Hydropedology and the Societal Challenge of Realizing the 2015 United Nations Sustainable Development Goals

Bouma, J.

doi:10.2136/vzj2016.09.0080

Cited by 19 publications

(9 citation statements)

References 43 publications

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“…This could ultimately contribute to realizing the targets associated with the UN‐SDGs. Although this paper focused mainly on the potential contribution of hydropedology to SDG #6 (sustainable water management; van Tol et al, 2018), future work should explore how hydropedological approaches can be applied to improve food security and sustainable agriculture (SDG #2), quantifying and mitigating the impact of climate change (SDG #13) and protecting and restoring terrestrial ecosystems (SDG #15; Bouma, 2016).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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A hydropedological approach to simulate streamflow and soil water contents with SWAT+

Tol

Bieger

Arnold

2021

Hydrological Processes

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Reflecting internal catchment hydrological processes in hydrological models is important for accurate predictions of the impact of climate and land‐use change on water resources. Characterizing these processes is however difficult and expensive due to their dynamic nature and spatio‐temporal variability. Hydropedology is a relatively new discipline focusing on the synergistic integration of hydrology, soil physics and pedology. Hydropedological interpretations of soils and soil distribution can be used to characterize key hydrological processes, especially in areas with no or limited hydrometric measurements. Here we applied a hydropedological approach to reflect flowpaths through detailed routing in SWAT+ for a 157 ha catchment (Weatherley) in South Africa. We compared the hydropedological approach and a standard (no routing) approach against measured streamflow (two weirs) and soil water contents (13 locations). The catchment was treated as ‘ungauged’ and the model was not calibrated against hydrometric measurements in order to determine the direct contribution of hydropedology on modelling efficiency. Streamflow was predicted well without calibration (NSE > 0.8; R2 > 0.82) for both approaches at both weirs. The standard approach yielded slightly better streamflow predictions. The hydropedological approach resulted in considerable improvements in the simulation of soil water contents (R2 increased from 0.40 to 0.49 and PBIAS decreased from 40% to 20%). The routing capacity of SWAT+ as employed in the hydropedological approach reduced the underestimation of wetland water regimes drastically and resulted in a more accurate representation of the dominant hydrological processes in this catchment. We concluded that hydropedology can be a valuable source of ‘soft data’ to reflect internal catchment structure and processes and, potentially, for realistic calibrations in other studies, especially those conducted in areas with limited hydrometric measurements.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…This could ultimately contribute to realizing the targets associated with the UN-SDGs. Bouma, 2016).…”

Section: Implications For Modelling and Managementmentioning

confidence: 99%

A hydropedological approach to simulate streamflow and soil water contents with SWAT+

Tol

Bieger

Arnold

2021

Hydrological Processes

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“…Soil functions thus contribute to ecosystem services and, ultimately, to all seventeen UN Sustainable Development Goals (e.g. Bouma, 2016Bouma, , 2014Keesstra et al, 2016).…”

Section: Soil Functions As a Starting Pointmentioning

confidence: 99%

Refining physical aspects of soil quality and soil health when exploring the effects of soil degradation and climate change on biomass production: an Italian case study

Bonfante¹,

Terribile²,

Bouma³

2018

Preprint

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Abstract. This study is restriced to soil physical aspects of soil quality and – health with the objective to define procedures with worldwide rather than only regional applicability, reflecting modern developments in soil physical research and focusing on important questions regarding possible effects of soil degradation and climate change. In contrast to water and air, soils cannot, even after much research, be characterized by a universally accepted quality definition and this hampers the internal and external communication process. Soil quality expresses the capacity of the soil to function. Biomass production is a primary function, next to filtering and organic matter accumulation, and can be modeled with soil-water-plant-atmosphere simulation models, as used in the agronomic yield-gap program that defines potential yields (Yp) for any location on earth determined by radiation, temperature and standardized crop characteristics, assuming adequate water and nutrient supply and lack of pests and diseases. The water-limited yield (Yw) reflects, in addition, the often limited water availability at a particular location. Real yields (Ya) can be considered in relation to Yw to indicate yield gaps, to be expressed in terms of the indicator: (Ya/Yw) × 100. Soil data to calculate Yw for a given soil type (the genoform) should consist of a range of soil properties as a function of past management (various phenoforms) rather than as a single representative dataset. This way a Yw-based soil-characteristic soil quality range is defined, based on semi-permanent soil properties. In this study effects of subsoil compaction, overland flow following surface compaction and erosion were simulated for six soil series in the Destre Sele area in Italy, including effects of climate change. Recent proposals consider soil health, which appeals more to people than soil quality and is now defined by seperate soil physical, -chemical and – biological indicators. Focusing on the soil function biomass production, physical soil health at a given time of a given type of soil can be expressed as a point (defined by a measured Ya) on the defined soil quality range for that particular type of soil, thereby defining the seriousness of the problem and the scope for improvement. The six soils showed different behavior following the three types of land degradation and projected climate change up to the year 2100. Effects are expected to be major as reductions of biomass production of up to 50 % appear likely. Rather than consider soil physical, chemical and biological indicators seperately, as proposed now for soil health, a sequential procedure is suggested logically linking the seperate procedures.

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“…Without clear goals, only trees will be seen, while the forest is obscured. Sustainable development is an excellent overall goal and the 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), defined by the UN and approved by all its members at the General Assembly in September 2015, are excellent aims (e.g., Bouma, 2014Keesstra et al, 2016;Bouma and Montanarella, 2016) as is the 4 per 1000 proposal, accepted at the Paris Climate conference also in 2015 and focused on increasing the percentage of carbon in soils as a climate change mitigation measure.…”

Section: Define Clear Goalsmentioning

confidence: 99%

How Alexander von Humboldt's life story can inspire innovative soil research in developing countries

Bouma¹

2017

Preprint

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Abstract. The pioneering vision of Alexander von Humboldt on science and society of the early 1800's is still highly relevant today. His open mind and urge to make many measurements characterizing the: interconnected web of life are crucial ingredients as we now face the worldwide challenge of the UN Sustainable Development Goals. Case studies in the Phillippines, Vietnam, Kenya, Niger and Costa Rica demonstrate, in Alexander's spirit, interaction with stakeholders and attention for unique local conditions applying modern measurement and modeling methods, allowing inter- and transdisciplinary research approaches. But relations between science and society are increasingly problematic, partly as a result of the information revolution and post-truth, fact-free thinking. Overly regulated and financially restricted scientific communities in so-called developed countries may stifle intellectual creativity. Researchers in developing countries are urged to leapfrog beyond these problems in the spirit of Alexander von Humboldt as they further develop their scientific communities. Six suggestions to the science community are made with particular attention for soil science.

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Hydropedology and the Societal Challenge of Realizing the 2015 United Nations Sustainable Development Goals

Cited by 19 publications

References 43 publications

A hydropedological approach to simulate streamflow and soil water contents with SWAT+

A hydropedological approach to simulate streamflow and soil water contents with SWAT+

Refining physical aspects of soil quality and soil health when exploring the effects of soil degradation and climate change on biomass production: an Italian case study

How Alexander von Humboldt's life story can inspire innovative soil research in developing countries

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