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SOIL PROTECTION Catalunya - the Balearic Islands / Principality of Andorra

 
 

soil protection (general information)

 

Vienna Soil Declaration

 

soil functions

sustainability criteria

degradation and control processes

soil protection criteria

soil quality indicators

soil maps

what is soil information used fort?

the purpose of soil maps

soil series and correlation

characteristics of a soils map

management and interpretation of soil information on a digital interface

Soil Series and Soil Types catalogue of Catalonia

presentation

criteria

soil Types (> 2010)

soil Series (1993 - 2009)

DEGRADATION AND CONTROL PROCESSES

Degradation process:


Splash erosion (esp., salpicadura).


Description:


Loss of soil due to the impact of rain drops on bare soil surfaces. This is the first stage of the erosion process.

The impact of rain drops causes unstable aggregates to collapse, resulting in soil detachment, with soil particles being displaced by up to 1.5 metres. This detached matter may block pores and give rise to a seal and on drying, it may form a surface crust; alternatively, it may be transported away by surface runoff water.

Importance: great amongst the bare soils of arid and semi-arid regions.



                                             Click on the image
Ampliar foto
Effect of rain drop impact.
(USGS DDS 21)



Soil functions affected:


Production of biomass; environmental filter due to surface sealing and the reduction of the soil’s infiltration capacity.



Diagnostic criteria:


Pedestal formation, presence of a seal or surface crust



                                             Click on the image
Ampliar foto
Splash erosion, identified by the existence of
pedestals. Les Garrigues (R. M. Poch)


Prevention and control:


Maintain a vegetative cover over the soil; improve the stability of the aggregates with organic matter; reduce the size of drops from sprinklers.

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