Increase in soil erosion after agricultural intensification: Evidence from a lowland basin in France

Foucher, Anthony; Salvador‐Blanes, Sébastien; Evrard, Olivier; Simonneau, Anaëlle; Chapron, Emmanuel; Courp, Thierry; Cerdan, Olivier; Lefevre, Irène; Adriaensen, Hans; Lecompte, François; Desmet, Marc

doi:10.1016/j.ancene.2015.02.001

Cited by 67 publications

(61 citation statements)

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“…Over 69 years, this estimate represents approximately 45,000 t (σ 2600 t) of eroded bank material that contributed to the filling of the pond and represents a mean sediment delivery of 652 t year −1 (σ 38 t year −1 ) between 1944 and 2013. Thus, with the use of the historical approach, we estimate that the sediment derived from the banks over the last 10 years has contributed between 27% and 30% of the total terrigenous input deposited in the pond (the total terrigenous input record in the pond ranges between 2,152 and 2,445 t year −1 , Foucher et al, ). Bank erosion seems to be a substantial source contributing to the filling of the Louroux pond.…”

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Over the last 70 years, this basin, similar to the majority of agricultural lowland areas in Western Europe, has been extensively affected by changes in land use and agricultural practices in the context of intensive crop farming (e.g., Antrop, ). The study of reservoir deposits has established a link between this land use change and the acceleration in sediment produced in this catchment (Foucher et al, ), with current erosion rates that are approximately 60 times higher than before the agricultural changes.…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…As a result of these intensive modifications, the water quality in the streams and the pond has degraded due to the increase in agricultural inputs, which have induced growing eutrophication in the water bodies (Foucher et al, ; Water Agency Loire‐Brittany, unpublished data). The input of sediment (between 2,152 and 2,445 t year −1 ) into the 52 ha pond at the outlet of the catchment has become problematic over the last 10 years, and this input corresponds to an average erosion rate from the catchment of between 90 and 102 t km −2 year −1 (Foucher et al, ).…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…This paper, therefore, aims to quantify spatial and temporal variations in sediment delivery from bank erosion in an intensively cultivated lowland catchment that has been heavily affected by anthropogenic activity since the Second World War (i.e., because the implementation of artificial ditches and a dense drainage network during the period 1945–1970—Foucher et al, ). Globally, streams are commonly being recognized as primary sources of sediment to streams and rivers (e.g., Laceby, ).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…To estimate the long-term erosive dynamics, we employed an original approach combining three-dimensional historical cross sections and high-resolution aerial light detection and ranging (LiDAR) data in this study to compare the reference state of banks during their design in 1944 to their state in 2013. This paper, therefore, aims to quantify spatial and temporal variations in sediment delivery from bank erosion in an intensively cultivated lowland catchment that has been heavily affected by anthropogenic activity since the Second World War (i.e., because the implementation of artificial ditches and a dense drainage network during the period 1945-1970-Foucher et al, 2014. Globally, streams are commonly being recognized as primary sources of sediment to streams and rivers (e.g., Laceby, 2012).…”

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confidence: 99%

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Quantification of bank erosion in a drained agricultural lowland catchment

et al. 2017

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The long‐term and current volumes of sediment exported from stream banks were calculated as potential sources of sediment in a large pond located at the catchment outlet of a small agricultural lowland basin strongly affected by anthropogenic pressure in France. Bank erosion was measured over a short period using a network of erosion pins along a small stream (1400 m long) to quantify the material exported during a single winter (2012–2013). The material exported by this same stream over the last 69 years was quantified using an original approach involving the comparison of a compilation of three‐dimensional historical stream redesign plans that date back to 1944 with the state of the banks in 2013 (differential global positioning system and LiDAR data). The results suggest that a global trend of material loss along the stream banks monitored by erosion pins, with an average erosion rate of 17.7 mm year−1 and an average volume of exported material of 75 t km−1. Over 69 years, this same stream exported an average of 36 t km−1 year−1, and the average loss of material from the banks throughout the whole catchment was estimated to be 14 t km−1 year−1. The contribution of bank material to the filling of the pond over the last 10 years is between 46% and 52% based on an extrapolation of erosion pin dynamics or between 27% and 30% based on the comparison of LiDAR data to the average historical profile extrapolated for the catchment. These results suggest that bank erosion represents a major source of sediment in degraded waters in traditionally understudied agricultural lowland catchments, where anthropogenic pressures are high.

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Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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confidence: 99%

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