Analysis of the Effect of Soil Erosion in Abandoned Agricultural Areas: The Case of NE Area of Basilicata Region (Southern Italy)
Land abandonment is among the most complex la nd use change processes driven by a multiplicity of anthropogenic and natural factors, such as agricultural over-exploitation, implementation of agricultural policies, socio-economic and climatic aspects. Therefore, it is necessary to deepen the effects...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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MDPI AG
2023-03-01
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| Series: | Land |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2073-445X/12/3/645 |
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| author | Valentina Santarsiero Antonio Lanorte Gabriele Nolè Giuseppe Cillis Biagio Tucci Beniamino Murgante |
| author_facet | Valentina Santarsiero Antonio Lanorte Gabriele Nolè Giuseppe Cillis Biagio Tucci Beniamino Murgante |
| author_sort | Valentina Santarsiero |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Land abandonment is among the most complex la nd use change processes driven by a multiplicity of anthropogenic and natural factors, such as agricultural over-exploitation, implementation of agricultural policies, socio-economic and climatic aspects. Therefore, it is necessary to deepen the effects of land abandonment based on methodologies that are as multidisciplinary as possible. Environmental and social problems related to abandonment include soil erosion and environmental degradation. Approaches combining GIS (Geographic Information System), remote sensing, and image analysis techniques allow for assessments and predictions based on integrating theoretical models with advanced geospatial and geostatistical models. One of the most widely used models for soil erosion estimation is the Revised Universal Soil Loss Equation (RUSLE). The present work developed a model using remote sensing and GIS tools to investigate some factors of the RUSLE equation to evaluate the adverse effects of soil erosion in areas covered by arable crops and subsequently abandoned. To identify potentially degraded areas, two factors of the RUSLE were related: the C Factor describing the vegetation cover of the soil and the A Factor representing the amount of potential soil erosion. Through statistical correlation analysis with the RUSLE factors, based on the deviations from the average erosion values and mapping of the areas of vegetation degradation relating to arable land, the areas identified and mapped are susceptible to soil degradation. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-11T06:18:39Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-e456c0521a1c45a2a228885544a0c846 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2073-445X |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-11T06:18:39Z |
| publishDate | 2023-03-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Land |
| spelling | doaj.art-e456c0521a1c45a2a228885544a0c8462023-11-17T12:07:22ZengMDPI AGLand2073-445X2023-03-0112364510.3390/land12030645Analysis of the Effect of Soil Erosion in Abandoned Agricultural Areas: The Case of NE Area of Basilicata Region (Southern Italy)Valentina Santarsiero0Antonio Lanorte1Gabriele Nolè2Giuseppe Cillis3Biagio Tucci4Beniamino Murgante5CNR IMAA, Tito Scalo, 85050 Potenza, ItalyCNR IMAA, Tito Scalo, 85050 Potenza, ItalyCNR IMAA, Tito Scalo, 85050 Potenza, ItalyCNR IMAA, Tito Scalo, 85050 Potenza, ItalyCNR IMAA, Tito Scalo, 85050 Potenza, ItalySchool of Engineering, University of Basilicata, 85100 Potenza, ItalyLand abandonment is among the most complex la nd use change processes driven by a multiplicity of anthropogenic and natural factors, such as agricultural over-exploitation, implementation of agricultural policies, socio-economic and climatic aspects. Therefore, it is necessary to deepen the effects of land abandonment based on methodologies that are as multidisciplinary as possible. Environmental and social problems related to abandonment include soil erosion and environmental degradation. Approaches combining GIS (Geographic Information System), remote sensing, and image analysis techniques allow for assessments and predictions based on integrating theoretical models with advanced geospatial and geostatistical models. One of the most widely used models for soil erosion estimation is the Revised Universal Soil Loss Equation (RUSLE). The present work developed a model using remote sensing and GIS tools to investigate some factors of the RUSLE equation to evaluate the adverse effects of soil erosion in areas covered by arable crops and subsequently abandoned. To identify potentially degraded areas, two factors of the RUSLE were related: the C Factor describing the vegetation cover of the soil and the A Factor representing the amount of potential soil erosion. Through statistical correlation analysis with the RUSLE factors, based on the deviations from the average erosion values and mapping of the areas of vegetation degradation relating to arable land, the areas identified and mapped are susceptible to soil degradation.https://www.mdpi.com/2073-445X/12/3/645land abandonmentsoil erosionremote sensingGIS |
| spellingShingle | Valentina Santarsiero Antonio Lanorte Gabriele Nolè Giuseppe Cillis Biagio Tucci Beniamino Murgante Analysis of the Effect of Soil Erosion in Abandoned Agricultural Areas: The Case of NE Area of Basilicata Region (Southern Italy) Land land abandonment soil erosion remote sensing GIS |
| title | Analysis of the Effect of Soil Erosion in Abandoned Agricultural Areas: The Case of NE Area of Basilicata Region (Southern Italy) |
| title_full | Analysis of the Effect of Soil Erosion in Abandoned Agricultural Areas: The Case of NE Area of Basilicata Region (Southern Italy) |
| title_fullStr | Analysis of the Effect of Soil Erosion in Abandoned Agricultural Areas: The Case of NE Area of Basilicata Region (Southern Italy) |
| title_full_unstemmed | Analysis of the Effect of Soil Erosion in Abandoned Agricultural Areas: The Case of NE Area of Basilicata Region (Southern Italy) |
| title_short | Analysis of the Effect of Soil Erosion in Abandoned Agricultural Areas: The Case of NE Area of Basilicata Region (Southern Italy) |
| title_sort | analysis of the effect of soil erosion in abandoned agricultural areas the case of ne area of basilicata region southern italy |
| topic | land abandonment soil erosion remote sensing GIS |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2073-445X/12/3/645 |
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