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DEGRADATION AND CONTROL PROCESSES |
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Degradation process:
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Splash erosion (esp., salpicadura).
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Description:
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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.
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Click on the image
Effect of rain drop impact.
(USGS DDS 21)
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Soil functions affected:
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Production of biomass; environmental filter due to surface sealing and the reduction of the soil’s infiltration capacity.
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Diagnostic criteria:
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Pedestal formation, presence of a seal or surface crust
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Click on the image
Splash erosion, identified by the existence of
pedestals. Les Garrigues (R. M. Poch)
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Prevention and control:
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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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