Land Consolidations as an Effective Instrument in Soil Conservation

Abstract

Kadlec V., Žížala D., Novotný I., Heřmanovská D., Kapička J., Tippl M.: Land consolidations as an effective instrument in soil conservation. Ekológia (Bratislava), Vol. 33, No. 2, p. 188-200, 2014.In the Czech Republic, more than 50% of agricultural land is threatened by water erosion, which is tremendously increasing during last couple of years. Therefore, it is necessary to deal with soil conservation as soon as possible. Land consolidations (LCs) are thus an important tool for implementation of soil, water and landscape conservation measures. It is possible to arrange land ownerships by them. They also arrange land spatially and functionally, provide availability of parcels and their land use in public interest. Besides that, environmental improvement, soil conservation, water management and increase in landscape ecological stability supplement the use of LCs. The results of soil consolidations serve for renewal of cadastral records and for the backgrounds for landscape planning. The aim of the research was to evaluate the selected site (district Plzeň - South) with regard to the amounts and limits of proposed and implemented measures in LC process. The research was processed on the basis of detailed analysis regarding erosion risk and runoff conditions in GIS compared with the previous data (before LC).

Erosion risk analysis in a changing climate

“…When the limit is exceeded, the creation of anti-erosion measures is an effective tool. These measures improve the soil condition, this statement is in line with Kadlec et al (2014).…”

Integration of soil and water conservation measures in an intensively cultivated watershed – a case study of Jihlava river basin (Czech Republic)

“…Some space for application of the proposed measures in the Jihlava river basin has been opened by land consolidations (Kadlec et al 2014), due to the fact that projects of common facilities include erosion control, water management aspects, and requirements for environmental protection in the relevant cadastral areas. With the goal of potential utilization of land consolidations as an implementing tool, the results of this study were provided to the Vysočina District and to the State Land Office.…”

Effect Mechanism of Land Consolidation on Soil Bacterial Community: A Case Study in Eastern China

“…As an engineering method that directly affects arable land, farmland consolidation regulates arable land morphology, land landscape, soil properties, and fertility through measures such as building ditches, merging plots, land levelling, and applying organic fertilizers, combined or respectively [ 34 ]. Specifically, the influences of farmland consolidation on soil characteristics include: (1) Increasing the intensity of tillage activities to reduce soil bulk density, increase soil porosity, and improve organic fertilizer uniformity; (2) Applying organic fertilizer to increase soil nutrients availability, optimize the structure of soil microbial community, and improve the structure of soil aggregates and soil fertility; (3) improving farmland irrigation and drainage facilities to ensure the water requirement for crop growth and implement soil moisture management; (4) strengthening the management and protection, standardizing the technical process, and implementing supervision, of farmland consolidation, to sustain soil and ecosystem health [ 35 ].…”