Predicting Runoff Risks by Digital Soil Mapping

Abstract

Digital soil mapping (DSM) permits continuous mapping soil types and properties through raster formats considering variation within soil class, in contrast to the traditional mapping that only considers spatial variation of soils at the boundaries of delineated polygons. The objective of this study was to compare the performance of SoLIM (Soil Land Inference Model) for two sets of environmental variables on digital mapping of saturated hydraulic conductivity and solum depth (A + B horizons) and to apply the best model on runoff risk evaluation. The study was done in the Posses watershed, MG, Brazil, and SoLIM was applied for the following sets of co-variables: 1) terrain attributes (AT): slope, plan curvature, elevation and topographic wetness index. 2) Geomorphons and terrain attributes (GEOM): slope, plan curvature, elevation and topographic wetness index combined with geomorphons. The most precise methodology was applied to predict runoff areas risk through the Wetness Index based on contribution area, solum depth, and saturated hydraulic conductivity. GEOM was the best set of co-variables for both properties, so this was the DSM model used to predict the runoff risk. The runoff risk showed that the critical months are from November to March. The new way to classify the landscape to use on DSM was demonstrated to be an efficient tool with which to model process that occurs on watersheds and can be used to forecast the runoff risk.

Analyzing ecological restoration strategies for water and soil conservation

“…Udorthent is a shallower soil, with rocky outcrops, while Ultisol, Ochrept, and Inceptisol are relatively deep, but also with rocky characteristics. More information on the soils of the region can be found in [ 24 ].…”

Variability of soil surface characteristics in a mountainous watershed in Valle del Cauca, Colombia: Implications for runoff, erosion, and conservation

“…USGS, USDA, NSF) in order to ensure that these studies on soil and hydrological processes develop into theoretical foundations for sediment transport and watershed landscape changes. Digital soil mapping, for instance, has been developing methods of using terrain attributes to estimate continuous maps of soil types and properties beyond simply using statistical techniques (Da Silva et al, 2016b). Lastly, longer term evaluation and continuing cooperative agreements with stakeholders will be needed to ensure that conservation mechanisms garner local support and obtain the maintenance required to ensure that conditions do not return to pre-conservation levels (Boardman et al, 2003;de Lima et al, 2019;Guzman et al, 2017c).…”

Novel Technological and Management Options for Accelerating Transformational Changes in Rice and Livestock Systems

“…However, due to the large quantity of soil data required to develop high resolution maps and the associated laboratory costs, accurate soil mapping efforts are normally beyond the reach of small farmers. Access to recent innovations has allowed soil experts to integrate current technologies (e.g., satellite images, digital elevation models) with soil data in order to provide continuous soil property maps at high resolutions that allow decisions at the local and/or regional level [14]. Digital soil maps (DSM) provide detailed, site-specific information that informs management and technological choices for improving efficiency in resource use and conservation.…”