Soil and Economic Loss Evaluation on Small Hillside Farms in the Central Mountains of Honduras

Rivera, Samuel; Ferreira, O.; Anguita, Pablo Martínez de; Espinal, Fany M.

doi:10.1080/10549811003739502

Cited by 3 publications

(2 citation statements)

References 9 publications

(13 reference statements)

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“…The current average erosion rates are a factor of 12 higher than soil sustainability, on the basis of the average rate of soil formation (Pimentel et al, 1999), and also the social and economic costs of erosion remain high due to the on-site and off-site consequences (e.g. Diao and Sarpong, 2011;Rivera et al, 2011). Accurate studies and measurements and sustainable land management are the keys to reduce agricultural soil loss.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Advanced modelling of runoff and soil redistribution for agricultural systems: The SERT model

López‐Vicente

Izquierdo

Gaspar

et al. 2013

Agricultural Water Management

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Hydrological and soil erosion models allow mapping and quantifying rates of runoff depths and soil redistribution for different land uses and climatic scenarios. Mediterranean soils are threatened by marked seasonal changes in the climatic, thus soil and vegetation parameters and modelling predictions at monthly scale are required. The semi-physically-based Soil Erosion and Redistribution Tool (SERT) model is presented together with the results of its application in a Mediterranean agro-ecosystem (NE Spain) with a detailed database. The hydrological module is based on the recently published DR2 (Distributed Rainfall-Runoff) water balance model and the effects of man-made infrastructures on the natural dynamics of runoff connectivity are added. The erosion module is built using, as the basis, the Revised Morgan, Morgan and Finney model, and the new Remaining runoff Transport Capacity (TC r) factor used to estimate the rates of soil loss and deposition. Predicted runoff depth varied in time and space, presenting areas without runoff production mainly in Rendzic Leptosols and Haplic Calcisols between November and April. Average soil erosion was high in cultivated and bare soils, ca. 20 and 10 Mg ha-1 yr-1 , whereas rangeland soils were affected by moderate and, in some areas, by limited erosion processes. Soil erosion was minimal in February (0.08 Mg ha-1 month-1 on average) and 23 times higher in October. The SERT model allowed mapping the significant changes in the monthly values of soil redistribution quantifying the variability in the magnitude of the processes involved. Predicted values of average soil loss and deposition were validated against quantified values with 137 Cs obtaining an average 2 Nash-Sutcliffe efficiency of 0.48 (Pearson's r = 0.709) and a sediment balance of-1.15 Mg yr-1 for the whole catchment that is consistent with the karst processes of the study area. The new model is an easy-to-run, reliable, low-input-demanding management tool with valuable outputs for hydrological and soil erosion studies in small agricultural catchments.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Advanced modelling of runoff and soil redistribution for agricultural systems: The SERT model

López‐Vicente

Izquierdo

Gaspar

et al. 2013

Agricultural Water Management

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“…Some examples of species affected by deforestation and land use change as a result of agricultural expansion and associated increases in sedimentation include Tlaloc portillorum (EN), a species known to inhabit only the headwaters of the Ulúa and Nacaome River basins on the Atlantic and Pacific slopes of Honduras, respectively [112]; Amphilophus lyonsi (EN), which is restricted to the Pacific versant of southern Costa Rica and western Panama, occurring from the Coto to the Dupí River drainage [113,114]; eight species (Cynodonichthys siegfriedi EN, Cynodonichthys uroflammeus EN, Pterobrycon myrnae EN, Poeciliopsis paucimaculata EN, Imparfinis lineatus EN, Pseudocheirodon terrabae Vu, Cribroheros altifrons Vu, and Eretmobrycon terrabensis Vu) from the Térraba River drainage on the Pacific slope of southwestern Costa Rica [61,115,116]; and finally, Priapichthys puetzi (CR), which is known to inhabit two collection localities in the Guarumo River drainage in Bocas del Toro Province, Panama [117]. Also, agricultural expansion has had negative impacts to vegetation and water availability at Ramsar Site Complejo Barra de Santiago in Cara Sucia basin in El Salvador.…”

