Soil and organic carbon losses from varying land uses: a global meta‐analysis
Khatab Abdalla, Macdex Mutema, Trevor Hill
Abstract
Key insights The key main finding from the study was that soil surface cover by vegetation and organic materials has the potential to significantly decrease the impact of key drivers of soil erosion processes such as rainfall and slope. Natural vegetation cover appeared more effective in terms of controlling erosion processes and enhancing ecosystem functionality of soils. The results also suggest that abandoning degraded agricultural lands might not be a sound option because the erosion processes might accelerate beyond control during the bare phase. Instead, soil cover practices such as the use of straw, manure, and even rock fragments should be encouraged.
Topics & Concepts
Environmental scienceErosionVegetation (pathology)Soil carbonEcosystemLand useSoil functionsLand coverVegetation coverEcosystem servicesKey (lock)AgroforestryCover cropSoil waterSoil biodiversitySoil scienceSoil organic matterEcologyGeologyGeomorphologyPathologyMedicineBiologySoil erosion and sediment transportAeolian processes and effectsHydrology and Sediment Transport Processes