Applying the RUSLE and ISUM in the Tierra de Barros Vineyards (Extremadura, Spain) to Estimate Soil Mobilisation Rates

Jesús Barrena-González, Jesús Rodrigo-Comino, Yeboah Gyasi-Agyei, Manuel Pulido Fernández and Artemi Cerdà
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Jesús Barrena-González: GeoEnvironmental Research Group (GIGA), University of Extremadura, 10071 Cáceres, Spain
Jesús Rodrigo-Comino: Physical Geography, Trier University, 54286 Trier, Germany
Yeboah Gyasi-Agyei: School of Engineering and Technology, Central Queensland University, Rockhampton QLD 4702, Australia
Manuel Pulido Fernández: GeoEnvironmental Research Group (GIGA), University of Extremadura, 10071 Cáceres, Spain
Artemi Cerdà: Soil Erosion and Degradation Research Group, Department of Geography, Valencia University, Blasco Ibàñez, 28, 46010 Valencia, Spain

Land, 2020, vol. 9, issue 3, 1-17

Abstract: Spain is one of the largest wine producers in the world, with Extremadura (south-west Spain) being its second-largest producing region after Castilla La Mancha. Within Extremadura, the most traditional and productive viticulture region is the Tierra de Barros, which boasts an annual production of 3×10 6 litres. However, no soil erosion assessment has been undertaken in any vineyard in the region to ascertain environmental sustainability. Therefore, the Improved Stock Unearthing Method (ISUM) and the Revised Universal Soil Loss Equation (RUSLE) were applied to assess the long-term soil erosion rates. Both methods were applied using an experimental plot (2.8 m × 148.5 m) encompassing 99 paired vines in a 20-year-old vineyard under a tillage management system and on bare soils throughout the year. The ISUM and RUSLE found total soil mobilization values of 45.7 Mg ha −1 yr −1 and 17.4 Mg ha −1 yr −1 , respectively, a difference of about 5 times. Mapping techniques showed that soil surface declined to an average of −6.2 cm, with maximum values of −28 cm. The highest values of soil depletion were mainly observed in the upper part and the form of linear features following the hillslope direction. On the other hand, under the vines, the soil surface level showed accumulations of up to +2.37 cm due to tillage practices. Our study demonstrated the potential of high soil erosion rates occurring in conventional vineyards managed with tillage in the inter-row areas and herbicides under the vines within the Tierra de Barros. Also, we demonstrated the elevated differences in soil mobilisation rates using the ISUM and RUSLE. Therefore, further research must be conducted in other vineyards to determine the suitability of the models for assessing soil erosion rates. Undoubtedly, soil conservation measures must be designed and applied immediately due to high erosion rates.

Keywords: Tierra de Barros; soil erosion; ISUM; RUSLE; soil management system; vineyards (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: Q15 Q2 Q24 Q28 Q5 R14 R52 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2020
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (7)

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