of these patterns (Kartvelishvili, 1981;Ratkovich, 1997).…”