| Popis: |
A methodology is proposed for classifying and mapping desertification units of hilly soils developed in different parent materials, under Mediterranean conditions. The proposed methodology is based first on the actual erosion risk of the soils, and secondly on their potential for biomass production assuming cultivation with rainfed wheat, taking additionally into account the effect of rock fragments on soil water conservation and biomass production. Threshold values of the time to runoff initiation were defined under certain soil surface conditions and used for the establishment of criteria to classify the soils in particular erodibility classes. For the assessment of the biomass production of rainfed wheat, simple models and empirical relationships have been employed. The developed methodology was applied for the compilation of maps for proper land management and protection against desertification, using the available regional Geographic Information Systems (GIS). As a case study, a hilly area of central Greece vulnerable to desertification was selected and studied in detail. |
