What is it about?
What will happen to soil erosion and soil hydrology under various crop types and tillage systems combinations when the occurrence probability of future storm events increases under climate change? We incorporated the increasing trend of future storm frequency and adopted 25 downloaded General Circulation Models (GCMs), 29 cropping and tillage system combinations, and four carbon dioxide concentration levels to assess the potential impact of climate change on soil erosion and soil hydrology, using the Water Erosion Prediction Project (WEPP) model.
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Why is it important?
It is essential to evaluate the effects of various cropping and tillage systems on soil loss under extensive geographical conditions, as well as incorporate storm intensification in the downscaling process of future climate projections.
Perspectives
This study clearly illustrated the uncertainties from the precipitation projected from 25 GCMs, and surface runoff and soil loss simulated from WEPP. Proper simulation of future storm intensification is crucial to accurately evaluate the impact of climate change on soil erosion, hydrology, crop production, and land degradation.
Dr. Lifeng Yuan
USDA-ARS Grazinglands Research Lab.
Read the Original
This page is a summary of: Simulating storm intensification impact on soil erosion and soil hydrology in various cropping and tillage systems under climate change, Land Degradation and Development, April 2022, Wiley, DOI: 10.1002/ldr.4299.
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Resources
Modeling surface runoff and soil loss response to climate change under GCM ensembles and multiple cropping and tillage systems in Oklahoma
To develop effective conservation practices to respond to future climatic challenges, the effects of various cropping and tillage systems on surface runoff and soil loss need to be evaluated under extensive geographical conditions. This study used a total of 100 climate scenarios generated from 25 downscaled General Circulation Model (GCM) projections under two Representative Concentration Pathways (RCP4.5 and 8.5) during 2021–2050 and 2051–2080. Those 100 future scenarios were combined with 29 cropping and tillage systems to simulate surface runoff, soil erosion, and crop production response to climate change using the Water Erosion Prediction Project (WEPP) model. The results showed that average annual precipitation in central Oklahoma was projected to significantly decrease by 4–6% (p < 0.05) during the two time periods for both RCP scenarios. Mean annual temperatures were projected to significantly increase (p < 0.01) by 1.74 ℃ for RCP4.5 and 1.99 ℃ for RCP8.5 during 2021–2050, and 2.65 ℃ for RCP4.5 and 3.90 ℃ for RCP8.5 during 2051–2080. Annual runoff and soil loss averaged over the two RCPs and all crop types was projected to decrease by approximately 1% and 3%, respectively. Except for cotton, crop yields were predicted to decrease by 10.3%–18.3% during 2021–2080. Simulated annual runoff depth and soil loss separately followed the order of reduced tillage (RT) > delayed tillage (DT) > no-till (NT) > conventional tillage (CT) and RT > CT > DT > NT under future climate scenarios, respectively. If economically feasible, no-till and the crop-alfalfa rotation were the most effective soil conservation method on farmlands to combat projected future erosion due to changing precipitation and temperatures.
Simulating the potential effects of elevated CO2 concentration and temperature coupled with storm intensification on crop yield, surface runoff, and soil loss based on 25 GCMs ensemble: A site-specific case study in Oklahoma
Proper simulation of storm intensification is critical in projecting crop yield, surface runoff, and soil loss under climate change conditions. We developed a total of 100 climate scenarios coupled with storm intensification, which were based on 25 downscaled GCMs (General Circulation Model) projections under RCP4.5 and RCP8.5 (Representative Concentration Pathways) for two time periods of 2021–2050 and 2051–2080. The climate files were applied to a modified WEPP (Water Erosion Prediction Project) model to estimate crop yield, runoff, and soil loss under 29 combinations of cropping and tillage systems. The results showed that future extreme storm events in the study area would significantly increase during 2021–2080 (P < 0.01). However, average monthly precipitation in summer would decrease by 12.5% in June and 10.8% in July, along with an annual precipitation decline of 2.6%, leading to a decrease in crop yield in this rainfed agricultural region. The amount of runoff (soil loss) from extreme storms would account for 45.9 (64.3%) of the total annual runoff (soil loss) when averaged across two time periods and two RCPs. The average annual runoff depth (soil loss amount) from crop rotation or double cropping systems would be 27.6 (78.1%) less than the corresponding values in a continuous monoculture cropping system. No-till and crop rotations with alfalfa are the best agricultural management alternatives to mitigate soil erosion rates under future climate change. The analysis of variance (ANOVA) indicated that the uncertainty contributions of GCMs and cropping and tillage systems reached 45.5% and 30.4% in annual surface runoff prediction (P < 0.001), while cropping and tillage systems (71.7%, P < 0.001) was the major uncertainty source in annual soil loss simulations. This study improved the prediction of crop yield, runoff, and soil loss from various cropping and tillage systems under climate change conditions by integrating storm intensification from multiple GCM ensembles.
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