Section: Agriculture and Aquaculturementioning

confidence: 99%

Freshwater Fishes of Central America: Distribution, Assessment, and Major Threats

et al. 2022

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Central America contains a rich diversity of freshwater habitats that support more than 600 species of freshwater fishes. However, despite several perceived threats to the integrity of the freshwater habitats throughout the region, a formal analysis of extinction risk for the region’s ichthyofauna is lacking. In this manuscript, we report an updated checklist of species and a novel comprehensive assessment of the conservation status of Central American freshwater fishes by applying the IUCN Red List Categories and Criteria to species at the global level. We also analyze the distribution of freshwater fishes across Central America and generate baseline geospatial data that can be used in multi-species conservation planning processes, which is available through the Red List Website. Our results indicate that between 15 and 28% of freshwater fishes in the region are threatened with extinction, with considerable uncertainty resulting from elevated data deficiency. We identify major and widespread threats in the region, including pollution, agriculture, aquaculture, biological resource use, natural system modifications, invasive species, and land development. This analysis represents an important first step in formulating effective conservation planning and action initiatives for a taxonomic group that historically has received few protections and can be used to inform conservation priorities of freshwater ecosystems at both national and regional scales.

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Assessing the potential effect of different land cover management practices on sediment yield from an abandoned farmland catchment in the Spanish Pyrenees

López‐Vicente

Lana-Renault

Ruiz³

et al. 2011

J Soils Sediments

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Purpose Sediment delivery from headwater catchments to reservoirs is a serious threat to reservoir sustainability and is a critical issue in Mediterranean environments where water resources are scarce. In this study we assessed the consequences of two landscape management scenarios (natural vegetation recovery and scrub clearance) on soil erosion and sediment yield. The results were analyzed in relation to predicted and measured rates of soil erosion and sediment yield, with the aim of promoting better management practices. Materials and methods The study area was the Arnás River catchment (284 ha), which is located in the central Spanish Pyrenees; the area includes abandoned and poorly managed fields. The combination of the RUSLE and SEDD models of soil erosion and sediment delivery was evaluated in terms of its ability to predict annual rates of sediment yield, using field measurement data for seven water years at the gauging station. The consequences of natural plant succession in other areas of the Spanish Pyrenees and scrub clearance practices implemented by certain regional governments to increase grazing meadow areas and reduce the incidence of wildfires were spatially analyzed using GIS. The main sediment source areas were identified, and their specific and total sediment yields were calculated. Results and discussion The predicted soil loss under existing conditions was 2.6 Mg ha −1 year −1 , with 5% of the surface area affected by rates greater than 2 Mg. The measured sediment yield range was 69-534 Mg year −1 . The maximum sediment yield detected was associated with an extraordinary debris flow. The predicted rates were strongly correlated to measured rates (Nash-Sutcliffe coefficient= 0.72). The main sources were alluvial deposits [specific sediment yield (SSY)=51 Mg ha −1 year −1 ], bare soil (SSY= 12), unpaved trails (SSY=11), lots (SSY=4), and pastures (SSY=1). Under a scenario of vegetation recovery, decreases of 3%, 17%, and 16% in soil loss and sediment delivery and yield (respectively) are predicted, whereas increases of 15%, 5%, and 2% are predicted following scrub clearance practices. Conclusions Coupling the RUSLE and SEDD models enabled estimation of annual values of soil erosion and sediment delivery in monitored and unmonitored catchments of small and medium size, making this approach a useful tool for risk analysis. Management practices that combine fire-risk control, by the implementation of scrub clearance practices, with the effects of plant succession on sediment production are suggested as the best management strategy.

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Soil and Economic Loss Evaluation on Small Hillside Farms in the Central Mountains of Honduras

Cited by 3 publications

References 9 publications

Advanced modelling of runoff and soil redistribution for agricultural systems: The SERT model

Advanced modelling of runoff and soil redistribution for agricultural systems: The SERT model

Freshwater Fishes of Central America: Distribution, Assessment, and Major Threats

Assessing the potential effect of different land cover management practices on sediment yield from an abandoned farmland catchment in the Spanish Pyrenees

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